Perceived discrimination from management and musculoskeletal symptoms among New York City restaurant workers

Compared with other restaurant hazards, organizational stressors are an understudied topic. Among organizational stressors, discrimination from management (DFM) appears widespread.

Objectives were to assess the prevalence and links between musculoskeletal symptoms (MSSs) in three anatomical regions and five sources of DFM.

A cross-sectional, interviewer-administered survey among restaurant workers was used. Participants were randomly selected by type and geographic distribution.

Eighty-four percent of workers reported having MSSs in at least one anatomical region. The prevalence of severe MSSs was 24·9%. The strongest association between DFM and frequency of MSSs was "upper extremities." The strongest association between DFM and severity of MSSs was "any anatomical location." Thirty-four percent of restaurant workers reported DFM; age was the most prevalent source of DFM.

In general, associations between DFM and MSSs were stronger by frequency than severity. The largest number of significant associations by sources of DFM was language and age.