Health, Well Being and Working PovertyHealth, Well Being and Working Poverty

Helen Masterman-Smith Helen Masterman-Smith and Jude Eltonand Jude Elton

Centre for Work and LifeCentre for Work and Life

University of South AustraliaUniversity of South Australia Hawke Research Institute for Sustainable SocietiesHawke Research Institute for Sustainable Societies

www.lowpayproject.com.au Low Paid Services Employment in Australia: Low Paid Services Employment in Australia:

Dimensions, Causes, Effects and ResponsesDimensions, Causes, Effects and Responses

FundingFunding: Australian Research Council, Liquor : Australian Research Council, Liquor Hospitality Miscellaneous Workers Union, Hospitality Miscellaneous Workers Union, Brotherhood of St Laurence, SA Unions, Unions Brotherhood of St Laurence, SA Unions, Unions NSW, Victorian Trades and Labour CouncilNSW, Victorian Trades and Labour Council

Research teamResearch team: Barbara Pocock (Uni of SA), : Barbara Pocock (Uni of SA), John Buchanan (Sydney Uni), Ian Watson (Sydney John Buchanan (Sydney Uni), Ian Watson (Sydney Uni), Iain Campbell (RMIT Uni), Susan Oakley Uni), Iain Campbell (RMIT Uni), Susan Oakley (Adelaide Uni)(Adelaide Uni)

Changing workplace Changing workplace environmentsenvironments

‘‘Work’ as a fundamental social determinant of Work’ as a fundamental social determinant of health – availability and quality…health – availability and quality…

Implications of WorkChoices for low paid?Implications of WorkChoices for low paid? AIRC President Giudice: ‘AIRC President Giudice: ‘people with low skills, people with low skills,

low bargaining power are headed for the five low bargaining power are headed for the five minimum conditions..which will have an effect on minimum conditions..which will have an effect on their incomes..This will be accompanied by a their incomes..This will be accompanied by a slowdown in the rate of growth of minimum slowdown in the rate of growth of minimum wages - that’s what the Fair Pay Commission is wages - that’s what the Fair Pay Commission is forfor’ ’

‘‘I can assure you it s going to affect our societyI can assure you it s going to affect our society’’

The studyThe study Low paid workers: Low paid workers: $14/hr - $530/wk - $26800/year$14/hr - $530/wk - $26800/year

National researchNational research SA – childcare workersSA – childcare workers Vic - cleanersVic - cleaners NSW - luxury accommodation workersNSW - luxury accommodation workers

Focus: workers, households, communitiesFocus: workers, households, communities Recruitment: LHMU, BSL, advertisingRecruitment: LHMU, BSL, advertising Larger projectLarger project

100-200 participants (interviews/focus groups)100-200 participants (interviews/focus groups) HILDA analysisHILDA analysis

Low paid work:

• 14% (mid 90s) to 20% (2003)

• 29% (2.6m) of all workers on < $500pw• Concentrated in service sectors • Strong connection with casual/part-time employment

Low paid workers:• Mostly female, 25-65 yrs• Over-represented: young people,

women, CALD

Dimensions of low payDimensions of low pay

Health on a low wageHealth on a low wage

Not Not allall low paid in poverty low paid in poverty Working poor = Working poor = timetime and and incomeincome poverty poverty

Fewer benefits (health, travel), more costs (travel, Fewer benefits (health, travel), more costs (travel, training, equipment)training, equipment)

Deep sense of struggle and deprivationDeep sense of struggle and deprivation• I only have incoming calls... my daughter’s rent pays the I only have incoming calls... my daughter’s rent pays the

groceries. No luxuries.. I will live in a rented home for groceries. No luxuries.. I will live in a rented home for the rest of my life (Fay, 43, cleaner, Melbourne)the rest of my life (Fay, 43, cleaner, Melbourne)

Tough on household relationships and social networksTough on household relationships and social networks• I’ve been really stressed out… July was my shocking I’ve been really stressed out… July was my shocking

one. Kids couldn’t even look at me ‘cause I had so many one. Kids couldn’t even look at me ‘cause I had so many bills … I had rego … I had everything… I have to find a bills … I had rego … I had everything… I have to find a full time job. I can’t cope any more. Well because the full time job. I can’t cope any more. Well because the rent’s going up all the time too (Cathy, 40s, lone parent rent’s going up all the time too (Cathy, 40s, lone parent of 2 children, cleaner, Adelaide)of 2 children, cleaner, Adelaide)

Health treatment and prevention are a Health treatment and prevention are a luxuryluxury

Individuals Individuals

Physical well beingPhysical well being Workplace hazards – chemicals, sick childrenWorkplace hazards – chemicals, sick children Endless workEndless work

• Long hours/overwork/on-callLong hours/overwork/on-call• No retirementNo retirement

I’m going to work til I can work. … I want to keep working and pay off my debts I’m going to work til I can work. … I want to keep working and pay off my debts (John, 65, cleaner, Melbourne).(John, 65, cleaner, Melbourne).

