by Cary McNeal
“‘Death on the Job’ Report, 2008: The Toll of Neglect,” American Federation of Labor— Congress of Industrial Organizations, www.aflcio.org.
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FACT : An estimated 50,000 to 60,000 workers die every year from occupation-related diseases. Is not giving a shit considered an occupation-related disease? Because that affects a lot more than 60,000, I bet.
“‘Death on the Job’ Report, 2008: The Toll of Neglect,” American Federation of Labor—Congress of Industrial Organizations, www.aflcio.org.
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209
FACT : Work-related stress can be as damaging to health as cigarette smoking. But if you handle that stress with a smoke break, they cancel each other out.
Natalie J. Jordet and Erica Lumiere, “Is Job Stress Making You Sick?,” Marie Claire, www.marieclaire.com.
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FACT : Workplace stress is a near epidemic in the United States, thanks largely to a struggling economy and corporate downsizing. A recent survey recorded half of respondents feeling too much pressure at work. You want pressure? Try writing 1,001 jokes.
Natalie J. Jordet and Erica Lumiere, “Is Job Stress Making You Sick?,” Marie Claire, www.marieclaire.com.
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FACT : The chronic stress of a high-pressure job has been shown to double the risk of a heart attack.
Chronic stress may also result in alcoholism, hypertension, and severe depression, and can make your joints ache, your hair fall out, and even stop your period. So that bald drunk lady at work who’s always crying and giving away her tampons? Give her a break; she’s under a lot of stress.
Natalie J. Jordet and Erica Lumiere, “Is Job Stress Making You Sick?,” Marie Claire, www.marieclaire.com.
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212
FACT : About 1.7 million workplace violence incidents occur in the U.S. every year. 18,700 of them are committed by the victim’s intimate partner. Don’t forget:
Friday is Bring Your Batterer To Work Day!
“Domestic Violence in the Workplace Statistics,” American Institute on Domestic Violence, www.aidv-usa.com.
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FACT : An estimated 1 million workers are assaulted on the job every year in the United States. I know at least nine people I’d like to add to that total.
Barbara Kate Repa, Your Rights in the Workplace, 8th ed. (Nolo, 2007).
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214
FACT : The U.S. Postal Service reported 500 cases of employees being violent toward supervisors in a recent span of just eighteen months, and an additional 200 cases of supervisors being violent toward employees in that same period. Where do you think the term “going postal” came from?
Barbara Kate Repa, Your Rights in the Workplace, 8th ed. (Nolo, 2007).
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FACT : In August 1986, U.S. Postal Service worker Patrick Henry Sherrill—or “Crazy Pat,” as he was called—shot and killed 14 coworkers in the Edmond, Oklahoma post office where he was employed, including a supervisor who had criticized his work. Hmm, I wonder why they called him “Crazy Pat.”
Jacob V. Lamar Jr., “‘Crazy Pat’s’ Revenge,” Time, June 24, 2001, www.time.com.
Charles Montaldo, “It’s Official: ‘Going Postal’ Is Epidemic,” About.com, www.about.com.
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216
FACT : In 1976, the typical CEO earned thirty-six times the salary of his average worker. Today, the average CEO makes 369 times what an average worker makes. Both of them are unemployed now, and 369 times zero is zero.
Steven Greenhouse, The Big Squeeze: Tough Times for the American Worker (Random House, 2008).
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FACT : There were over 600 workplace homicides in this country in 2007. I wonder how many of those were CEOs.
Steven Greenhouse, The Big Squeeze: Tough Times for the American Worker (Random House, 2008).
“TED: The Editor’s Desk: Workplace Homicides in 2007,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 26, 2008, www.bls.gov.
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218
FACT : One study suggests that Californians are more likely to be murdered at work than in a motor vehicle accident while commuting to work. Some Californians probably wouldn’t mind being murdered during their commute.
Barbara Kate Repa, Your Rights in the Workplace, 8th ed. (Nolo, 2007).
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219
FACT : Fatalities at construction sites are most frequently caused by falls, accounting for one–third of construction-related deaths each year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports no fewer than 442 construction workers were killed by accidental falls on the job in 2007. As opposed to intentional falls.
“I’m bored. I’m gonna do some falls. Be back in ten.”
“Preventing Fatal Falls in Construction,” Occupational Safety & Health Administrations, U.S. Department of Labor, September 25, 2008, www.osha.gov.
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FACT : Almost 6,000 Americans— about seventeen per day— suffered fatal injuries on the job in 2006. Some people will do anything to get out of work.
Tyche Hendricks, “Workplace Deaths Rise in California, Nation,” San Francisco Chronicle, April 29, 2008, www.sfgate.com.
