Neoliberalism, Globalization, Health, and Health Care DOUBLE JEOPARDY: THE IMPACT OF NEOLIBERALISM ON CARE WORKERS IN THE

Many researchers have explored how neoliberal restructuring of the work-place has reduced the standard of living and increased workplace stress among private sector employees. However, few have focused on how neoliberal restructuring of public policy has had similar effects on the public sector workforce. Using original case study research, the authors examine how two iconic pieces of neoliberal policy—the 1996 welfare reform bill in the United States and the GEAR macroeconomic policy in South Africa— affected public/nonprofit human service workers in New York City, United States, and public sector nurses in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The authors argue that in both situations, despite national differences, these policies created a “double jeopardy, ” in which patients/clients and care workers are adversely affected by neoliberal public policy. This “double jeopardy ” creates significant hardship, but also the opportunity for new social movements. Since the 1970s, neoliberal health and social welfare policies around the world have shifted resources from the public to the private sector, reduced benefits to recipients, and affected the lives of clients and workers alike. While many researchers have studied the negative impact of these policies on the well-being of the clients of health and human service agencies, and of workers in the private sector, less is known about the adverse effect of neoliberal disinvestment on the well-being of health and human service care workers. This article draws on case studies to examine the impact of neoliberalism on care workers in New York City (NYC), United States, and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province, South Africa. Despite national differences, both governments hav