Occupational health psychology
Lecture 7 Multicultural work stress June 7th, 2017
Immigrants at work in Amsterdam
A lot of refugees come to the Netherlands for safety, but also want to work here.
The issue
There is a worldwide refugee crisis – especially from Syria and Africa.
The city of Amsterdam wants to promote participation in education and work.
Employers are prepared to help (offer vacancies).
One of the many questions of Deputy Mayor Katja Olongren is:
How can employers prevent health problems with refugee-employees?
How can the city of Amsterdam reduce work stress in multicultural teams?
1. What are the special needs?
Case of Samira: she’s very sad. Misses her family. Post-natal depression.
When someone like Samira is working in a working environment, what happens? The labels for
mental illnesses are not the same. There won’t be a fit in offered treatment and what Samira wants.
2. Which models help us understand?
Which model helps us understand the health issues of migrant/refugee workers?
Article: Pasca, R., & Wagner, S. L. (2011).
Evaluates existing occupational health models in a multicultural context.
Theoretical models that link work and stress
Karakes – Job Demand Control model
Siegrits – Effort reward imbalance model
Caplan – Person-Environment Fit model
Lecture 7 Multicultural work stress June 7th, 2017
Immigrants at work in Amsterdam
A lot of refugees come to the Netherlands for safety, but also want to work here.
The issue
There is a worldwide refugee crisis – especially from Syria and Africa.
The city of Amsterdam wants to promote participation in education and work.
Employers are prepared to help (offer vacancies).
One of the many questions of Deputy Mayor Katja Olongren is:
How can employers prevent health problems with refugee-employees?
How can the city of Amsterdam reduce work stress in multicultural teams?
1. What are the special needs?
Case of Samira: she’s very sad. Misses her family. Post-natal depression.
When someone like Samira is working in a working environment, what happens? The labels for
mental illnesses are not the same. There won’t be a fit in offered treatment and what Samira wants.
2. Which models help us understand?
Which model helps us understand the health issues of migrant/refugee workers?
Article: Pasca, R., & Wagner, S. L. (2011).
Evaluates existing occupational health models in a multicultural context.
Theoretical models that link work and stress
Karakes – Job Demand Control model
Siegrits – Effort reward imbalance model
Caplan – Person-Environment Fit model
