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1 – 10 of over 27000Anne Aidla, Helen Poltimäe, Kärt Rõigas, Eneli Kindsiko and Els Maria Metsmaa
The purpose of this study is to analyse perceived physical and social isolation and how they are linked in various places of work.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to analyse perceived physical and social isolation and how they are linked in various places of work.
Design/methodology/approach
A nationwide study was conducted involving 3,352 Estonian office workers in spring 2021. Physical isolation was measured in terms of what proportion of time a person works away from co-workers (0%, 1%–25%, 26%–50%, 51%–75%, more than 75%). Social isolation diverged into two factors: lack of contacts and lack of meaningful connections. The different places of work the authors considered in the study included working from home with and without a dedicated room and different types of offices (private office, shared-cell office, activity-based office and open-plan offices of various sizes).
Findings
The results show that the negative consequences of physical isolation in the form of perceiving social isolation start to show when a person works 51% of the time or more away from others. However, the authors revealed the dual nature of social isolation in that when a person experiences a lack of contacts, the connections they do have with their colleagues are actually more meaningful.
Originality/value
The originality of the study comes from the fact that the authors uncovered the paradoxical nature of social isolation. This reveals itself in various places of work depending on the conditions at home and the type of office. Therefore, the authors move away from the simplified distinction of home vs office and take into account the level of physical isolation (what amount of time a person actually works away from colleagues).
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Grazia Garlatti Costa, Guido Bortoluzzi and Matej Černe
During the COVID-19 pandemic, huge numbers of employees shifted to remote working, with various consequences for their family and working lives. This study aims to focus on the…
Abstract
Purpose
During the COVID-19 pandemic, huge numbers of employees shifted to remote working, with various consequences for their family and working lives. This study aims to focus on the factors that affect their creativity while working from home. As individual creativity is shaped by context, the authors investigate the moderating role of the domestic environment on employees’ creative contributions while working remotely.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors base the arguments on the complexity perspective on innovative work behaviour (IWB) and consider innovation a recursive process in which innovative behaviour can inform, and not simply follow, subsequent creative acts. The sudden spur of the pandemic interrupted the natural recursiveness of the creativity–innovation process and allowed them to empirically investigate the direct and indirect effects that levels of pre-pandemic IWB had on individuals’ creative behaviour. The authors hypothesise that this relationship is moderated by two resource-conserving contextual factors: work–home conflict and a feeling of social isolation. The participants were 803 employees from several Italian corporations. The data were collected during the first lockdown period (April–May 2020).
Findings
The findings support the existence of a three-way interaction, suggesting that IWB affects further creative behaviours when both work–home conflict and social isolation are low.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that investigates what happened to employees’ creativity during the COVID-19 massive remote working situation. The results should be interpreted beyond the unique context because remote working will continue.
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Junbing Qian, Liping Bao and Chuankun Ji
Precision active vibration isolation system (AVIS) is crucial for the mechanical processing equipment in the field of precision manufacturing. Working reliability and efficiency…
Abstract
Purpose
Precision active vibration isolation system (AVIS) is crucial for the mechanical processing equipment in the field of precision manufacturing. Working reliability and efficiency of the system directly influence operating condition of the equipment and the quality of work pieces.
Design/methodology/approach
A complete structure of the AVIS includes two parts: the excitation part and the passive vibration isolation system (PVIS). The excitation part consists of voice coil motors (VCMs). In this paper, the working process of AVIS is studied particularly via linear simplification on the decoupling model and the mechanical dynamic equations to solve the vibration problem, and they are validated by the experiments.
Findings
According to dynamic analysis and experiment on an AVIS on different reference points, the VCMs are used as actuators in the AVIS to excite the PVIS, and the performance characteristics of the whole AVIS is well reflected by the amplitude–frequency curves, the bode diagrams and the power spectral density curves.
Originality/value
This study has provided a way for obtaining the inner structure and working condition of the AVIS, which are essential to better control of the AVIS and to further study it in precision manufacturing application.
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Benedict Ogbemudia Imhanrenialena, Wilson Ebhotemhen, Ibe Benjamin Chukwu, Ozioma Happiness Obi-Anike and Anthony Aziegbemin Ekeoba
This paper aims to explore how women’s compassionate leadership behaviors relate to physical isolation, trust building and turnover intention in virtual work environments in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore how women’s compassionate leadership behaviors relate to physical isolation, trust building and turnover intention in virtual work environments in Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected quantitative data through two-wave surveys from 428 respondents in virtual work environments across public and private organizations in Nigeria. The proposed hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling.
