Who is safe at work? Problematizing employment volatility during the 2008-2018 Spanish socioeconomic crisis from a critical occupational perspective

Abstract

Introduction The Spanish socioeconomic crisis context has impacted on the population’s work conditions, which generates instability and workers’ fear of losing their job. Despite the recent research which addresses the work as an occupation in Critical Occupational Therapy and Science, little is known about the volatility of employment in relation to the job instability resulting from contextual changes. Objectives To explore the relationship between employment volatility, participation in daily occupations, and the health and wellbeing of workers during the Spanish socioeconomic crisis. Method A narrative qualitative methodology was conducted. Two open interviews and a personal diary were used as data generation methods. Two experiences were analyzed by adopting a thematic analysis. Results Three thematic categories illustrate how workers orchestrate their occupations in a context of employment volatility and they situate the multidimensional context of work in such circumstances as restrictive of occupational opportunities. Uncertainty generates a normalized instability in the daily life of workers, which impact occupational choices, health, and wellbeing. In addition, participants reflect on future perspectives of work associated with precarity and resignation. Conclusions The study of the employment volatility contributes to broadening the conceptualization of work as an occupation and contribute to the development of occupational justice-based practices.