Three Jobs at Dunkin' Donuts, One Tragic Death | Hillman Foundation

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Three Jobs at Dunkin' Donuts, One Tragic Death

Maria Fernandez worked three near-minimum wage jobs at Dunkin’ Donuts in Northern New Jersey. Like many low-wage workers, she spent a lot of time shuttling between jobs, dozing in her car between shifts. On Aug 25, Fernandez settled in for a nap in the parking lot outside one of her jobs and never woke up. A gas can in her trunk had spilled and the fumes suffocated her as she slept. She was 32. 

Sleep deprivation is a major social problem in the United States at large, and low-income Americans are especially hard-hit. Half of people in households with incomes below $30,000/yr report sleeping less than 6 hours a night. Lack of sleep increases the risk of accidents and exacerbates many chronic health problems.

 

[Photo credit: Jeepersmedia, Creative Commons.]