Free Essay

Work Insecurity in Canada

In:

Submitted By curtis12
Words 254
Pages 2
]Start ith broad on income inequality in Canada, we can see the difference between the top 10% of earners and the rest of the population. The majority of economic growth went to the richest 10%. The top 1% acquired 12.2% of all incomes. All Canadian families, save for the top 10%, were working more hours compared to about 10 years ago, but incoms stopped lack of growth negatively affected the middle class. This squeeze came in the form of 30 years of stuck wages, increases in housing prices, high debt, low-savings, more precarious work, two income households, and a decrease in unionization rates of 8% over the last 10 years. The poorest in Canada did much worse. Canada’s poorest work more hours too, but their earnings fell from about 15000 in 1978to 10000n 2007

iequality, regard the workplace and workforce, refer to state of being which involves an absence of opportunity, fairness, and equality, coupled with the presence of extreme variability for a person or group. This extreme variability in work related conditions can lead to the development of strong feelings of insecurity in any person who has experienced such inequality. Insecurity is a feeling or situation people may experience where there is uncertainty, instability, a lack of safe work condition, and feel doubt about work etc. One can argue that inequality leads to insecurity or vice versa; where negative experiences, continuing over extended periods in the market, lead to another group of negative experiences for the groups in question.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

The Social Determinants of Health: Working Conditions as a Determinant of Health

...Social Determinants of Health Across the Life-Span Conference, held in Toronto in November 2002. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Health Canada. Current Situation Over the 1980s and 1990s, there has been an ongoing restructuring of the labour market and of employment relationships. The intent of these changes has been to promote productivity and competitiveness, as opposed to promoting a worker-centred agenda of “good jobs” (Lowe, 2000). In Canada, only two-thirds of the employed workforce are in “standard” salaried jobs with no defined end date (mostly provided by large firms and the public sector). In this shrinking core job market, workers who have survived layoffs, privatization and contracting-out are generally working longer and harder. Employers have tried to increase profitability and competitiveness and to contain budgets by boosting productivity. This has been accomplished largely by increasing workloads. For example, in the health sector, fewer nurses, social workers and other health professionals must now deal with more clients and perform more duties. Investments in new labour-saving equipment, new information-based technologies, and experimentation with new forms of work organization have also boosted productivity. Some workplaces have become less hierarchical and alienating with the elimination of lower level supervisors and expanded job content. However, the overall incidence of innovative...

Words: 3260 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Soc 100

...and “post-industrial” societies, how has work changed in Canada overtime? | /25 | * Is “post-industrial” a proper description for Canadian society today? * Note: Adopt a critical approach. Support all arguments with relevant references/data. | /30 | * Technical aspects: Use APA format for in-text citations and reference page * 12 point font and double-spaced * Title page with name and student id * Note: There is no mark for “technical aspects” for assignment 1. Instead of penalizing students, I provide feedback to help with subsequent assignments. You will be penalized if you don’t follow the appropriate format for the rest of the assignments. | 0 | * Creativity: What is this? Creative thinking. * No marks for assignment 1 | 0 | Total | /100 | Assignment 2 Organization * Introduction (purpose/thesis statement and an overview of essay) * Paragraphing * Coherence: All the requirements of the assignment are related. A coherent essay must be able to “connect all the dots.” For example, any discussion of government policies must be related to the barriers that the most affected groups face in the labour market. * Conclusion | /10 | * What is the difference between inequality and insecurity and how can these phenomena be explained theoretically? | /10 | * How does labour market inequality and insecurity affect social groups? | /25 | * Has work become more unequal and/or insecure in Canada? |...

Words: 565 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Canada’s Need for Food Banks

...In a country as wealthy as Canada, close to one million people continue to rely on food banks to provide themselves with basic necessities each month. Food Banks are used by a wide variety of people within Canada, ranging from children and families, to single people, to even individuals who are employed. People tend to use food banks because they are not able to maintain a healthy lifestyle on their own. Whether it is because of economic, social, or cultural reasons, many people have no other option but to do so. I have determined that the main cause of an increase in food bank usage in Canada is poverty. Within Canada, poverty has been an ever-present issue for many years. Although Canada is rated eighth on the Human Development Index, there continues to be a growing number of impoverished people. Individuals who are not able to provide themselves with the basic necessities of life are at an incredible disadvantage when it comes to maintaining their health and well-being. They can be exposed to many illnesses and life threats because they are not able to provide themselves with the resources needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Things such as food, shelter, and warmth all become optional for an individual living in poverty as they have little opportunity to better their life or living situations. Factors such as housing, education, employment, and environment are all equally important in determining an individuals economic standing. Specific groups such as Aboriginals can...

