2007 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Home-based work & the reconceptualization of "health" : a mutli-actor survey
| Project/Area Number |
18530298
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Business administration
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| Research Institution | Tokyo University of Science |
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Principal Investigator |
SPINKS W.A. Tokyo University of Science, Dept. of Management Science, Professor (10286198)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2006 – 2007
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| Keywords | home-based work / occupational health / self-employed workers / telework / Japan / mutli-actor study |
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| Research Abstract |
Home-based versus non-home-based workers :
Home-based workers are more likely to take actual health factors into consideration when deciding to take time off sick, whereas non home-based workers tended to take work commitments more into account.
In contrast, non-home-based workers were more likely to undergo treatment and take time off during times of ill health. A slightly higher number of the home-based sample had at one time or another felt unable to take time off when ill
The non home-based sample had a lower perception of shared sickness criteria with work partners.
Self-employed versus employee sample :
Home-based work frequency was much lower for the employee sample.
Employees enjoyed a far more comprehensive health management environment than self-employed workers.
Self-employed workers had more health problems.
〓ployees cited a broader range of justification for time off sick.
Employees were less sure if their personal sickness criteria were shared by their colleagues and supervisors.
T
… More
he self-employed had a lower perception of shared sickness criteria.
Employees were more likely to be urged to take time off by colleagues/supervisors.
Subgroup level :
Home-based self-employed workers experience longer periods of illness, less consultation with doctors and less specific encouragement by third parties to take time off when unwell.
Homebased self-employed workers indicated a higher level of third party consideration towards their health mainly in the form of (verbal) moral support.
Home-based employees enjoyed a much more positive environment in terms of collegiate consideration and encouragement, reinforced by greater family awareness.
To sum up, home-based workers 1) experienced more third-party consideration of their health ; 2) used work considerations less when deciding to take time off sick ; 3) were less likely to seek medical treatment or take time off sick ; and 4) were less confident their personal judgement criteria were shared by colleagues. This suggests that health issues do exist for home-based workers in that, although they experience greater moral support, they are not as action-oriented. Moreover, the home-based self-employed subgroup emerged as especially vulnerable. Less
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