Occupational health, frontline workers and COVID-19 lockdown: new gender-related inequalities?

Abstract

IntroductionThe abrupt onset of COVID-19, with its rapid spread, has had brutal consequences in all areas of society, including the workplace. In this paper, we report the working conditions, health, and tranquilisers and opioid analgesics use of workers during the first months of the ensuing pandemic, according to whether they were frontline workers or not and also according to sex.MethodsOur analysis is based on cross-sectional survey data (collected during April and May 2020) from the wage-earning population in Spain (n=15 070). We estimate prevalences, adjusted prevalence differences and adjusted prevalence ratios by sex and according to whether the worker is a frontline worker or not.ResultsEmployment and working conditions, exposure to psychosocial risks, as well as health status and the consumption of tranquilisers and opioid analgesics all showed sex and sectoral (frontline vs non-frontline) inequalities, which placed essential women workers in a particularly vulnerable position. Moreover, the consumption of tranquilisers and opioid analgesics increased during the pandemic and health worsened significantly among frontline women workers.ConclusionsThe exceptional situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity to revalue essential sectors and to dignify such employment and working conditions, especially among women. There is an urgent need to improve working conditions and reduce occupational risk, particularly among frontline workers. In addition, this study highlights the public health problem posed by tranquilisers and opioid analgesics consumption, especially among frontline women.

Did COVID-19 Policies Have the Same Effect on COVID-19 Incidence Among Women and Men? Evidence From Spain and Switzerland

“…Exceptions to the norms of staying and working from home were issued in Switzerland as well as in Spain for workers in sectors considered “essential”. Essential services included those ensuring supply of food and hygiene products, medicines, health care, transport or security [ 27 , 42 ]. Workers in these sectors are predominantly women in both countries [ 22 , 42 , 43 ].…”

“…Essential services included those ensuring supply of food and hygiene products, medicines, health care, transport or security [ 27 , 42 ]. Workers in these sectors are predominantly women in both countries [ 22 , 42 , 43 ]. For context, in Switzerland 68% of the health workforce, 92% of childcare and 67% of retail positions are staffed by women [ 22 ].…”

“…For context, in Switzerland 68% of the health workforce, 92% of childcare and 67% of retail positions are staffed by women [ 22 ]. Similarly, in Spain, more than 70% of the health professionals are women and they are also overrepresented in sectors like social work, retail, health and cleaning services [ 42 ]. Studies have shown that workers in some industries, such as meat factories, were predominantly male and at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 due to superspreading events [ 44 ].…”

Mental health inequalities in times of crisis: evolution between 2005 and 2021 among the Spanish salaried population

“…Moreover, women are systematically more unemployed in more precarious jobs, and more likely to be exposed to certain psychosocial risks such as high emotional demands, low control and high work-family conflict. 18 Finally, it is well documented that women consume more psychiatric drugs and make more use of healthcare services, thus being probably more affected by the healthcare access barriers experienced in a crisis context. 35 Regarding age groups, while in 2005, 2010 and 2016, the age group with worse mental health was that of workers aged over 50, in 2021 it was the one with workers under 35.…”

“…40 Finally, regarding the type of contract, while in 2005, 2010 and 2016, temporary workers were the ones with worse mental health, in 2021 the worst mental health status was observed among permanent workers. Most of the front-line workers are employed in the healthcare sector, 18 and these workers, with typically permanent contracts, are the ones who have suffered the most in the pandemic context, as well as other occupations with typically permanent contracts such as teachers.…”