Running head: WOMEN AND WORKPLACE
Occupational Health and Women within the Workplace
Cassandra Magee
Texas Woman’s University
Occupational Health and Women within the Workplace
The occupational health within the workplace is important for women worldwide because, women need to be protected against sexual assault, discrimination and other workplace abuses. Friedan said that the National Organization for Women (NOW) purpose is “to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all the privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men (Freidan, 2004).”
Freidan reported that a work-friendly environment should include the following: “Treat all customers/clients equally and with respect, without regard to their sex, race, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or size. Provide a workplace free of discrimination based on sex, race, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or size. Support all employees in their efforts to balance work and family responsibilities. In this regard, companies not only meet the minimum requirements of the law but also strive toward policies that are genuinely family-friendly. (Such policies might include paid sick leave, flex-time, job sharing, child care and/or elder care benefits, family and medical leave for companies not legally obligated to provide it.) Do not tolerate sexual or racial harassment, but do educate all employees, including management, with regard to anti-harassment policies and rigorously enforce them. Ensure that any allegation of sexual or racial harassment, sexual assault or sex or race discrimination are promptly and thoroughly investigated, and ensure that employees making such allegations are protected from retaliation and are not required to seek redress from a workers' compensation board or forced to submit to arbitration in lieu of pursuing legal or statutory remedies. Have an affirmative action program to ensure that women and people of color are included in the recruitment, hiring and promotion of employees. Do not tolerate sexist, racist, sexually-explicit or pornographic images in the workplace or at any company-sponsored events. Respect the laws that recognize the right of their employees to organize and establish an independent voice. Provide all employee benefits without discrimination based on sex. Any health benefits offered cover the full range of reproductive health services -- including abortion. Do not discriminate on the basis of marital status or sexual orientation. Benefits provided to spouses of employees are also extended to domestic partners -- including same-sex couples (Freidan, 2004).”
In the film North Country, the issues of equity and working conditions were that women and men worked very hard on the job. They put their life in jeopardy by inhaling toxic chemicals. They both used portable toilets on the job and they both participated in the Union of the company. Female and male co-workers ate in the lunch room together at the same time. They both shared humor on the job (co-workers laughing at finding a penis being in a lunch box).
My overall impression of the film North Country was that the film is outstanding. I think the film allowed people to view and understand what women use to encounter while being on the job and make women realize that we are not second class citizens. The film North Country allowed people to see why laws are so important for the workplace. My workplace is a work-friendly environment. My brother is the owner of a trucking company. I get to pick my days to work and the hours to work. I can do my homework while monitoring the telephone and watch television while being on the job. I am not penalized for staying too long at lunch or dinner.
The workplace of shame that I visited is Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is the largest employer in the United States. I was surprised that Wal-Mart is getting rid of the full-time employees and replacing them with part-time employees with less benefits. I have never heard of any employee that was ten minutes late being considered as an incomplete. I was surprised that women managers amount to 14% and 92% of women being cashiers. Wal-Mart is discriminating in pay and promotion, no contraceptive coverage in insurance plans, in violation with the Child Labor Laws and the American Disabilities Act. I can’t believe that Wal-Mart would encourage their employees to file for public benefits because the company only pays minimum wage. I agree with the National Organization for Women. “Wal-Mart’s main interest is to continue enriching the Walton family, executives and shareholders at the expense of its workers (Friedan, 2004).”
References
Freidan, B. (2004). National organization for women: Women friendly workplace campaign
employer’s pledge homepage. Retrieved April 30, 2007, from http://www.now.org/ issues/wfw/empledge.html
Freidan, B. (2004). National organization for women: Wal-Mart enacts unfair wage and work
policy homepage. Retrieved April 30, 2007, from http://www.now.org/nnt/winter-
2007/wal-mart.html
Freidan, B. (2004). National organization for women: The national organization for women’s
1966 statement of purpose homepage. Retrieved April 30, 2007, from http://www.now.
org/history/purpos66.html
Welcher, N. (Producer), Bringham, C. (Writer), & Caro, N. (Director). (2005). North country
[Motion picture]. Participant Productions. (Available from the Warner Home Video Inc.,
4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 915220)
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