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The Abysmal Organization of Work and Work Safety Culture Experienced by North Carolina Latinx Women in Farmworker Families

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas A. Arcury

    (Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA)

  • Sydney A. Smith

    (Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Division of Public Health Science, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA)

  • Jennifer W. Talton

    (Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Division of Public Health Science, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA)

  • Sara A. Quandt

    (Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA)

Abstract

The occupational health of immigrant workers in the United States is a major concern. This analysis describes two domains, organization of work and work safety culture, important to the occupational health of Latinx women in farmworker families. Sixty-seven Latinx women in North Carolina farmworker families completed a baseline and five follow-up questionnaires in 2019 through 2021. Fifty-nine of the women were employed in the year prior to the Follow-Up 5 Questionnaire. These women experienced an abysmal organization of work and work safety culture. They experienced significant job churn, with most changing employment several times during the 18-month period. Most of their jobs were seasonal, paid less than $10.00 per hour, piece-rate, and almost all without benefits. The women’s jobs had little skill variety (mean 1.5) or decision latitude (mean 1.1), but had high psychological demands (mean 2.0). Work safety climate was very low (mean 13.7), with 76.3% of women noting that their supervisors were “only interested in doing the job fast and cheaply” rather than safely. Women employed as farmworkers versus those in other jobs had few differences. Further research and intervention are needed on the organization of work and work safety culture of Latinx women manual workers.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas A. Arcury & Sydney A. Smith & Jennifer W. Talton & Sara A. Quandt, 2022. "The Abysmal Organization of Work and Work Safety Culture Experienced by North Carolina Latinx Women in Farmworker Families," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-19, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:8:p:4516-:d:789867
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Arcury, T.A. & Grzywacz, J.G. & Chen, H. & Mora, D.C. & Quandt, S.A., 2014. "Work organization and health among immigrant women: Latina manual workers in North Carolina," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(12), pages 2445-2452.
    2. Kearney, G.D. & Rodriguez, G. & Quandt, S.A. & Arcury, J.T. & Arcury, T.A., 2015. "Work safety climate, safety behaviors, and occupational injuries of youth farmworkers in North Carolina," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(7), pages 1336-1343.
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    8. Sara A. Quandt & Natalie J. LaMonto & Dana C. Mora & Jennifer W. Talton & Paul J. Laurienti & Thomas A. Arcury, 2020. "COVID-19 Pandemic among Latinx Farmworker and Nonfarmworker Families in North Carolina: Knowledge, Risk Perceptions, and Preventive Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-17, August.
    9. Cynthia L. Curl & Lisa Meierotto & Rebecca L. Som Castellano, 2020. "Understanding Challenges to Well-Being among Latina FarmWorkers in Rural Idaho Using in an Interdisciplinary, Mixed-Methods Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-13, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fabiola M. Perez-Lua & Alec M. Chan-Golston & Nancy J. Burke & Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young, 2023. "The Influence of Organizational Aspects of the U.S. Agricultural Industry and Socioeconomic and Political Conditions on Farmworkers’ COVID-19 Workplace Safety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(23), pages 1-19, December.

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