Words: 3410 - Pages: 14

Free Essay

Tdavis

...Work stress and job performance Jungwee Park W ork stress is defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when job requirements do not match the worker’s capabilities, resources, and needs (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health 1999). It is recognized world-wide as a major challenge to individual mental and physical health, and organizational health (ILO 1986). Stressed workers are also more likely to be unhealthy, poorly motivated, less productive and less safe at work. And their organizations are less likely to succeed in a competitive market. By some estimates work-related stress costs the national economy a staggering amount in sick pay, lost productivity, health care and litigation costs (Palmer et al. 2004). Work stress can come from a variety of sources and affect people in different ways. Although the link between psycho-social aspects of the job and the health and well-being of workers has been well documented (Dollard and Metzer 1999), limited work has been done on the effects of distinct stressors on job performance. As well, various protective factors can prevent or reduce the effects of work stress, and little research has been done toward understanding these mitigating individual and organizational factors. One important source of work stress is job strain. According to the demand/control model (Karasek 1979), job strain is determined by the interactions between psychological demands and decision latitude (see Work stress)...

Words: 2340 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Aboriginal Community Issues

...Seven people were dead because of E-coli and hundreds of people went ill from it; however, water insecurity happens all the time in hundred sixteen Aboriginal societies. E-coli outbreak in Walkerton became huge news all around Canada, but water insecurity among Aboriginal communities has never become issue. Not only is water insecurity their problem, but also they are in housing deficit, food insecurity, poor education or unemployment. Unfairness and inequality is ongoing issue for Aboriginal communities, and this is the time we need to work on. We can give charity or donation to them, which is aimed short-term and dependent on giver. Furthermore, we can do social actions to change the law or rule to fulfill social justice, meaning fair distribution comparing to other group. (Duckitt, 2010) Analysis Social determinants of health are factors affecting person’s health not based on family history or genetics but based on environment the person is living on. (Duckitt, 2010) Aboriginal communities have been having...

Words: 629 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Food Security in Canada

...Sociology 808 Food Security in Canada Student name: Dorian Alushi Student ID: 500549410 Ryerson University November 13, 2015 According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, “food security exists when all the people, at all times, have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”. The focus of this essay is to analyze the factors that cause food insecurity and the health issues related with food insufficiency. There will be some data showing what percentage of total income would healthy and nutritional food take in a normal Canadian family. Also, I will provide information and facts that suggest that food banks are not a good solution for the problem, since they cause other health issues. Another interesting issue I will be discussing about is the food security in Nunavut, a remote location where food is an everyday issue for most of the community. Food security is a big problem all over the world, including social countries like Canada that have different programs to help people who cannot access or afford healthy and nutritious food. Food insecurity arises amongst different classes of the society, which vary from middle class to poor and then the biggest sufferers, the homeless. This problem comes from the high prices of fresh and healthy foods. A family with a low income has a lot of expenses, so they can’t spend a lot of money on food. Usually, fresh food is very expensive...

Words: 1255 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Stress on Jobs

...December 2007 Perspectives 5 Statistics Canada — Catalogue no. 75-001-XIE Jungwee Park is with the Labour and Household Surveys Analysis Division. He can be reached at 613-951-4598 or perspectives@statcan.ca. Work stress and job performance Jungwee Park W ork stress is defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when job requirements do not match the worker’s capabilities, resources, and needs (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health 1999). It is recognized world-wide as a major challenge to individual mental and physical health, and organizational health (ILO 1986). Stressed workers are also more likely to be unhealthy, poorly motivated, less productive and less safe at work. And their organizations are less likely to succeed in a competitive market. By some estimates work-related stress costs the national economy a stag-gering amount in sick pay, lost productivity, health care and litigation costs (Palmer et al. 2004). Work stress can come from a variety of sources and affect people in different ways. Although the link between psycho-social aspects of the job and the health and well-being of workers has been well documented (Dollard and Metzer 1999), limited work has been done on the effects of distinct stressors on job per-formance. As well, various protective factors can pre-vent or reduce the effects of work stress, and little research has been done toward understanding these mitigating individual and organizational...

