Occupational Justice: Future Directions

Abstract

In this paper, we build on the findings from our scoping review (Durocher, Rappolt & Gibson, 2013) of occupational justice and its associated concepts, which revealed considerable conceptual confusion and barriers to the usability and understanding of occupational justice. In this paper we expand on those findings to provide a critique and way forward by drawing from four distinct perspectives. First, we take the stance of the sceptical occupational scientist to examine the interrelationships between occupation and health. We then consider occupational justice from a practice standpoint, and then from the view of the broad health care provider community. Finally, we discuss how the field of bioethics may contribute to occupational justice.

Keywords:

• Occupational justice
• Occupational science
• Social justice
• Bioethics
• Health care

Acknowledgements

This paper is based on work done by Evelyne Durocher to complete the requirements of her doctoral comprehensive examination. The authors wish to thank Dr. Barbara Secker, Dr. Rebecca Renwick and Dr. Stephanie Nixon, as well as the blind reviewers for their comments on earlier versions of the paper. Durocher's studies were funded by the Peterborough K. M. Hunter Foundation.