EMPLOYMENT

People who are unemployed, underemployed, or who work in stressful jobs usually have poorer health. When people lose their job, they not only lose income, they lose confidence in themselves. People who are unemployed feel anger, failure, guilt and stress. Suprisingly, many of the health problems related to job loss have more to do with the stress of unemployment, than with the loss of income.

But having a job does not mean that people are free from stress. The jobs people do and the conditions under which they work can also affect health. People may feel stress at work from work overload, boredom, isolation, physical hazards, job insecurity and lack of control over their work. On the other hand, interesting jobs and good working conditions promote employee health. Employers should try and create healthy workplaces and healthy employees.

What can you do?

Think about your employment and working conditions and then ask:

• How is my job (or lack of job) affecting my health?
• What can I do to reduce stress from my job?
• What can I do to create a healthier workplace for my employees?

Think about the employment and working conditions at your worksite or in your community and then ask:

• What can we do to promote safer and healthier workplaces?
• How can we support people in our community who are unemployed or underemployed?