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COVID-19 and Essential Workers: A Narrative Review of Health Outcomes and Moral Injury

Author

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  • Joanna Gaitens

    (School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21204, USA)

  • Marian Condon

    (School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21204, USA)

  • Eseosa Fernandes

    (School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21204, USA)

  • Melissa McDiarmid

    (School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21204, USA)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a number of added obstacles to safe employment for already-challenged essential workers. Essential workers not employed in the health sector generally include racially diverse, low-wage workers whose jobs require close interaction with the public and/or close proximity to their coworkers, placing them at increased risk of infection. A narrative review facilitated the analyses of health outcome data in these workers and contributing factors to illness related to limited workplace protections and a lack of organizational support. Findings suggest that this already marginalized population may also be at increased risk of “moral injury” due to specific work-related factors, such as limited personal protective equipment (PPE) and the failure of the employer, as the safety and health “duty holder,” to protect workers. Evidence suggests that ethical and, in some cases, legally required safety protections benefit not only the individual worker, but an employer’s enterprise and the larger community which can retain access to resilient, essential services.

Suggested Citation

  • Joanna Gaitens & Marian Condon & Eseosa Fernandes & Melissa McDiarmid, 2021. "COVID-19 and Essential Workers: A Narrative Review of Health Outcomes and Moral Injury," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1446-:d:492899
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Melissa Janson & Jill D. Sharkey & Daniel A. del Cid, 2021. "Predictors of Mental Health Outcomes in Grocery Store Workers amid the COVID-19 Pandemic and Implications for Workplace Safety and Moral Injury," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-16, August.
    3. Erika Meza & Leslie Giglio & Ana O. Franco & Elizabeth Rodriguez & Laura Stock & John Balmes & Jacqueline M. Torres & Alicia Fernandez, 2022. "Worker Perspectives on COVID-19 Risks: A Qualitative Study of Latino Construction Workers in Oakland, California," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-11, August.
    4. Narges Ghoroubi & Emilie Counil & Myriam Khlat, 2022. "Socio-Demographic Composition and Potential Occupational Exposure to SARS-CoV2 under Routine Working Conditions among Key Workers in France," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-14, June.
    5. Gloria Guidetti & Michela Cortini & Stefania Fantinelli & Teresa Di Fiore & Teresa Galanti, 2022. "Safety Management and Wellbeing during COVID-19: A Pilot Study in the Manufactory Sector," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-11, March.
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    7. Krzysztof Goniewicz & Mariusz Goniewicz & Anna Włoszczak-Szubzda & Dorota Lasota & Frederick M. Burkle & Marta Borowska-Stefańska & Szymon Wiśniewski & Amir Khorram-Manesh, 2022. "The Moral, Ethical, Personal, and Professional Challenges Faced by Physicians during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-13, May.
    8. Aparicio, Elizabeth M. & Shpiegel, Svetlana & Martinez-Garcia, Genevieve & Sanchez, Alexander & Jasczynski, Michelle & Ventola, Marissa & Channell Doig, Amara & Robinson, Jennifer L. & Smith, Rhoda, 2023. "Experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic among young parents with foster care backgrounds: A participatory action PhotoVoice study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    9. Lorraine Smith-MacDonald & Liana Lentz & David Malloy & Suzette Brémault-Phillips & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2021. "Meat in a Seat: A Grounded Theory Study Exploring Moral Injury in Canadian Public Safety Communicators, Firefighters, and Paramedics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-18, November.

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