The tipping point: Service sector employees are more susceptible to mental health issues

Those who work in the service secteur, in restaurants, hair salons and jobs involving transportation may be at added risk of suffering from depression and stress than those who don’t.

In the U.S. these workers number 102 million people, with women representing 56% of them.  

Often they receive a base pay that is “up to 71% lower than the federal minimum wage”, and depend on tips to increase their overall pay intake.

Scientists tracked thousands of workers from their teens into their adult years.

The study reveals that such factors as the uncertainty associated with such jobs, the lower pay, lack of benefits and limited control over hours of work and shifts create instability and a greater incidence of mental health problems as a result.

Another factor that might add to the stress in these jobs is the idea that “the customer is always right.” Source.

 

Journal Reference:

Sarah B Andrea, Lynne C Messer, Miguel Marino, Janne Boone-Heinonen. Associations of Tipped and Untipped Service Work with Poor Mental Health in a Nationally Representative Cohort of Adolescents Followed into Adulthood. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2018; DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwy123