• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.185-201
• /
• 2015

This paper suggests how Korean housemaids, called Sikmo, and Korean-Chinese migrant domestic workers have similar class positions and therefore form a dual identity in their interactions with female employers. rough spoken stories of the experiences of 27 females from Seoul, including Korean-Chinese domestic workers, Korean housemaids, and their employers, this research effectively overcomes the dichotomous discourse of natives versus foreigners. Instead it suggests the new interpretation that it is not foreignness but class inferiority of the domestic workers that plays a key role in establishing relationships with employers. Korean housemaids and Korean-Chinese domestic workers, both groups of whom are migrant workers, have developed coping strategies to enhance their labor value by spatially relocating themselves from their home society to a new society. They possess a similar labor status in women's history, being of low income, low education, and rural births. Consequently, these women experience 'translocal anchoring,' meaning their identities are intertwined with that of their home societies, and employers perceive them based on the characteristics of these places. The Korean employers perceive that the domestic workers' morality and intellectuality are inferior based on their class differences. This stigmatizing process leads employers to regard domestic workers as ambivalent people, not only threatening outsiders but also objects of pity, needing love and protection of their employers. The employers educate them culturally, teaching them skills to survive in the urban environment. These skills include cooking and language, in addition to advice on long-term plans to blend into society.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.899-910
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to collect basic data on social support and acculturative stress in migrant workers. Methods: Between August, 2007 and January, 2008 171 immigrant workers completed data collection using a questionnaire. Workers were recruited from 2 churches, one in Seoul and the other in Gyeonggi Province. Mean and standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and Stepwise multiple regression were used to analyze the data. Results: The average score for social support was 3.73 (${\pm}0.65$) and for acculturative stress, 2.52 (${\pm}0.65$). There were significant differences acculturative stress according to gender (t=2.152, p=.033), kind of job (t=2.597, p=.040), and have community or not (t=2.899, p=.005). There was a significant negative correlation between social support and acculturative stress (r=-.270, p=.001). Factors influencing acculturative stress were existence of participants having a community of people from their home country or not ($R^2=.151$, p=.002). Conclusion: More studies are needed to identify the variables that influence acculturative stress in immigrant workers.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.17-29
• /
• 2014

This study attempted to explore business and workers'needs for flexible work arrangements focusing on the case of a customer center business. We conducted in-depth interview and focus group interviews with the CEO of the company as well as with workers employed at the company in order to identify their need for flexible work arrangements. The subject of this study is a customer service center business that offers a variety of flexible work arrangements. We found that there is a need for flexible work arrangements in terms of both businesses and workers. These results suggest that flexible work arrangements can be activated when they meet the needs of businesses and workers. Flexible work arrangements can be activated when they meet the businesses'goals in human resource management and workers'goals for achieving work-family balance.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
• /
• v.47 no.7
• /
• pp.13-32
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to analyze the state of housing and domestic living conditions of Vietnamese individuals in Vietnam and Korea. Using ethnographic methodologies, It was examined examined 22 Vietnamese households in Korea in relation to their usage of domestic space and also conducted the same investigation on 20 Vietnamese households in Vietnam. The following conclusion were established; 1) The majority of households in both countries preferred that the kitchen was close to the dining room and living room while a kitchen door was not deemed as necessary. 2) In Korea, washing machines are used in the bathroom space, while in Vietnam they are used outside or in a specially designated space. 3) The most uncomfortable aspect of home life in Korea was having the bathroom and toilet in the same space while in Vietnam they are separately spaced. It is recommended that house plans with separate bathroom and toilet area be made available for Vietnamese migrants. 4) Chairs were used in the sleeping area for eating, especially if guests were present, but the floor space was also used for eating. 5) Tile is a typical floor material in Vietnam while vinyl is popular in Korea. However, migrant workers were comfortable with both materials. 6) All 20 households didn't have any heating system in Vietnam but most migrants preferred a modified Ondol in Korea. 7) Most migrants took their shoes off while inside the house in Vietnam and Korea. Furthermore, the majority of households didn’t have any designated shoes space at the entrance to the house in Vietnam and most were satisfied with the same situation in korea. 8) Most households in Vietnam and Korea preferred to decorate their living room with various things or as a place of worship to their ancestors. The direction of house was an important element when deciding to buy or building houses in both countries.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.19-35
• /
• 1993

