Global Factors Shaping Work's Future

Global Factors Shaping the Future of Work

• Major global trends are influencing labor markets and inequality
• Demographic changes include shifts in population size, age structure, and geographic distribution
• Aging populations in developed countries can lead to labor shortages and increased demand for elder care services
• Youth bulges in developing nations may lead to unemployment if sufficient jobs are not created
• Technological advancements include the development and implementation of new technologies such as AI and robotics
• Technological advancements can cause job displacement in some sectors but create opportunities in others
• Globalization, that is the increasing interconnectedness of national economies through trade, investment, and migration, can increase competition for jobs, lower wages, and lead to outsourcing
• Large-scale outbreaks of infectious diseases, like COVID-19, can significantly disrupt labor markets, leading to job losses, economic downturns, and shifts in work patterns like remote work

Inequality in the Workforce

• Precarious employment is characterized by insecurity, instability, and a lack of benefits
• Types of precarious workers: temporary, contract, gig, and part-time workers
• Gender inequality includes disparities in employment rates, wages, and opportunities between men and women
• The "she-cession" refers to the disproportionate impact of economic downturns on women's employment
• Ageism is discrimination based on age, often affecting older workers, who may face biases in hiring, promotion, and training
• Newcomers face difficulties in accessing employment due to language barriers, lack of recognition of foreign credentials, and discrimination

Legislation and Policy Responses

• Working for Workers Act 2021 (Ontario) aims to improve working conditions and protect vulnerable workers
• Key aspects of the "Working for Workers Act" include policies on disconnecting from work, licensing of temporary help agencies, and eliminating unnecessary Canadian experience requirements for newcomers
• Pay Equity Act 2021 (Federal) aims to achieve equal pay for work of equal value in federally regulated sectors
• Limitations of the Pay Equity Act include challenges in defining "equal value," enforcement difficulties, and potential loopholes
• Portable benefits can be transferred between employers, providing greater security for workers who frequently change jobs

Alternative Work Arrangements

• 4-Day Workweek is a schedule where employees work four days a week instead of five, often with the same total hours
• The impact of a 4-day workweek on productivity, employee well-being, and business profitability is a subject of ongoing research and debate
• The Gig Economy is a labor market characterized by short-term contracts or freelance work, often facilitated by online platforms
• The gig economy presents opportunities and challenges, like issues of worker classification, benefits access, and income stability
• Remote work is working from a location other than a traditional office, usually enabled by technology
• The long-term implications of remote work for workplace culture, employee productivity, and work-life balance are still being explored

Case Studies: Temporary Worker Fatalities

• Highlights tragic examples of workplace fatalities among temporary workers
• Cases like Enrico Miranda, Ivan Golyashov, and Aydin Kazimov underscore the importance of legislation and policies aimed at protecting vulnerable workers and preventing workplace fatalities

Key Legislation and Policies

• Working for Workers Act 2021 (ON) key features: right to disconnect, licensing of temp agencies
• Working for Workers Act 2021 (ON) targets temporary workers and newcomers
• Working for Workers Act 2021 (ON) aims to improve working conditions and protect vulnerable workers
• Working for Workers Act 2021 (ON) limitations includes enforcement challenges and potential loopholes
• Pay Equity Act 2021 (Federal) has the key feature of Equal pay for work of equal value
• Pay Equity Act 2021 (Federal) targets Federally regulated employees
• Pay Equity Act 2021 (Federal) aims to eliminate gender pay gap
• Pay Equity Act 2021 (Federal) limitations includes defining "equal value," enforcement, and potential loopholes
• Portable Benefits (ON, BC) has key features of Transferable benefits between employers
• Portable Benefits (ON, BC) target workers who frequently change jobs
• Portable Benefits (ON, BC) aims to Increase job security and reduce benefit gaps
• Portable Benefits (ON, BC) limitations includes Program design and employer participation