• No rest or recreationNo rest or recreation Emotional/mental well beingEmotional/mental well being

Depression, anxietyDepression, anxiety• Pressure for money..I have no money, upset, start trouble.. I feel squashed, can’t relax Pressure for money..I have no money, upset, start trouble.. I feel squashed, can’t relax

(Paul, 47, cleaner, Melbourne)(Paul, 47, cleaner, Melbourne)

Humiliation, shame, Humiliation, shame, ‘a different world’‘a different world’ • ‘‘these people that have got a bit of money to flash… and I can’t even afford to buy these people that have got a bit of money to flash… and I can’t even afford to buy

myself a bloody meal … I got told by Centrelink the other day that I’m living beyond my myself a bloody meal … I got told by Centrelink the other day that I’m living beyond my means and I laughed… I don’t need her to tell me that...you feel like an absolute means and I laughed… I don’t need her to tell me that...you feel like an absolute dickhead and a failure’ (Ebony, 29, mother of 3, childcare worker, Adelaide)dickhead and a failure’ (Ebony, 29, mother of 3, childcare worker, Adelaide)

Households/FamiliesHouseholds/Families Low paid workers often do long hours = families/households miss out on Low paid workers often do long hours = families/households miss out on bothboth time time

and $$sand $$s Relationship pressuresRelationship pressures

… … they always expect grandma to be able to feed them and have cakes and lollies and take they always expect grandma to be able to feed them and have cakes and lollies and take them to places and that's where I get really upset that I can't (Diana, 50s, cleaner, them to places and that's where I get really upset that I can't (Diana, 50s, cleaner, Adelaide)Adelaide)

Care commitments (Susan’s mum)Care commitments (Susan’s mum) It’s not a very flexible job … I’ve got an elderly mother who needs to go to the doctors nearly It’s not a very flexible job … I’ve got an elderly mother who needs to go to the doctors nearly

every other Wednesday but I can’t do that anymore (Susan, 50s, private nanny, Adelaide)every other Wednesday but I can’t do that anymore (Susan, 50s, private nanny, Adelaide) Children go withoutChildren go without

• Health care, dental, medicineHealth care, dental, medicine• School excursions, educational participationSchool excursions, educational participation• Sports participationSports participation• Home heatingHome heating• Meals, good mealsMeals, good meals• ClothingClothing• Transport for eventsTransport for events• HolidaysHolidays• Basic leisureBasic leisure• Parental time Parental time

Ebony buys … ‘home brand or the bargain of the week…it’s not …the leanest chicken or the Ebony buys … ‘home brand or the bargain of the week…it’s not …the leanest chicken or the leanest meat to actually promote good health.leanest meat to actually promote good health. And also being running around heaps … And also being running around heaps …often I have to get [the kids] lunch order …so sometimes it becomes a bit of an unorganised often I have to get [the kids] lunch order …so sometimes it becomes a bit of an unorganised household which also becomes a bit more expensive which also creates not eating healthy household which also becomes a bit more expensive which also creates not eating healthy and … not taking time out for yourself’ (Ebony, 20s, mother of 3, child care worker)and … not taking time out for yourself’ (Ebony, 20s, mother of 3, child care worker)

CommunityCommunity

Many examples of withdrawal from social relationships, organisations, Many examples of withdrawal from social relationships, organisations, activitiesactivities

Social world shrinksSocial world shrinks• ..I don’t go out and visit because its another 20 minute drive and I can’t afford that (Molly, ..I don’t go out and visit because its another 20 minute drive and I can’t afford that (Molly,

childcare worker, Adelaide)childcare worker, Adelaide)• Catching up with friends, its rare now (Jenni, 20s, childcare worker, Adelaide)Catching up with friends, its rare now (Jenni, 20s, childcare worker, Adelaide)

Community/social support networks stretchedCommunity/social support networks stretched Mutual aid/support networks struggling with diminishing resourcesMutual aid/support networks struggling with diminishing resources

• A lady was moving out over the road or they got thrown out or something and I had her A lady was moving out over the road or they got thrown out or something and I had her and her kids come over and she asked me could she stay here for awhile and she was and her kids come over and she asked me could she stay here for awhile and she was here two or three weeks, I've had that quite a few times (Diana, 50s, single grandmother here two or three weeks, I've had that quite a few times (Diana, 50s, single grandmother supporting grandchild, cleaner, Adelaide)supporting grandchild, cleaner, Adelaide)