This study was designed to devise work wear for plastic house worker. It was carried out (1) research on the clothing actual condition through interviewings with plastic house worker and observations, (2) thermal manikin test to measure thermal resistance of experimental clothes and (3) clothing comparing test in the laboratory and in the plastic house. In the laboratory experiment, it was choosen general type (A) and new devised types (B, C) made of microporous fabric for experimental clothes. Experimental clothes were made of 6 combinations including 3 type work wears (A, B, C) and 2 type underwears (1, 2). In the plastic house experiment, it was choosen general types of A (without rest place) and B (with rest place), and devised type C (with rest place), which was appeared good effect in the laboratory experiment. The results were as followings. 1. Work environment of the plastic house in summer and winter was very different from the outer environment. Work motion in the plastic house was burden to the plastic house workers. 2. Plastic house workers had on the general type's work wear. 3. As a result of thermal manikin test, thermal resistance was appeared B1>B2>C2>C1>A1>A2 in orders. 4. In the laboratory experiment, experimental clothes A was appeared smaller burden than B, C. Effect of mesh underwear was not appeared in this study condition. In subjective sensation, experimental clothes C was lower vote than A. Therefore experimental clothes C was superior to A in subjective wearing sensation. 5. In the plastic house experiment, the experimental conditions with rest place were appeared smaller burden than without rest place. General type B was appeared more positive physiological reactions than devised type C but significances between two types was not appeared.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.419-435
• /
• 1999

The purpose of this article was to develop an interdisciplinary program for the aged living welfare in College of Home Economics. This program was developed through the analysis of gerontology curriculum in Korea, Japan, and America, and survey research with social workers who were working in the welfare institutes for the elderly in Korea. Moreover, an interdisciplinary program for the aged living welfare was designed based on the professional role of elderly care and the scope of educational context which were identified. Particular note was that this program could be most effectively implemented in the College of Home Economics. Recommendations for the development and implementation of the program were highlighted.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.483-488
• /
• 2022

This study was conducted to compare of dietary behaviors of young and temporary workers with older and permanent workers of single-person households. A questionnaire survey was conducted by purposive quota sampling(n=566) by age groups(20~59 years old) and status of workers(temporary workers, permanent workers and business owners). Compared to other age groups, 20s had lower average monthly income and cost of eating-out, and they rarely cooked at home and mainly bought food and groceries at convenience stores(p<0.001). This pattern was similar to temporary workers compare to other groups. This study will be meaningful as a basic data for creating a healthy living environment for temporary workers and 20s of single-person households.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.24 no.1 s.79
• /
• pp.193-207
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study was to analyze middle-aged salaried workers' retirement plans and the factors that affect the plans. The main point of this study was to compare male workers with female workers on their economic preparation and health care plans. The major findings were as follows; First, middle-aged salaried workers perceived their level of economic retirement plan to be relatively low. Second, the factors the affected the level of economic preparation for post-retirement were their current subjective economic level, age, household assets and debts, economic and health problems expected in their future elderly life, and savings and assets reserved for their elderly life. Third, the factors that affected whether to put aside savings for elderly life or not were age, current subjective economic level, capital assets, and savings and assets reserved for their elderly life. Fourth, the level of preparation for post-retirement health care depended on health problems expected in their elderly life, current subjective economic level, locus of control, job, and expected retirement age. Overall, the factors that affect male salaried workers' economic and health care plans were different from those of female salaried workers. From the findings, it can be concluded that the middle-aged salaried workers' level of economic retirement plans was different from that of their health care plans. Also, male salaried workers' level of retirement plan were different from that of female workers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.93-101
• /
• 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted how people work, resulting in a massive shift towards working from home or remotely. Work from home has played a critical role in reducing the transmission of COVID-19 by limiting in-person interactions and reducing the density of people in office buildings. It also enabled businesses and organizations to continue operating while keeping their employees safe and healthy. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of work from home in business and organizational sectors worldwide, and it is likely to continue as a preferred mode of work even after the pandemic is over. This shift towards working from home has not only impacted the way people work but also has significant implications for urban development, transportation, and the environment. This study intends to develop measures for addressing potential physical and mental health issues among remotely working employees. Additionally, it identifies the major influencing factors of home workers' health hazards and proposes improvement measures that can be applied to working from home, along with existing laws and prevention methods.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.14 no.10
• /
• pp.71-81
• /
• 2016

The objective of this study is to suggest methods to improve in-home service quality through service evaluation by long-term care workers. To achieve this objective, general characteristics of 223 long-term care workers, evaluation of service and agency, and retraining needs have been surveyed. An assessment of the survey results have resulted in the following conclusions. Though long-term care workers are not uneducated, the majority face unstable employment. And the content of supervision hoped for in producing improved long-term care services has been found to be based on the service-user's relationships. Moreover, among topics needing to be addressed for retraining, much attention has been shown for understanding of the elderly and their families, health care knowledge about geriatric diseases, and counseling techniques directed towards the affected person and their family. Findings from the research are as follow: enhancing the quality of long-term care requires a structural reassessment; upgrading the quality of care agencies requires the improvement of methods used to raise awareness of users and their guardians and the expansion of opportunities for education programs for professionalism.