Environmental Health Can Protect the Health & Safety of Restaurant Workers

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Avice Barker
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1 Environmental Health Can Protect the Health & Safety of Restaurant Workers Rajiv Bhatia, MD, MPH The Civic Engine Presentation for the Public Health Alliance October 21, 2014

2 Current Working Conditions For Many U.S. Restaurant Workers Poverty Wages Food Insecurity Housing Instability Stress Exploitation Unpaid Overtime Wage Theft Hazardous Occupations Dangerous Working Conditions Lack of Safety Training and Equipment Public Health Risks Lack of Paid Sick Days Lack of Labor & Safety Enforcement

3 Being a dog would be better than being a worker in the United States. -A 50 year old low wage worker owed unpaid wages Too many people are looking for a job, you don t want to risk getting fired because you know and the boss knows that there will be others to fill your position. From Health and Working Conditions in San Francisco Chinatown Restaurants

4 Restaurant Working Conditions in San Francisco Few restaurant workers have paid sick days Worker environments with high risks of slips, falls, cuts, and burns high Less than 30% of employers post required labor notifications 50% of workers earn less than the minimum wage 20% of workers working 60+ hours Restaurant industry has largest share of local labor law violations

5 Research, Policy and Action Policy Research for Local Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Days Laws Action Research with Chinatown Restaurant Working Conditions Monitoring of Labor Notifications and Worker s Compensation Insurance Permit Suspensions to Recover Unpaid Wages Coordinated Surveillance and Enforcement with Labor Agencies

6 Available Legal Authorities SF Minimum Wage Ordinance Section. 12R.7.(b) the Agency may take any appropriate enforcement action to secure compliance, including requesting that City agencies or departments revoke or suspend any registration certificates, permits or licenses held or requested by the Employer or person until such time as the violation is remedied. California Health and Safety Code Section Any construction, alteration, remodeling, or operation of a food facility shall be approved by the enforcement agency and shall be in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal statutes, regulations, and ordinances, including but not limited to, fire, building, and zoning codes.

7 Essential PH Services 1. Monitor health status to identify community health problems. 2. Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community. 3. Inform and educate about health issues. 4. Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health problems. 5. Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts. Local Public Health Agency Roles Include information on occupation, industry, and employment conditions in data collection instruments (e.g., surveys) used to assess population health. Monitor the health status of vulnerable employee populations. Analyze epidemiological relationships between health outcomes and employment conditions. Inform employees and employers about preventative strategies for common occupational hazards. Conduct health impact assessments of proposed labor policies. Engage in participatory research with employees to identify and improve working conditions. Provide data and analysis to support initiatives to adopt or implement health-protective labor laws (e.g., paid sick days).

8 Essential PH Services 6. Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety. 7. Link people to needed personal health svcs and assure provision of HC when otherwise unavailable. 8. Assure a competent public health and personal health-care workforce. 9. Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and populationbased health services. Public Health Agency Roles Monitor compliance with labor laws in routine agency activities, referring potential violations to labor enforcement agencies. Utilize permit and licensing authority to sanction businesses that do not comply with labor laws. Identify work-related illnesses and injuries, referring injured workers to health-care and disability benefits. Refer patterns of occupational injury or illness to labor enforcement agencies for investigation and action. Ensure public health workers understand labor standards and the responsible enforcement agencies. Analyze population disparities in achievement of labor standards and access to compliance and enforcement resources. 10. Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems. Implement and evaluate coordinated initiatives by labor and health agencies.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS PAID SICK LEAVE (DRAFT) CHICAGO MINIMUM WAGE AND PAID SICK LEAVE ORDINANCE

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS PAID SICK LEAVE (DRAFT) CHICAGO MINIMUM WAGE AND PAID SICK LEAVE ORDINANCE An employee is covered if they perform at least two hours of work for the employer in any two-week period while