Workers and COVID-19

Voices of Wisconsin Workers

A community engaged study of essential workers during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic

In the United States, COVID-19 has devastated the lives of essential workers, their families and their communities. While many in the U.S. can work from home during the pandemic, those who grow and prepare the country’s food, care for the sick, maintain the state’s infrastructure, and educate the nation’s children must leave home to do their jobs. These workers face risk of infection and illness each day on the job. Workers of color and Latinx workers face greater risks than their non-Latinx, white counterparts and suffer poorer health outcomes as a result. This report, prepared by the University of Wisconsin School for Workers (SFW) in partnership with the University of Wisconsin – Population Health Institute presents the concerns about workplace safety expressed by workers in several industries deemed essential. These workers play a vital role in the well-being of all Wisconsin residents and the economy and deserve to be kept safe and healthy and have their voices be heard.

Read the full Voices of Wisconsin Workers report here.