The Organization of Working Time: Developing an Understanding and Action Plan to Promote Workers’ Health in a Seasonal Work Context: L'organisation temporelle du travail: la comprendre pour développer des actions favorisant la santé des travailleuses en contexte de travail saisonnier

Abstract

Despite the health problems associated with irregular schedules and long working hours, few studies have focused on the temporal dimension of work in seasonal working contexts. Through the monitoring of sixteen seasonal workers in the crab-processing industry over a two-year period, this study aimed to better understand their working reality and to provide a detailed picture of the temporal dimension of seasonal work as experienced by these workers. Observations of the work activity, interviews, and analysis of official documents were carried out. The findings reveal that the organization of working time and working conditions are very restrictive. These constraints are linked not only to the work environment and management but also to various public policies and ministerial directives. Methodological elements essential for the study of the organization of working time have been identified and could contribute to a better understanding of temporal constraints experienced by seasonal workers. Résumé Malgré les problèmes de santé associés aux horaires non standards et aux longues heures de travail, peu d'études se sont attardées à dégager un portrait de la dimension temporelle du travail en contexte de travail saisonnier. Par le suivi de 16 travailleuses saisonnières de l'industrie de la transformation du crabe pendant deux années, cette étude visait à mieux comprendre leur réalité de travail et à dresser un portrait détaillé de la dimension temporelle du travail saisonnier tel que vécu par ces travailleuses. Des observations du travail, des entretiens et l'analyse de documents ont été réalisés. Les résultats révèlent une organisation temporelle et des conditions de travail fort contraignantes pour ces travailleuses liées, entre autres, à l'environnement et à la gestion du travail, mais également à diverses politiques publiques et consignes ministérielles. Des éléments méthodologiques essentiels pour l'étude des temps de travail ont également été identifiés et contribueront à mieux cerner les contraintes temporelles des situations de travail vécues par les travailleuses saisonnières.

Début de la saison de travail : une période critique pour la santé des travailleuses et des travailleurs saisonniers

“…The determinants were especially related to the high working expectations in place at the start of the season after a long off-season period, working rhythms imposed by the speed of the machines involved, a significant volume of production required immediately as work started up again, an assigned rotation through similar workstations all involving awkward postures and an intense working rhythm, as well as having to work in a difficult physical setting (cold, damp, drafty). These determinants agree with those raised in other studies looking at the context of seasonal work [2,8,[32][33][34] and in particular in the sector of food processing [9][10][11]15,24].…”

“…[36,41,42]. These types of conditions would better equip workers to optimally adjust their skills to each working situation, to develop regulation strategies that promote a healthy and sustainable work environment [9].…”

“…The scientific literature interested in seasonal work paints an unsettling picture of the working conditions that create situations involving a great risk of WRMSDs for these workers. Some of the challenging conditions reported by seasonal workers include: long working hours, many consecutive working days without a day off, high intensity of work, repetitive tasks, as well as short working cycles [4,[7][8][9]. Furthermore, the work is often conducted in conditions involving extreme temperatures (cold or hot) and elevated noise levels, the frequent and prolonged use of vibrating tools, and a working rhythm dictated by the speed of the machinery involved [2,[8][9][10][11].…”

“…Some of the challenging conditions reported by seasonal workers include: long working hours, many consecutive working days without a day off, high intensity of work, repetitive tasks, as well as short working cycles [4,[7][8][9]. Furthermore, the work is often conducted in conditions involving extreme temperatures (cold or hot) and elevated noise levels, the frequent and prolonged use of vibrating tools, and a working rhythm dictated by the speed of the machinery involved [2,[8][9][10][11]. The physical strain and the organizational, environmental, and time-related constraints are generally "endured" by seasonal workers "because they only last for the length of the season" [4 p.95].…”

“…Seasonal work is characterized by the alternating pattern of a "working season" and an "off-season" [2,4,8]. During the working season, tasks are often conducted in unpredictable, fluctuating, and intense conditions [2,9,[11][12][13] that impact the musculoskeletal health of the workers [4,14,15]. According to a literature review of this issue [14], seasonal workers report WRMSDs in several body regions (ex: back, shoulders, knees, neck, etc.)…”