Words: 2393 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Shopping

...Socioeconomic Status and Food-Insecurity in Single-Mother-Families Rana Hassan & Douaa Mostafa Shopping List Project, Highway to Health 2000A Tuesday, November 18th , 2014 Introduction: In Canada, women’s health is affected by several social, economic and physical determinants. Single mothers are women, who are single, divorced, widowed or separated and care for one or more child with no assistance from a spouse. Single-mother families constitute 13% of Canadian families and they are more likely to experience a lower quality of life compared to families with two parents [3]. Also, poverty rates among families led by single mothers remain unacceptably high compared to the other demographic groups [3]. In 1999, poverty rate in single mothers was 51.8%, which is five-fold greater than the poverty rate among two-parent families (10.4%) [2]. Despite Canada’s efforts to reduce poverty among single-mother-families, the percentage of poor children living with their mothers continued to grow substantially over the last two decades [3]. Many studies conducted in Canada and the United States demonstrate that single mothers are significantly more likely to be young (less than 25 years of age), generally unhealthy, on welfare and poorly educated [9]. Also, single mothers tend to have higher rates of unemployment due to their deteriorating health states and their lower educational backgrounds [9]. The financial situation of a single-mother-family is worsened by additional children...

Words: 2539 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

Where's Work Headed

...rich owned servants and the metal smiths flourished with business. Employment became centralized around assembly lines and factory work initializing the biggest change the economy had seen and capitalists were at large with their ability to mass-produce. Post industrialism and globalism silenced the roar, leading us where we are today, with a heavily populated and unskilled service industry. This leaves society wondering, “what is the future of work”? In this written essay, we will explore the future of work by focusing on the current situations and what possibilities might transpire. The following topics will be covered: • The real reasons for precarious work popularity and it’s outcome on the labor force • The impact of unions and what their disappearance would bring • Post industrial Canada and the effects of international business on industries • Environmental threats on the primary industry • The future of technology on work As we’ve seen with pervious trends, the future of work is heavily reliant on the current situation. In today’s economy most workers are faced with inequality and job insecurity resulting in unemployment, precarious work, or furthermore dangerous jobs. The human capital theory suggests that an equal opportunity is available for everyone but only those individuals with the higher skill sets will end up in virtuous work opportunities (Krahn et al. 2011, p. 108). Canada’s education system is non-discriminating and it allows an equal opportunity for...

Words: 1476 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Hunger

...affected by these preventable causes. It is time not to just speak out against world hunger but to do something about it. In Canada, the issue of malnutrition is quickly escalating as more and more individuals are experiencing hunger by having little or no food in their presence. HungerCount 2013, a comprehensive report on hunger and food bank usage in Canada shows several detailed findings of dilemmas Canadians are currently experiencing. During a time of apparent economic recovery, far too many Canadians are still struggling to put food on the table. The report explains issues that Canadians are experiencing and seeks address the root causes and provide solutions. There are many inter-connected issues causing hunger and poverty. For instance, low income is one of the most prominent causes since Canada has lost hundreds of thousands well paying jobs over the past 30 years. Manufacturing has fled to other parts of the world where products can be made at a significantly lower cost (Pegg, 2013). The jobs that have replaced them are most likely to be low-paying, part-time, and temporary. Furthermore, access to education and training can be extremely frustrating for individuals who have not acquired the skills to attain secure jobs that pay well. Also, employment and social insurance have become more difficult to access for individuals who are unable to work due to any form of physical or mental issue. As well, insufficient incomes make it...

Words: 1558 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Social Studies

...* World Food Day Either we build a future for all, or there will be no acceptable future for anyone: Let’s be the Zero Hunger Generation World Food Day Either we build a future for all, or there will be no acceptable future for anyone: Let’s be the Zero Hunger Generation By By:Deavion Dyanta Semple By By:Deavion Dyanta Semple World Food Day World Food Day Theme: “Social Protection and Agriculture: breaking the cycle of rural poverty” Theme: “Social Protection and Agriculture: breaking the cycle of rural poverty” Street Address Address 2 City, ST ZIP Code Phone: 555.555.0125 Fax: 555.555.0145 E-mail address Street Address Address 2 City, ST ZIP Code Phone: 555.555.0125 Fax: 555.555.0145 E-mail address Caption describing picture or graphic. Caption describing picture or graphic. Why care about Hunger? Because the right to food is a basic human right.   In a world of plenty, 805 million people, one in nine worldwide, live with chronic hunger. The costs of hunger and malnutrition fall heavily on the most vulnerable. 60% of the hungry in the world are women. Almost 5 million children under the age of 5 die of malnutrition-related causes every year 4 in 10 children in poor countries are malnourished damaging their bodies and brains Every human being has a fundamental right to be free from hunger and the right to adequate food. The right to adequate food is realized when every man, woman and child has the physical and economic access at all times...