John Porter's Vertical Mosaic

• Explores John Porter's seminal work, "The Vertical Mosaic", relevant to understanding Canadian society
• "The Vertical Mosaic" is a social structure in Canada with a hierarchical arrangement of ethnic and racial groups
• Certain groups consistently occupy higher positions of power and wealth than others
• Porter argued that this structure is not solely based on meritocracy but is influenced by ethnicity and race
• Systemic biases and historical disadvantages prevent certain groups from achieving equal social mobility even with equal opportunity

Key Concepts within the Vertical Mosaic

• Social stratification is the hierarchical arrangement of individuals and groups in society based on factors like wealth, power, and prestige
• Porter's work highlights how stratification is deeply intertwined with ethnicity and race in Canada
• Ethnic and racial inequality involves the systematic disadvantage experienced by certain ethnic and racial groups in accessing resources and opportunities
• Porter's analysis reveals how historical and ongoing discrimination contributes to this inequality
• Occupational differentiation is the tendency for different ethnic and racial groups to cluster in specific occupations
• This clustering often reflects historical patterns of discrimination and limited access to higher-paying jobs
• Occupational stratification is the hierarchical ranking of occupations based on factors like income, prestige, and skill requirements
• Porter showed how ethnic and racial groups are disproportionately represented at different levels of this occupational hierarchy
• Social mobility is the ability of individuals to move up or down the social hierarchy
• Porter's work questions the extent of social mobility in Canada, arguing that systemic barriers limit the upward mobility of certain ethnic and racial groups
• Power and privilege are the concentration of power and resources in the hands of a dominant group
• Porter's analysis demonstrates how this concentration of power reinforces the vertical mosaic
• Systemic discrimination are the embedded biases and discriminatory practices within social institutions that disadvantage certain groups
• Understanding systemic discrimination requires moving beyond individual acts of prejudice to analyze the broader social structures that perpetuate inequality
• Meritocracy is the belief that success is based solely on individual merit and ability
• Porter challenges the notion of a purely meritocratic society in Canada, arguing that systemic factors significantly influence social outcomes

Contemporary Immigration and the Vertical Mosaic

• Examines how contemporary immigration patterns and policies interact with the vertical mosaic
• Lautard and Guppy extend Porter's analysis, arguing that the vertical mosaic persists in contemporary Canadian society
• They highlight the continued clustering of immigrant groups in specific occupations and the persistence of income disparities between different ethnic and racial groups
• Types of economic immigrants include skilled workers, self-employed/business class, and provincial/territorial nominees
• Skilled workers are immigrants selected based on their education, skills, and work experience
• Self-Employed/Business Class immigrants plan to start or buy a business in Canada
• Provincial/Territorial Nominees are immigrants nominated by a Canadian province or territory based on their skills and the province's labor market needs
• Immigrants face challenges like recognition of foreign credentials, language barriers, discrimination, and downward social mobility
• Recognition of foreign credentials can be lengthy and complex, often leading to underemployment
• Language proficiency is crucial for successful integration into the Canadian workforce and society
• Immigrants, face discrimination in employment, housing, and other areas
• Some immigrants experience a decline in their socio-economic status after immigrating to Canada

Historical Context of Canadian Immigration Policy

• Examines the historical evolution of Canadian immigration policies and their impact on different groups
• Historical discrimination: Canadian immigration policies historically discriminated against racialized groups
• Examples include the Chinese Head Tax (1885) and the exclusion of South Asians, policies which reflect broader societal biases and prejudices
• The Points System (1967) aimed to reduce racial and gender discrimination in immigration selection, but critics argue the system still favors certain groups and perpetuates existing inequalities
• Live-In Caregiver Program changes have resulted in fewer people being able to access this pathway to immigration, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by migrant workers
• Seasonal Farm Workers treatment often raises concerns about exploitation and precarious employment conditions

Satzewich and Liodakis' Analysis

• Examines Canadian immigration policies and the role of racism within those policies
• Their work highlights how seemingly neutral policies can have discriminatory effects on racialized newcomers
• They analyze how historical biases continue to shape contemporary immigration practices and outcomes
• Their research emphasizes the need for critical analysis of immigration policies to identify and address systemic racism
• An advanced study would involve examining specific case studies of how immigration policies have disproportionately affected racialized groups

Statistics Canada Data

• Provides valuable data on immigration trends, including the increasing number of foreign-born individuals and visible minority immigrants in Canada
• This data is crucial for understanding the changing demographics of the country and the ongoing impact of immigration on Canadian society
• An advanced study would involve analyzing Statistics Canada data to identify trends and patterns in immigration, employment, and income among different immigrant groups

The Persistence of Equal Opportunity?

