{"title":"Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status and Job Accommodation for Workers with Health Problems in Japan during the COVID-19 Pandemic","authors":"Yu Igarashi , Seiichiro Tateishi , Arisa Harada , Kosuke Mafune , Mayumi Tsuji , Akira Ogami , Tomohisa Nagata , Ryutaro Matsugaki , Yoshihisa Fujino , for the CORoNaWork project","doi":"10.1016/j.shaw.2025.04.002","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>During the COVID-19 pandemic, many health-impaired workers of vulnerable socioeconomic status (SES) suffered employment and health problems. This study investigated the relationship between workers with health problems in vulnerable SES and job accommodation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This cross-sectional internet monitoring study was conducted among 33,302 Japanese workers from December 22 to 26, 2020. Of the total survey participants, 6,309 who reported that they needed accommodations from their companies were included in the analysis. Using a multilevel logistic regression model, we examined the relationship between their SES and the lack of job accommodations from their companies, and age-sex-adjusted and multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were estimated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Multivariate analysis revealed that the OR for the lack of accommodations from companies was significantly higher for non-desk jobs than desk jobs (OR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.04–1.28, p=0.01). The ORs also differed based on household incomes and number of employees. ORs were significantly higher for those with an equivalent household income of less than 2.9 million yen compared with 9 million yen or more (OR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.39–1.97, p<0.01). Comparing with firms with 1,000 or more employees, the ORs were significantly higher for those with fewer than 30 employees (OR=1.21, 95% CI: 1.05–1.40, p<0.01).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>We found a relationship between SES and the lack of job accommodation for workers with health problems. The lack of job accommodation may further worsen SES and health conditions, reinforcing the importance of accommodating the needs of vulnerable SES workers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56149,"journal":{"name":"Safety and Health at Work","volume":"16 2","pages":"Pages 180-186"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Safety and Health at Work","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2093791125000265","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many health-impaired workers of vulnerable socioeconomic status (SES) suffered employment and health problems. This study investigated the relationship between workers with health problems in vulnerable SES and job accommodation.
Methods
This cross-sectional internet monitoring study was conducted among 33,302 Japanese workers from December 22 to 26, 2020. Of the total survey participants, 6,309 who reported that they needed accommodations from their companies were included in the analysis. Using a multilevel logistic regression model, we examined the relationship between their SES and the lack of job accommodations from their companies, and age-sex-adjusted and multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were estimated.
Results
Multivariate analysis revealed that the OR for the lack of accommodations from companies was significantly higher for non-desk jobs than desk jobs (OR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.04–1.28, p=0.01). The ORs also differed based on household incomes and number of employees. ORs were significantly higher for those with an equivalent household income of less than 2.9 million yen compared with 9 million yen or more (OR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.39–1.97, p<0.01). Comparing with firms with 1,000 or more employees, the ORs were significantly higher for those with fewer than 30 employees (OR=1.21, 95% CI: 1.05–1.40, p<0.01).
Conclusions
We found a relationship between SES and the lack of job accommodation for workers with health problems. The lack of job accommodation may further worsen SES and health conditions, reinforcing the importance of accommodating the needs of vulnerable SES workers.
期刊介绍:
Safety and Health at Work (SH@W) is an international, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journal published quarterly in English beginning in 2010. The journal is aimed at providing grounds for the exchange of ideas and data developed through research experience in the broad field of occupational health and safety. Articles may deal with scientific research to improve workers'' health and safety by eliminating occupational accidents and diseases, pursuing a better working life, and creating a safe and comfortable working environment. The journal focuses primarily on original articles across the whole scope of occupational health and safety, but also welcomes up-to-date review papers and short communications and commentaries on urgent issues and case studies on unique epidemiological survey, methods of accident investigation, and analysis. High priority will be given to articles on occupational epidemiology, medicine, hygiene, toxicology, nursing and health services, work safety, ergonomics, work organization, engineering of safety (mechanical, electrical, chemical, and construction), safety management and policy, and studies related to economic evaluation and its social policy and organizational aspects. Its abbreviated title is Saf Health Work.