Words: 1222 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Future of Work

...Much has been written about the past in regards to Canada’s evolution from an agrarian system to an industrialized system where the production of goods is the foremost means of work. Now, there are those who say that we have moved onto a post-industrialized system, which includes knowledge workers who produce and disseminate knowledge and have the ability to solve problems, and the creative class, which is comprised of professionals like engineers, professors, and lawyers. “These workers are transforming the economy through a new work ethic that places a high priority on interesting work, flexible forms of organization, and dynamic places in which to live and work” (Krahn, Hughes & Lowe, 2012, p. 27). As we venture into a post-industrialized era, this paper will examine the future prospects of work in Canada and the role that technology will play. Advancements in technology and innovation in a post-industrialized society are changing the way work is done. Some believe that technological advances will have a severe negative impact on the Canadian workforce. Betcherman and Lowe (1997) examine this view and conclude that there are three reasons that support this pessimistic outlook: 1) “mental” and “manual” labour are at risk due to “smart” technologies (p. 11); 2) when the agrarian system was replaced with industrialism, there were emerging sectors like manufacturing and services absorbed displaced workers, however, there does not seem to be an emerging sector (Betcherman &...

Words: 1835 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Royal Commission on Safety in Mines

...Chapter 1—Introduction MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Which of the following occupational illnesses have been around since ancient Egyptian times? a.|skin diseases | b.|liver diseases | c.|respiratory problems| d.|lung diseases| ANS: c PTS: 1 REF: p. 6 BLM: Remember 2. Which of the following was articulated by the 1974 Royal Commission on Safety in Mines? a.|requirement for mandatory inspections| b.|standards for ventilation| c.|system of compensation for injured workers| d.|rights of workers| ANS: d PTS: 1 REF: p. 7 BLM: Remember 3. Which of the following is an example of an employer’s responsibility under OH&S legislation? a.|providing financial support for injured workers | b.|cleaning up the workplace before an inspection | c.|conducting research on health and safety issues| d.|preparing a written occupational health and safety policy | ANS: d PTS: 1 REF: p. 12 BLM: Remember 4. According to the text, what was the primary reason that supervisors on construction sites underestimated health and safety risks? a.|They could not recognize unsafe conditions. | b.|They believed that risks were unavoidable.| c.|They had not experienced any recent accidents.| d.|They were obsessed with meeting deadlines. | ANS: a PTS: 1 REF: p. 12 BLM: Remember 5. Which of the following is an economic benefit of effective OH&S programs? a.|a reduction in lost-time costs| b.|greater due diligence by employers | c.|workers look out for the safety...

Words: 2411 - Pages: 10

Free Essay

Food Bank Use in Canada

...Food Bank Use in Canada According to Food Banks Canada, food bank usage has soared to 28% in the past three years, with more than 850,000 Canadians making use of a food bank in a typical year (Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition, March 2012). One of the biggest contributors to why individuals depend on food banks is their social economic status of lower class and poverty. Although this is a big contributor, there are many more major social determinants that contribute to food bank usage outside of social economic status designation. I believe the other three most important determinants that contribute to usage of food banks are education, employment/working conditions and physical/social environment. The different levels of education a person may have can greatly impact a person’s quality of life in regards to food insecurities. However, a larger percentage of food bank users are individuals who have higher levels of education. A key reason for this is caused by the many professionals who have a foreign education and cannot find work in their field in Canada because their foreign credentials are not recognized (Daily Bread Food Bank, 2010). As well as this, more people with university degrees from Canadian institutions are also turning to food banks due to not being able to use their higher education to find stable employment (Daily Bread Food Bank, 2010). Although a person has a higher level of education, it does not mean that they are successful in finding a job...

Words: 820 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

A Hero's Journey Essay

...Moving to Canada was a big change for her. In India she always had her family around her. When she moved to Canada, she no longer had the servants to work for her. Her family was busy with their jobs. After a few months, her parents had to go back to India due to personal problems and her sisters were constantly going back and forth due to their relationships. She never thought that she would have to live without her parents. When she got to know that her family has to go back, she was very stressed because she never lived alone and now it was the time she could actually go out and explore things by herself. For example: going for groceries or going out with friends. She thought it would be very difficult for her to manage all the things by herself, as she was the youngest, who knew nothing about the house chores. She always used to have negative thoughts in her mind that she has to live alone rest of her life, which created insecurities. Myra never wanted to go out alone, as she was very afraid of the world. And she was scared to travel on the buses and used to think that, some day she will get lost. She never wanted to live without her family. One day she went for groceries and was very scared. When she went out...

Words: 483 - Pages: 2