Working conditions perceived by commercial store vendors: an occupational health perspective

Abstract

The commerce sector represents one of the spaces of the economy that houses a large part of the working class, in which the figure of sellers undoubtedly marks an iconic role. In the performance of these activities, the seller is exposed to a large number of working conditions (CdT). General intention: Understand the experiences around the CoT of the salespeople who work in commercial stores in the central part of the city of Puerto Cabello. Materials and Methods: Within a socio-critical approach, with a hermeneutic phenomenological method. The study subjects were 10 salespeople from commercial stores who experienced the pre-named CoT and, for triangulation purposes, 2 owners and 2 customers of the commercial premises. Emerging structuring of the phenomenon: A structure emerges made up of 10 universal categories among which stand out: Positive appreciation of CdT, Aspects considered fair in the CdT, Elements absent in the CdT, Negative appreciation of CdT, Unfavorable ergonomic positions in the CdT, Affects in health reported as a product of the CdT, Absence of the occupational health and safety service. Understanding of the phenomenon:The working conditions perceived by commercial store salespeople are both positive and negative. On the positive side, they rate them as good, satisfactory and with a fair salary. On the negative side, they perceive them as difficult, uncomfortable and with the absence of employment and dining contracts. They report disergonomic conditions, and the work context is related to the current social situation in the country.