Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the meaning of the relationship between work and health for administrative assistants in a public institution of higher education in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is considered a privilege for the worker in the public sector to have steady employment and protection from working conditions that lead to suffering and illness. To study this particular situation, focus groups were adopted for a qualitative exploration, and the information gathered was assessed by content analysis. As outcomes, we highlight the importance of interpersonal relationships, transparency and participation in project management, and the appreciation of workers' efforts to solve problems. A high level of engagement at work was a striking feature that differs markedly from society’s widely held view of public servants. Workers felt that their ability to participate in project development was limited and that communication between administrative sectors was lacking to such an extent that they are unable to do their work properly. Such elements should become the focus of oversight in the relationship between work and health, considered strategic in the social organization of work environments in the sense of improving institutional health and the quality of services provided.
Keywords:
occupational health; public sector; working conditions.