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221
FACT : Falling from the roof is a specific concern at construction sites. Roof falls were the most prevalent type of deadly falls in 2007, and resulted in 686 fatalities from 2003 to 2007. Because of this, the Department of Labor recommends that construction workers avoid falling accidentally, especially from roofs.
“Preventing Fatal Falls in Construction,” Occupational Safety & Health Administrations, U.S. Department of Labor, September 25, 2008, www.osha.gov.
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222
FACT : A 2006 government study named agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting as the most dangerous occupations in the United States, with an average of 30 deaths each per 100,000 workers. After a coworker went on a murderous rampage, Melvin quit his office job and became a farmer—then ran himself over with a combine and died a week later.
Tyche Hendricks, “Workplace Deaths Rise in California, Nation,” San Francisco Chronicle, April 29, 2008, www.sfgate.com.
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FACT : In 2007, a laundry employee at Cintas Corp. in Oklahoma was killed when he fell into an industrial dryer while attempting to free a wad of clothes that had jammed a conveyor belt. On a happier note, he did manage to free the clothes, saving the company about $35.
Tyche Hendricks, “Workplace Deaths Rise in California, Nation,” San Francisco Chronicle, April 29, 2008, www.sfgate.com.
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FACT : In its 2008 Death on the Job Report, the AFL-CIO ranked commercial fishing as the occupation with the highest fatality rate, with almost 150 deaths on the job per 100,000 workers. The fatality rate for the fish is even higher.
“‘Death on the Job’ Report, 2008: The Toll of Neglect,” American Federation of Labor— Congress of Industrial Organizations, www.aflcio.org.
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225
FACT : In a 2004 survey, 17 percent of men said they had been sexually harassed on the job, but 60 percent of them did nothing about it. Those 60 percent are the ones who liked it.
“Interoffice Romance Survey,” Lawyers.com, August 12, 2004, www.research.lawyers.com.
“Sexual Harassment In The Workplace,” Sexual Harassment Support, www.sexualharassmentsupport.org.
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226
FACT : On January 2, 2006, a coal mine exploded in Sago, West Virginia, trapping thirteen miners for nearly two days. All but one of the miners died. A series of subsequent mine disasters in 2006 claimed forty-seven more lives. Mine disasters, not mime disasters. Sorry. Disappointing, I know.
“‘Death on the Job’ Report, 2008: The Toll of Neglect,” Ame
rican Federation of Labor—Congress of Industrial Organizations website, www.aflcio.org.
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227
FACT : Workplace injuries come at a high cost to employers. According to a 2007 Workplace Safety Index from Liberty Mutual Insurance, the most disabling injuries cost U.S. employers over $48.3 billion in workers’ compensation claims. But don’t worry, I’m sure they won’t pass on those costs to customers.
“Death on the Job’ Report, 2008: The Toll of Neglect,” American Federation of Labor—Congress of Industrial Organizations, www.aflcio.org.
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228
FACT : In Japan, suicide resulting from overwork, or karojisatsu, is an officially recognized and compensated occupational hazard. By some estimates, 5 percent of all suicides in Japan are “company related.” “Where’s Hiro? He’s supposed to lead this meeting.” “He killed himself, sir.” “Ah, dedication. I like it.
Give him a raise.”
“Crying shame,” Hazards Magazine, January-March 2008, www.hazards.org.
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FACT : From 2001 to 2002, Japan saw a record 690 claims of karoshi—death by overwork. Of these, 143 were confirmed cases: 96 from stroke and 47 from sudden heart attack. The numbers were even higher in 2003, with 819 claims, 160 of which were compensated. That means 659 claims—80 percent—were rejected. The Americanization of Japan is complete.
Rory O’Neill, “Drop Dead,” Hazards Magazine, July– September 2003, www.hazards.org.
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FACT : Claims of karoshi jumped after Japan modified a rule to include the effects of cumulative fatigue. A worker who dies after routinely working eighty or more overtime hours a month is now eligible to be considered a case of karoshi. If I had to work eighty or more overtime hours a month, I would welcome death.
Rory O’Neill, “Drop Dead,” Hazards Magazine, July– September 2003, www.hazards.org.
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231
FACT : China also has a word for death by overwork: guolaosi. Named after that hardworking American actor, Bela Guolaosi.
Rory O’Neill, “Drop Dead,” Hazards Magazine, July– September 2003, www.hazards.org.
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FACT : A study published in 2002 concludes that workers who perform meaningless work with minimal chance for input were at higher risk of dying young. In other words, everyone but CEOs and a few VPs.
