Matthew Martinez L&S Social Sciences
Work-Life Balance and Mental Health: A Study of Retail Workers
Major retail corporations promote flexible scheduling, mental health resources, and work-life balance initiatives as central to their corporate identity. Companies like Target, Macy’s, and Nordstrom highlight these programs in recruitment efforts, suggesting that retail employees have meaningful access to support. However, research shows a disconnect between corporate rhetoric and workers’ lived experiences, especially for low-wage workers of color, who often face unstable schedules, job insecurity, and limited access to resources. This project interrogates that gap, asking: How do structural labor conditions in major retail corporations shape workers’ access to work-life balance and mental well-being initiatives? Through a systematic literature review, this project examines how race, class, and employment precarity influence who benefits from corporate well-being programs and who remains excluded. By critically analyzing existing research and corporate policies, this study challenges dominant narratives about workplace wellness and contributes to a deeper understanding of inequality in the retail sector.
Message To Sponsor
I want to thank the Leadership donor for allowing me to further my research this summer through the SURF Fellowship. This experience has helped me grow as a researcher and provided me with additional tools for conducting and organizing my research materials. SUFR has given me the confidence to apply for the Honor Thesis Program and has put aside my anxiety of applying to this program. The experience has also led my research in several different directions that I did not initially consider, but I am open to exploring these pathways further. Thank you again for the opportunity to help hone my research skills as well as meet fellow students interested in conducting research.