• Addresses the question: Does the cultural idea that Canada is a land of equal opportunity persist?
• Factors that Promote the Idea: The points-based immigration system, multicultural policies, and legal protections against discrimination
• Factors that Challenge the Idea: The persistence of the vertical mosaic, ongoing discrimination, and disparities in income and employment among different ethnic and racial groups

Key Actors and Their Contributions

• John Porter introduced the concept of a hierarchical social structure based on ethnicity and race; The Vertical Mosaic
• Lautard and Guppy extended Porter's analysis to contemporary Canada, highlighting the persistence of the vertical mosaic
• Satzewich and Liodakis analyzed racism within Canadian immigration policies
• Statistics Canada provides data on immigration trends and socio-economic outcomes of immigrant groups

Facts to Memorize

• John Porter's Vertical Mosaic describes a hierarchical social structure in Canada where ethnicity and race significantly influence social class and power
• Occupational differentiation means that different ethnic groups tend to cluster in specific occupations
• Occupational stratification means that occupations are ranked hierarchically, with some groups overrepresented in lower-paying jobs
• Social mobility states that the ability to move up or down the social hierarchy is limited for some groups due to systemic barriers
• Chinese Head Tax (1885) was a discriminatory tax imposed on Chinese immigrants
• Points-Based Immigration System (1967) aimed to reduce discrimination but still faces criticism for perpetuating inequalities
• Lautard and Guppy argue that the vertical mosaic persists in contemporary Canada
• Satzewich and Liodakis analyze racism within Canadian immigration policies
• Recognition of Foreign Credentials is a major challenge faced by many immigrants
• Language Barriers are significant obstacles to integration and employment
• Downward Social Mobility: Some immigrants experience a decline in socio-economic status
• Systemic Discrimination: Embedded biases within social institutions that disadvantage certain groups
• Statistics Canada: Provides crucial data on immigration trends and outcomes
• Economic Immigrants include skilled workers, self-employed individuals, and provincial nominees
• Live-In Caregiver Program changes have led to fewer people accessing this immigration pathway
• Seasonal Farm Workers often face exploitation and precarious employment
• Equal Opportunity Debate: The question of whether Canada truly offers equal opportunity remains a central point of discussion
• Meritocracy: The ideal of success based solely on merit is challenged by the persistence of the vertical mosaic

Immigration and the Canadian Mosaic: Part 2 Summary

• Key topics covered include challenges facing newcomers in the labour market, inclusive voting and political participation, and mistreatment of asylum seekers in Canada
• New immigrants often face high unemployment rates, especially those holding university degrees
• Newcomer women encounter unique hurdles that must be addressed
• It is crucial to consider the intersectionality of various factors that affect the challenges faced by newcomers
• Recent waves of newcomers experience downward social mobility, which raises concerns about their integration into Canadian society
• Cities like Montreal are exploring the possibility of granting voting rights to non-citizens
• Political leadership is often not representative of the diversity within Canadian society, particularly for women, racialized women, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, Indigenous Peoples, and Canadians with disabilities
• Alhmidi highlights significant issues surrounding the mistreatment of asylum seekers in Canada
• Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International report that asylum seekers face abusive conditions