Rory O’Neill, “Drop Dead,” Hazards Magazine, July– September 2003, www.hazards.org.
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233
FACT : A report by the American Journal of Epidemiology states that long-term strain on the job is more harmful for the heart than aging thirty years or gaining forty pounds. And not nearly as fun. I’ll take the forty pounds instead. Pass the biscuits.
Paul A. Landsbergis and others, “Life-Course Exposure to Job Strain and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Men,” American Journal of Epidemiology, June 2003, www.aje.oxfordjournals.org.
Rory O’Neill, “Drop Dead,” Hazards Magazine, July–September 2003, www.hazards.org.
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234
FACT : Workplace homicide can happen anywhere. In 2007, the frequency of on-the-job murders involving police officers and supervisors of retail sales workers both increased significantly. I worked in retail once, but it was the customers, not the supervisors, that I wanted to kill. Wait—no, I wanted to kill them both.
“TED: The Editor’s Desk: Workplace homicides in 2007,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 26, 2008. www.bls.gov.
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235
FACT : A 2003 UK study shows that working for an unfair or unreasonable boss can result in dangerously high blood pressure. It can also result in a dangerously high likelihood that someone will bring a gun to work and cap his ass.
Rory O’Neill, “Drop Dead,” Hazards Magazine, July–September 2003, www.hazards.org.
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236
FACT : In 2003, 1,400 government employees in India committed suicide or died from starvation.
They had not been paid in more than a decade. The state officials responsible were charged with theft, reportedly using employee funds for lavish foreign trips. So impatient. They couldn’t wait one more day for their paychecks?
Agence France-Presse, “World Briefing | Asia: India: Inquiry Into Deaths Of Government Workers,” New York Times, November 14, 2003, www.nytimes.com.
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237
FACT : In a 2004 poll, 12 percent of respondents confessed to having sex in the workplace, while another 10 percent said they fantasized about it. Jack and Elaine often worked late, leveraging each other’s assets and pumping up the bottom line.
“Poll: American Sex Survey: A Peek Beneath The Sheets,” ABC News, October 21, 2004, http://abcnews.go.com.
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238
FACT : Researchers concluded in a 2008 study that bullying at work, such as persistent criticism of work, belittling comments, and withholding resources, is more harmful to employees than sexual harassment. Belittling comments, persistent criticism and withholding “resources”? Sounds more like marriage than the workplace.
M. Sandy Hershcovis and Julian Barling, “Bullying More Harmful Than Sexual Harassment On The Job, Say Researchers,” ScienceDaily, March 9, 2008, www.sciencedaily.com.
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239
FACT : Layoffs and a sluggish economy are contributing to frequent outbreaks of “desk rage” in America, with employees arguing and breaking down under pressure. Ten percent of Americans work in places where physical violence occurs because of stress, and 42 percent say that verbal abuse and yelling occurs in the workplace. The economy is slowing? I hadn’t noticed.
“‘Desk Rage’ on the Rise,” HR Business and Legal Reports, December 14, 2001, www.hr.blr.com.
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240
FACT : Workplace bullying affects 25 to 30 percent of employees at some time during their careers. Instead of lunch money, they take your parking spot.
Jeanna Bryner, “Strange News, Study: Office Bullies Create Workplace ‘Warzone’,” LiveScience, October 31, 2006, www.livescience.com.
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241
FACT : In March 2009, a Louisiana high-school teacher was arrested for obscenity after three students and another teacher witnessed him masturbating in a classroom. I guess he hadn’t heard: spanking in schools was outlawed years ago.
“Higgins Teacher Arrested For Obscenity,” WWLTV.com, March 20, 2009, www.wwltv.com.
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242
FACT : A New York Times study of rampage killings found that although most perpetrators of workplace massacres made specific threats or exhibited clear warning signs, these warnings were ignored or dismissed. Office Droid i: “Someone left a decapitated animal head on my desk.” Office Droid 2: “Really? Somebody wrote ‘DIE’ in blood on my office door.” Office Droid 1: “Hmm, weird. Hey, wanna go get a smoothie?” Office Droid 2: “Sure!”
Katherine M. Ramsland, Inside The Minds Of Mass Murderers: Why They Kill (Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005).
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FACT : In 2008, a factory worker in Henderson, Kentucky killed his supervisor and six employees at the plant where he worked after getting into an argument about not using his cell phone on the assembly line and not wearing safety goggles. The worker shot himself after the rampage, but put on his goggles first, because sparks and gunpowder from a gun can injure your eyes.
Eric Boehlert, “Rampage Nation: The Press No Longer Cares About Epic Gun Violence,” Workplace Violence News, March 24, 2009, www.workplaceviolencenews.com.