Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Yazd University

2 Department of Social Sciences, Yazd University

Abstract

Work-related injury is one of the main reasons of job loss and bearing negative psychological, professional and social consequences for workers. This article aims to promote knowledge about stigma targeting injured workers, especially to explain the nature and processes of stigma and its impact on the lives of the affected workers. In this study, the Constructivist Grounded Theory method by interpretative-constructivist approach was used. A semi-structured interview was used as a data collection technique. The sampling method is purposeful and theoretical.The samples were obtained by attending the Department of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, as well as the Social Security Organization.Theoretical saturation was achieved when the number of samples reached 11 people.The data analysis has been done with the Constructivist Grounded Theory method. Analyzing the experience of the participants led to many cases of experiencing negative labels, obstruction in career path, injury legitimacy loss, and the experience of not being desired in interpersonal relationships, that has been investigated in categories such as the weakness of empathy, the difficulty of returning, the imposition of multiple costs,the struggle for acceptance and proof, and the weakness of organizational supervision and support. The principal category is the spread of harm through stigma (the domino of harm/stigma), which focuses on the spread of deprivation and exclusion caused by the stigma of injury in various areas of personal and social life.

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