Recognizing careworkers’ contributions to improving the social determinants of health: A call for supporting healthy carework

Abstract

Workers engaged in reproductive labor—the caring work that maintains society and supports its growth—contribute to societal health while also enduring the harms of precarious labor and substantial work stress. How can we conceptualize the effects of reproductive labor on workers and society simultaneously? In this commentary, we analyze four types of more relational and less relational careworkers—homeless shelter workers, school food workers, home care aides, and household cleaners—during the COVID-19 pandemic. We then make a case for a new model of societal health that recognizes the contributions of careworkers and healthy carework. Our model includes multi-sectoral social policies supporting both worker health and societal health and acknowledges several dimensions of work stress for careworkers that have received insufficient attention. Ultimately, we argue that the effects of reproductive labor on workers and society must be considered jointly, a recognition that offers an urgent vision for repairing and advancing societal health.

Industry-Specific Profile of COVID-19–Related Workers' Compensation Claims in New York State

“…Finally, the results are not representative of worker groups not covered by WC insurance (eg, domestic workers, informal employees), some of which may be at higher risk of work-related SARS-CoV-2 exposure and less able to weather the economic or medical consequences of a COVID-19 infection without external support. 67 , 68 …”

“…Finally, the results are not representative of worker groups not covered by WC insurance (eg, domestic workers, informal employees), some of which may be at higher risk of work-related SARS-CoV-2 exposure and less able to weather the economic or medical consequences of a COVID-19 infection without external support. 67,68 Future research should investigate specific reasons why COVID-19 claims were not awarded, particularly among high-risk, essential worker groups, such as nursing home staff. The results may help generate more meaningful outreach and communication to workers on how to receive benefits.…”

Taking Care at Work: Gender, Coping, and Anti-Violence Work During COVID-19

“…Going "back to normal" is not necessarily what frontline workers need or want, as this still places them in understaffed environments with limited resources where their needs are not typically valued. In many ways, we are advocating for a radical reconceptualization of how anti-violence work in the social welfare sector is prioritized and funded by both state and non-state actors-and, even more broadly, a world where the social conditions that perpetuate violence are eliminated (Cederbaum et al, 2022;Heward-Belle et al, 2021;Tsui et al, 2022).…”

“…(interview 11/25/20) There was a belief that if service providers did not provide this aid for clients, no one would. Especially given their client base-some of whom were undocumented or non-native English speakers-this extra labor and its risks were easily rationalized away due to the reality of COVID-19 supports ignoring already marginalized populations (Murugan et al, 2022;Page & Flores-Miller, 2021;Tsui et al, 2022).…”

Aide and Client Safety “Should Go Hand-In-Hand”: Qualitative Findings From Home Care Aides, Clients, and Agency Leaders

“…Care workers—including homeless shelter workers, school food workers, HC aides, and household cleaners—engage in critical functions that maintain and support societal growth, yet often go without well-deserved recognition (Tsui et al, 2021) while also experiencing impacts to their health (Baron et al, 2022; Sterling et al, 2021). Nationally, direct care workers make efforts to provide quality care yet feel they do not receive adequate recognition for their work (Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Future Health Care Workforce for Older Americans, 2008).…”