Flexible working arrangements can be particularly adverse for women according to a University of Melbourne study which finds that those in casual or contract work report much higher levels of job strain compared to their full-time counterparts.

The study finds women in fixed term and casual employment are also more likely to report being subject to unwanted sexual advances at work.

Associate Professor Tony LaMontagne, based in the University’s McCaughey Centre, presented findings from his research recently at a seminar on Labour Market Flexibility and Regulation.

Associate Professor LaMontagne’s research investigated the work conditions of more than 1100 Victorians, comparing their modes of employment and levels of job stress and other working conditions.

Noting an increased trend of casualisation in labour markets around the world, he says previous research has shown that precarious employment is linked to bad health outcomes.

“However, the ways in which precarious work arrangements harm health are not clear. Our study shows that people working in more precarious conditions – such as part-time or full-time casual work, labour hire or fixed-term contracts – have higher levels of job strain and lower levels of control over their jobs.

“These measures of job stresses are associated with poor health outcomes, such as a two to threefold increase in the risk of depression.

“Yet legislation which aims to increase labour market flexibility – such as WorkChoices – may accelerate the trend of working conditions which have a negative impact on people’s health,” he says.

Associate Professor LaMontagne says his study shows women, in particular, bore the brunt of precarious employment arrangements.

“It is often argued that people in casual work have lower skill levels and less responsibility and therefore it’s presumed their jobs are less stressful.

“But this research shows that in many cases people in casual work are more stressed.

“Occupational health and safety law says employers must provide a safe workplace but there is a poor understanding of job stress and other hazards in various employment arrangements.

“WorkSafe is obliged to protect workers from psychological hazards as well as physical. While these are much harder to quantify this research suggests that it should be a priority for investigation.”