Summary of Migrant Workers

• The issue of migrant workers in Canada is multifaceted, encompassing exploitation, immigration policies, and societal implications
• The West Indian Domestic Scheme (1955) targeted single women without dependents who had at least a grade 8 education and allowed these women to immigrate to Canada as landed immigrants
• The Foreign Domestic Movement (FDM) Program (1981) introduced a mandatory live-in requirement for workers and imposed stringent criteria for those seeking landed immigrant status
• The Live-in Caregiver Program (1992) elevated educational requirements for caregivers, which led to concerns about providing Canadian employers with skilled labor at lower wages, and highlighted the potential exploitation of workers
• Many migrant workers endure long periods away from their families, leading to emotional and social challenges
• The impact of hiring foreign domestic workers on the quality of childcare remains a contentious issue
• The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program has several limitations, making it difficult for workers to access essential benefits which includes Employment Insurance, parental leave, and disability benefits
• Provinces have attempted to address the needs of migrant farm workers amidst ongoing labor shortages in the agricultural sector
• Addressing the complexities reveals significant challenges and injustices that require attention from policymakers and society at large

March 18 Notes

• Family violence is examined within the context of the criminal justice system
• Ursel notes specialized domestic violence courts and personnel are present
• Hasham and Gillis highlight that women are often murdered by men they are in relationships with, including former partners or those trying to leave
• Kuhla refers to changes in the Divorce Act in 2021
• Family violence includes any conduct by a family member towards another that may or may not constitute a criminal offense
• Family violence includes violent, threatening, coercive, and controlling behavior
• This behavior causes another family member to fear for their safety or that of another person
• Exposure to such conduct, direct or indirect, is considered family violence in the case of a child
• Family violence includes physical abuse, such as forced confinement, but excludes reasonable force used for protection
• Sexual abuse is a form of family violence
• Threats to kill or cause bodily harm are considered family violence
• Harassment, including stalking, is a form of family violence
• The failure to provide necessities of life is family violence
• Psychological and financial abuse are forms of family violence
• Threats to kill or harm an animal or damage property is considered family violence
• The killing or harming of an animal or damaging of property counts as family violence
• Crime can be understood from a sociological perspective
• Sociological analyses identify how marginalization, race, social class, and gender relates to crime
• Sociologists acknowledge the importance of mental illness and its roll in crime
• Infants are more vulnerable to family violence due to their age
• Traumatic Head Injury due to Child Maltreatment (THI-CM), such as shaken baby syndrome, is a form of family violence
• Family violence constitutes a large portion of all violent crime in Canada
• The Canadian Victimization Survey of individuals over 15 reveals experiences of childhood physical and sexual victimization
• Physical and sexual abuse have a prevalence in Canada
• Elder abuse is often underreported
• Older adults are victimized by a spouse or adult child, and there are specific reasons for elder abuse
• Women, especially immigrant women, face barriers when reporting family violence
• Spousal victimization accounts for most family violence cases
• Gartner, Dawson, and Crawford indicate male partners were responsible for most killings of women in Ontario from 1974-1994
• There are risk factors that can be identified for women
• Ursel indicates convictions have increased
• Treatment programs for offenders have been expanded
• Recidivism is lowest among first-time offenders diverted into counselling
• There is representation of certain groups in domestic violence courts

March 20 Notes

• There is overrepresentation of Indigenous men and women in the Canadian criminal justice system
• In 2022, approximately half of all penitentiary inmates held in isolation were Indigenous
• Indigenous Peoples are more likely to be victims of crime
• Socio-economic disadvantages experienced in Indigenous communities are linked to Indigenous overrepresentation
• Restorative justice and sentencing circles may be a solution, but critiques of sentencing circles exist
• Social justice is needed for Indigenous communities
• Improvements are necessary for the health, well-being, and life chances of Indigenous children
• Economic inequalities are tied to the legacy of colonization, the Indian Act, residential schools, the reserve system, and intergenerational trauma
• The National Inquiry investigated Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
• The criminal justice system has failed to protect Indigenous women and girls
• The ability of the criminal justice system is limited in addressing social problems like intimate partner violence and the overrepresentation of BIPOC individuals
• Offending rates are highest among young males
• Males are more likely to be victimized by males
• Females are more likely to be victimized by current or former male partners
• BIPOC individuals have a higher likelihood of police contact, arrest, conviction, and longer sentences
• Evidence indicates racial profiling by police
• BIPOC Canadians are subject to increased police surveillance
• Disparities in police contact are not explained by differences in social class or education
• Carding by police was examined, but it is not an effective police strategy
• Those with economic and political power can evade criminal justice prosecution, according to the conflict perspective
• Policing focuses on street crime rather than corporate and white-collar crimes, such as tax evasion, environmental crimes, unsafe working conditions, and anti-trust activity like price-fixing

