A Policy Analysis of the Problem of the Reproductive Health of Women in the Workplace

Kotch, Jonathan B.; Ossler, Charlene C.; Howze, Dorothy C.

doi:10.2307/3342340

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Research ir the civilian literature primarily documents separation policies, maternity leave, and fetal health issues (Bertin & Henifin, 1987;Kenney, 1986). Discussions of the relationship between work and pregnancy are almost entirely limited to the effect of work on pregnancy (e.g., Kotch, Ossler, & Howze, 1984;Walsh & Kelleher, 1987). The timeliness of the present research is underscored by Blasko, O'Brien, Huester, and O'Brien (1989, p. 24): "It would be of interest to interview expectant couples and their co-workers to examine the effects of pregnancy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pregnant Enlisted Women in Navy Work Centers

Thomas¹,

Thomas²,

McClintock³

1991

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Public eporting burden for this collection of information is esimated to average I hour per respomne including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data source. gatring and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send cormnents regarding this burden estinate or any other aspect of this collection of inormstion, including suggetions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services Directorate for Information Operatiom and Reports. 1215 Jeffcmon Davis Highway. Suite 1204. Arington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Managernent and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188). Washington, DC 20503. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank)2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED Approved for public release; listribution is unlimited. March 1991 ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)This report documents an effort to determine the amount of lost time due to pregnancy and to assess perceptions of supervisors and their pregnant subordinates regarding the effect of pregnancy on the workplace. Data were collected from pregnant enlisted women receiving medical care at San Diego and Tidewater area Navy prenatal clinics using a structured interview. A special purpose survey was sent to the current and former supervisors of the interviewed women. Key findings included:1. Lost time due solely to pregnancy amounted to 1 day per month per pregnant woman in the San Diego and Tidewaters areas.2. The impact of pregnancy on the work center and on the command was seen as greater on ships than at shore commands.3. Until the third trimester, most women continued to work normal shifts and hours in their rating during their pregnancy.4. Most co-workers and supervisors tended to respond positively to the news of pregnancy. 2-102 FOREWORDThis effort represents the second phase of a 3-year project to investigate the impact of pregnancy and single parents on mission accomplishment in the Navy. The purpose of this phase was to detennine the total amount of lost time due solely to pregnancy and to gather perceptions of supervisors and their pregnant subordinates regarding the effect of pregnancy on: the work place, co-worker morale, and readiness. Findings and recommendations are for the use of the Chief of Naval Operations (OP-13, OP-15) and the Surgeon General of the Navy (MED-25).The overall effort is being conducted within the advanced development Program Element 0603707N, Work Unit R1770, under the mission sponsorship of the Chief of Naval Operations (OP-O 1 B2). The results are expected to benefit the Navy by providing the information needed to develop policies to effectively manage pregnancy and single parenthood.The authors wish to thank the women who consented to be interviewed and the supervisors who promptly responded to the survey. In addition, special thanks go to LCDR Debra Coleman, DPI Susan Newhouse, PNl Kathy Powless, Amy Culbertson, Vicki Ostern, and Susan Turk for conducting the interviews, and to Marissa Lobato Meda, Lorama Malone, Nancy Roelle, and S...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pregnant Enlisted Women in Navy Work Centers

Thomas¹,

Thomas²,

McClintock³

1991

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“…Where such a differential effect exists, the ideal solution is still the reduction of risks for all workers. As Kotch et al [1984] have argued, this policy avoids stigmatization of either sex while optimizing vertical and horizontal equity in employment opportunity. In some occupational situations, however, risk cannot practicably be reduced to a level that ensures the reproductive health of all workers.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive hazards in the workplace: A case study of women firefighters

Evanoff

Rosenstock

1986

American J Industrial Med

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Recent attention has focused on the difficulties of providing equal employment opportunities for women while ensuring reproductive health in the workplace. This paper examines the potential hazards faced by pregnant firefighters and recommends a policy that seeks a reasonable accommodation between employment and fetal and maternal health. The potential hazards faced by firefighters include physical exertion, hyperthermia, and exposure to carbon monoxide and other toxic gases. The ideal policy option for improving reproductive health is to make the workplace safe for all employees. Where this cannot be accomplished and a unique reproductive hazard exists to women during pregnancy, temporary positions should be found that remove the pregnant woman from the hazard while allowing her to continue work.

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“…Almost 7 million of these women were employed in health care professions, primarily nursing. 'Iwo thirds of the pregnant women in the world and half of the pregnant women in the United States are employed during part, if not all, of their pregnancies (Chamberlain, 1985;Kotch, 1984).…”

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confidence: 99%