Capacity building underminedCapacity building undermined• I'm not doing it now because of this job but I was … involved [voluntarily in] taking kids to I'm not doing it now because of this job but I was … involved [voluntarily in] taking kids to

court and … sitting with them while they've got access to a parent... (Diana, 50s, single court and … sitting with them while they've got access to a parent... (Diana, 50s, single grandmother supporting grandchild, cleaner, Adelaide)grandmother supporting grandchild, cleaner, Adelaide)

Sick workers – public safety, burden on health care systemSick workers – public safety, burden on health care system• I’m probably likely to actually come into work feeling under the weather because you know I’m probably likely to actually come into work feeling under the weather because you know

you’ve got no sick leave or no TOIL [time of in lieu] or anything like that (Donna, 30s, you’ve got no sick leave or no TOIL [time of in lieu] or anything like that (Donna, 30s, childcare worker, Adelaide)childcare worker, Adelaide)

PreventionPrevention

Financial constraintsFinancial constraints Delaying treatmentDelaying treatment

• I don’t go to the dentist.. I’m scared to go in case he finds something I can’t I don’t go to the dentist.. I’m scared to go in case he finds something I can’t afford (Paula, 55, mother of 2, two cleaning jobs, Melbourne)afford (Paula, 55, mother of 2, two cleaning jobs, Melbourne)

Cutting back on healthy/sufficient food and exerciseCutting back on healthy/sufficient food and exercise• [After work] I haven’t recharged from the day yet and I don’t actually have [After work] I haven’t recharged from the day yet and I don’t actually have

the energy to do exercise and even eat right sometimes because you’re not the energy to do exercise and even eat right sometimes because you’re not really earning that much so you’re buying cheaper food I suppose and really earning that much so you’re buying cheaper food I suppose and budgeting more (Kylie, 30s, childcare worker, Sydney)budgeting more (Kylie, 30s, childcare worker, Sydney)

Sports participationSports participation Time constraints - little control over work or Time constraints - little control over work or non-worknon-work time time

• Because it’s a poor pay rate, you feel you need to work as much as you Because it’s a poor pay rate, you feel you need to work as much as you possibly can so you never want to make appointments, even on your day off, possibly can so you never want to make appointments, even on your day off, for medical, … breast screening … cervical cancer screening … pap for medical, … breast screening … cervical cancer screening … pap smears, … And also if work rings up and wants you to work and you smears, … And also if work rings up and wants you to work and you refuse… you’ll find you’re penalised when the next roster comes out … refuse… you’ll find you’re penalised when the next roster comes out … you’ve got less hours (Vicky, 50s, childcare worker, Adelaide)you’ve got less hours (Vicky, 50s, childcare worker, Adelaide)

Help SeekingHelp Seeking

Community services Community services • ‘‘I’d probably be too proud’ (Charmaine, 40s, cleaner, I’d probably be too proud’ (Charmaine, 40s, cleaner,

Adelaide)Adelaide)• ‘‘I found it hard to actually ring them up and to get to I found it hard to actually ring them up and to get to

that point’ (Millie, 30s, cleaner, Adelaide)that point’ (Millie, 30s, cleaner, Adelaide) Welfare as a last resort:Welfare as a last resort:

• ‘‘We never claim dole, anything … NEVER any one day We never claim dole, anything … NEVER any one day claim unemployment’ (Mercedes, cleaner, immigrant, claim unemployment’ (Mercedes, cleaner, immigrant, Melbourne)Melbourne)

• ‘‘I don’t want to be known as one of those dole I don’t want to be known as one of those dole bludgers’ (Fay, 40s, cleaner, Melbourne)bludgers’ (Fay, 40s, cleaner, Melbourne)

In sum…In sum…

Low pay = time and money povertyLow pay = time and money poverty Good health and healthy Good health and healthy

household/community household/community relationships are essential to relationships are essential to surviving on a low wagesurviving on a low wage

Yet, low wages erode health, Yet, low wages erode health, social connection and social fabricsocial connection and social fabric

Work that is health promoting is Work that is health promoting is fairly paid = living wagefairly paid = living wage family friendly conditionsfamily friendly conditions ensures workplace rights/citizenshipensures workplace rights/citizenship meets ILO minimum standardsmeets ILO minimum standards

www.lowpayproject.com.au

www.unisa.edu.au/hawkeinstitute/cwl/

Stay tuned:Stay tuned:2008 Low pay 2008 Low pay book releasebook release