March 25 Notes

• Norman Shewaybick advocated against health care inequalities in Indigenous communities
• Social class, race, and gender impact health
• The medical model contrasts with a sociological perspective on health
• Health, illness, and dying are shaped by the larger societal context, according to sociology
• Individuals strongly connected to society are less likely to die by suicide
• Post-partum depression is understood differently through medical and sociological lenses
• Food insecurity, employment conditions, housing, social support access, social safety nets and health services are all impacted by social determinants
• The healthcare system does not sufficiently address the needs of an aging population
• Access to healthcare includes mental health services, prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, preventative health care, alternative medicine, and pre-natal care for pregnant women
• A positive correlation exists between social class and physical and mental health
• Life expectancy, infant mortality, disability rates, disease incidence and mental health are all measures of health outcomes
• Lower socio-economic groups have reduced access to pre-natal care
• Government-funded IVF has specific rationales
• Lower socio-economic groups are more prone to food insecurity, dangerous jobs, and workplace environmental hazards
• Environmental racism and classism exist
• Lower socio-economic groups are more prone to chronic stress
• Newcomers may experience poorer health outcomes over time
• The multiple jeopardy hypothesis is relevant

Gender, Indigenous Peoples and Health

• Women have longer life expectancies, but may experience greater disease and disability
• Indigenous peoples face poorer health outcomes, including lower life expectancy, higher rates of disease, disability, infant mortality, chronic illnesses, and infectious/parasitic diseases
• Indigenous communities have limited access to health care

March 27th Notes

• Racialized groups face a greater risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19
• Black women in the UK and US are more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth
• Black women in Canada are more likely to give birth preterm
• There is a need to collect more race-based data in Canada
• Black communities experience higher rates of HIV
• The provision of health care in a racially and culturally diverse society requires structural change
• Health and illness are socially constructed
• Culturally competent health care is favored by Hornosty
• Racism, racialization, and social exclusion are defined by Hornosty
• Racism shapes health behaviors, stress levels, economic deprivation, and access to health care and preventative health care
• The health of immigrants varies over time
• Refugees face several challenges
• Peggy McIntosh is an academic who discusses White Privilege
• Institutional racism exists
• Culturally appropriate care is needed, according to Hornosty
• Cultural beliefs shape how people understand symptoms and seek help, Hornosty states
• Some groups have an understanding of health that goes beyond Western medicine, such as the role of spirituality
• Newcomer women have specific needs
• Cultural barriers lead some immigrant women to underutilize important health care services, such as pap smears

April 1 Notes

• The Ontario Disability Support Program has limitations, such as loss of benefits upon marriage or cohabitation
• "Renovictions" contribute to the housing crisis
• Disability varies in severity, age of onset, and duration (Shuey et al)
• The individual/medical model focuses on impairment/limitations and the emotional consequences for individuals
• The social model focuses on disability rather than impairment, stating it involves the social disadvantages experienced because of an impairment
• Protections include the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982), the Canadian Human Rights Act (1985), the Employment Equity Act (1986), and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities (2005)
• Disability increases with age in Canada, and women experience higher rates of disability
• Economic supports include the Ontario Disability Support Program, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), tax deductions, and employer-sponsored short-term and long-term disability benefits
• Private benefits, Henson trusts (for parents wanting to leave money to their adult child with a disability), and Employment Insurance benefits are also economic supports
• Challenges are faced by parents with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities
• Understanding social problems, policies, and laws will lead to better social problem solutions, involving policy makers, researchers, activists, politicians, charitable organizations and their volunteers, voters, and all Canadians interested in social justice