1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«We looked at the steps taken by […] pregnant nurses to see whether, in practice, the experience of precautionary reassignment reinforces or challenges sexist biases regarding women’s work and the segregation of productive from reproductive work.» (p. 428)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«[I]nterviews were carried out with twenty-five pregnant nurses who told their stories of the precautionary reassignment process. The people primarily responsible for putting in place the precautionary reassignment in the ten hospitals were also interviewed: ten managers (nine women) and nine union representatives (one of whom was responsible for two hospitals).» (p. 428) L’échantillon total est donc composé de 44 personnes.

Instruments :
Guide d’entretien semi-directif

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

«Our research shows that the majority of pregnant workers were able to use the AOHS [Québec Act respecting Occupational Health and Safety] in their strategies to adapt work assignments to their pregnant state. […] We note that pregnant workers do not hesitate to challenge reassignment conditions that do not respect the objectives of the precautionary reassignment legislation or that increase the difficulty of their work.» (p. 433) «In this particular case, we cannot conclude that the use of precautionary reassignment legislation has hurt women in the workplace. We found that at least in the profession and hospitals studied, the existence of precautionary leave and its place in the health and safety legislation has enabled pregnant nurses to stay active, maintain their economic independence, and protect their health. They have used a number of strategies to make it possible to stay at work while pregnant.» (p. 434) For instance, «[w]orkers do not hesitate to rely on their medical certificate to remind their workplace of their obligation to respect the precautionary reassignment legislation and to get the support they need in acquiring an adequate reassignment. […] The legal obligation to adapt their jobs has enabled them to make some changes for the better in their work environment and work tasks with permanent effects on work-related health protection.» (p. 434)