Page 92 - OHS, October 2021

SAFETY & HEALTH
Workers Across America Deal with Physical and Mental Fatigue
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BY KEVAN ORVITZ
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed our country, the world and each and every one of our lives. Not only have we faced devastating losses of life, but many have lost their jobs or have worked through fear as essential front-line workers. Through it all, the way we work has completely changed and the pandemic continues to alter the relationship between employers and employees.
While some have the ability to work from home and create a “new normal.” Others are forced to take on more physical work, working more hours and longer days. Still, it seems people on both sides of the working aisle, find work to be more stressful and harder.
In many job sectors, employees may feel that overworking is a strategic response to the pandemic. From front line workers to factory workers, everyone is burnt out and in need of a break. Regardless of how everyone feels, we still are fighting this pandemic and still need to show patience and perseverance.
Prior to the pandemic, companies promoted taking breaks to rest and having adequate vacation time. Today, these messages are not as loud or clear to employees. These workers are now left feeling exhausted and burnt out.
The UK Household Longitudinal Study
(UKHLS), showed that mental distress was 8.1 percent higher in April of 2020, compared to 2017-2019. In additional to the mental overload and burden, people coping with sleep problems increased to 25 percent from 16 percent.1
In Canada, an online survey of 500 Canadian workers showed that:
■ People felt less safe at work (due to COVID-19)
■ About 75 percent of participants reported increased anxiety and stress at work
■ Women reported a greater increase in tasks and stress than men
■ 1 in 4 participants admitted to negative experiences with his/her employer
■ Most respondents felt taken advantage of by their employers2
In the U.S., a Pew Research Study showed that lower-income workers who are unable to work from home express the highest concern for COVID-19 exposure. In addition, minority workers expressed even more concern about catching or spreading COVID-19. The UKHLS also confirmed these same findings in the UK, revealing these minorities also showed increased anxiety and stress.
Finally, 23 percent of workers who are working the same job as they were before the pandemic, feel less satisfied with their
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job. When the study probed further into job fulfillment, they found that people felt less job security, confused about management’s expectations. 26 percent of employees said they felt creating a balance between their professional and personal lives was difficult.3
Using the findings from these various studies, we can confirm that across the world managers and employees are facing the same problems:
■ Confusion around expectations
■ Increased work-related stress
■ Less balance between work and
personal life
Having a deeper understanding for
the struggles facing the workplace, it is not a surprise that many job sectors are struggling to find new hires. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, numerous companies have shown that they have only been able to hire one employee for every two job openings.
At the top of the industry list of those struggling to find employees is the manufacturing industry. Not far behind is transportation, warehousing and utilities.4
According to Jeffrey Clemens, an economist from the University of San Diego, “the pandemic rocked labor markets...it broke many linkages between workers and their pre-pandemic employers, and it introduced a broad set
88 Occupational Health & Safety | OCTOBER 2021
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