Tackling Paradoxes and Double Binds for a Healthier Workplace: Insights from the Early COVID-19 Responses in Quebec and Ontario
The urgency of managing the COVID-19 health crisis in workplaces led to tensions, work overload, and confusion about preventive measures. This study presents a secondary analysis of qualitative data on paradoxes and double binds (PDBs) experienced by precarious essential workers in Canada who intera...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Humans |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9461/5/2/12 |
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| author | Daniel Côté Amelia León Ai-Thuy Huynh Jessica Dubé Ellen MacEachen Pamela Hopwood Marie Laberge Samantha Meyer Shannon Majowicz Meghan K. Crouch Joyceline Amoako |
| author_facet | Daniel Côté Amelia León Ai-Thuy Huynh Jessica Dubé Ellen MacEachen Pamela Hopwood Marie Laberge Samantha Meyer Shannon Majowicz Meghan K. Crouch Joyceline Amoako |
| author_sort | Daniel Côté |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The urgency of managing the COVID-19 health crisis in workplaces led to tensions, work overload, and confusion about preventive measures. This study presents a secondary analysis of qualitative data on paradoxes and double binds (PDBs) experienced by precarious essential workers in Canada who interacted with the public and their supervisors. Based on 13 interviews from a larger qualitative dataset, we examine how workers navigated public health recommendations and organisational demands during the pandemic. Findings reveal multiple organisational and managerial PDBs—both COVID-19-related and pre-existing—that contributed to psychological distress and compromised well-being. We argue that PDBs represent a significant occupational health hazard for precarious workers. Addressing these structural contradictions through proactive management strategies could help mitigate workplace tensions, reduce stress, and enhance resilience in both crisis situations and regular organisational contexts. Our study contributes to occupational health and safety (OHS) by underscoring the risks posed by PDBs and advocating for strategies to support vulnerable workers in navigating conflicting demands. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ae3be2c1952947fca948f70ff4c0e56e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-9461 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humans |
| spelling | doaj-art-ae3be2c1952947fca948f70ff4c0e56e2025-08-20T02:21:06ZengMDPI AGHumans2673-94612025-04-01521210.3390/humans5020012Tackling Paradoxes and Double Binds for a Healthier Workplace: Insights from the Early COVID-19 Responses in Quebec and OntarioDaniel Côté0Amelia León1Ai-Thuy Huynh2Jessica Dubé3Ellen MacEachen4Pamela Hopwood5Marie Laberge6Samantha Meyer7Shannon Majowicz8Meghan K. Crouch9Joyceline Amoako10Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail (IRSST), 505 De Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montréal, QC H3A 3C2, CanadaInstitut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail (IRSST), 505 De Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montréal, QC H3A 3C2, CanadaInstitut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail (IRSST), 505 De Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montréal, QC H3A 3C2, CanadaInstitut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail (IRSST), 505 De Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montréal, QC H3A 3C2, CanadaSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, CanadaSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, CanadaSchool of Rehabilitation, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1N8, CanadaSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, CanadaSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, CanadaSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, CanadaSchool of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, CanadaThe urgency of managing the COVID-19 health crisis in workplaces led to tensions, work overload, and confusion about preventive measures. This study presents a secondary analysis of qualitative data on paradoxes and double binds (PDBs) experienced by precarious essential workers in Canada who interacted with the public and their supervisors. Based on 13 interviews from a larger qualitative dataset, we examine how workers navigated public health recommendations and organisational demands during the pandemic. Findings reveal multiple organisational and managerial PDBs—both COVID-19-related and pre-existing—that contributed to psychological distress and compromised well-being. We argue that PDBs represent a significant occupational health hazard for precarious workers. Addressing these structural contradictions through proactive management strategies could help mitigate workplace tensions, reduce stress, and enhance resilience in both crisis situations and regular organisational contexts. Our study contributes to occupational health and safety (OHS) by underscoring the risks posed by PDBs and advocating for strategies to support vulnerable workers in navigating conflicting demands.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9461/5/2/12COVID-19working environmentoccupational healthparadoxical situationsdouble-bind theorymanagement |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Côté Amelia León Ai-Thuy Huynh Jessica Dubé Ellen MacEachen Pamela Hopwood Marie Laberge Samantha Meyer Shannon Majowicz Meghan K. Crouch Joyceline Amoako Tackling Paradoxes and Double Binds for a Healthier Workplace: Insights from the Early COVID-19 Responses in Quebec and Ontario Humans COVID-19 working environment occupational health paradoxical situations double-bind theory management |
| title | Tackling Paradoxes and Double Binds for a Healthier Workplace: Insights from the Early COVID-19 Responses in Quebec and Ontario |
| title_full | Tackling Paradoxes and Double Binds for a Healthier Workplace: Insights from the Early COVID-19 Responses in Quebec and Ontario |
| title_fullStr | Tackling Paradoxes and Double Binds for a Healthier Workplace: Insights from the Early COVID-19 Responses in Quebec and Ontario |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tackling Paradoxes and Double Binds for a Healthier Workplace: Insights from the Early COVID-19 Responses in Quebec and Ontario |
| title_short | Tackling Paradoxes and Double Binds for a Healthier Workplace: Insights from the Early COVID-19 Responses in Quebec and Ontario |
| title_sort | tackling paradoxes and double binds for a healthier workplace insights from the early covid 19 responses in quebec and ontario |
| topic | COVID-19 working environment occupational health paradoxical situations double-bind theory management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9461/5/2/12 |
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