Findings
The outcomes from the test of hypotheses suggest that women’s compassionate managerial leadership behaviors negatively relate to physical isolation among virtual workers. Conversely, a positive link was found between women’s compassionate managerial leadership behaviors and trust building. Further, an inverse association was found between women’s compassionate managerial leadership behaviors and turnover intention among virtual workers.
Practical implications
Based on the findings, organizations may consider deploying more women managers to virtual work schedules to address trust, isolation and turnover intention challenges. Also, HR practitioners may consider training male managers in virtual work on how to restructure their relationships with subordinates to reflect compassionate attributes so that subordinates can feel safe sharing their worries with them for timely support. Policy-wise, relevant government agencies that are saddled with the responsibility of emancipating women from career-inhibiting patriarchal practices in Africa (i.e. confining women to the house) should encourage women to embrace the homeworking model, which holds great career potential for women.
Originality/value
As a response to the current calls for research on the suitable leadership style for virtual work environments, this study empirically demonstrates that women’s innate compassionate leadership behaviors significantly address physical isolation, trust and turnover intention challenges in virtual work settings. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that explores the link between these variables. As such, this study substantially enriches the literature on gender in management.
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George R. Barrett, Carlos E. Farrington and Timothy G. Clapp
Fully automating the apparel assembly process will require generic robotic manipulators which can be purchased as a complete unit and adapted to specific applications. A…
Abstract
Fully automating the apparel assembly process will require generic robotic manipulators which can be purchased as a complete unit and adapted to specific applications. A manipulator that can handle and position non‐rigid fabric parts of inexact dimension is described. The XY‐theta provides three directions of fabric positioning. Further, the manipulator can handle different sizes of a variety of styles. The aligning system is composed of three modules‐ vision, positioning and control, which exchange information and control signals via a 32‐bit bus system. This combination of modules and bus system makes the aligning system very flexible which is represented by the ability to switch the type of microcontroller or motors used. Thus, the generic system can be adapted for specific applications.
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Maja Racic, Srebrenka Kusmuk, Ljilja Kozomara, Branka Debelnogic and Rajna Tepic
Elder mistreatment is a widespread medical and social problem that is often under‐recognised by primary care physicians. The primary aim of this study was to estimate the…
Abstract
Elder mistreatment is a widespread medical and social problem that is often under‐recognised by primary care physicians. The primary aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of elder mistreatment among elderly patients with mental disorders in Bosnia and Herzegovina. One‐hundred‐and‐eighty‐four patients with different mental disorders were asked to complete the EAST questionnaire as part of a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Screening results were evaluated, and patients who had responses associated with ‘mistreatment’ were invited back to the clinics for additional clinical evaluation. Different types of mistreatment were identified in 71% of all patients. This led to a conclusion that screening for elder mistreatment should be a part of the routine health assessment for all older persons and a part of comprehensive geriatric assessment.
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Ian Morrison and Stephen M. Clift
The purpose of this research is to report on an evaluation of a programme of supported education in a Further Education context for students with long‐term mental health problems…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to report on an evaluation of a programme of supported education in a Further Education context for students with long‐term mental health problems, based on Antonovsky's Salutogenic model of health. The students are referred by the Community Mental Health Team.
Design/methodology/approach
Three consecutive cohorts of students (n=148, 93 male, 55 female; average age 39.5 years) undertaking the programme, completed Antonovsky's Short‐form Sense of Coherence scale (the SOC13) on entry to the programme, and when exiting from it. Qualitative feedback from the second cohort of students was examined to establish the processes at work in the programme. This identified a number of themes relating to the processes at work in the programme and its outcomes (Peer Support, Learning Support, Learning Effects, Symptom Reduction and Positive Affect) and provided a basis for designing short questionnaires, which were completed by the second cohort. Data from these questionnaires and the SOC13 were used to build a causal model of the processes at work in the programme.
Findings
The overall change between the entry and exit SOC13 scores was not significant. However, students with SOC13 scores below 52 (total n=81, 52 male, 29 female; average age 42.8 years) made statistically significant positive gains. In this initially low scoring group, 70 per cent improved their exit SOC13 score, 2 per cent remained constant, and 28 per cent reported lower exit SOC13 scores. The causal model from the whole of the second cohort of students suggests that peer support is the initial factor contributing to the success of the programme by positively influencing learning effects of the programme and the uptake of learning support. In turn, learning effects reduced symptoms and this had the effect of raising positive affect. Raised positive affect reduced the need for learning support and was positively linked to entry and exit SOC13 scores.
Practical implications
This research has implications for budget holders, health promotion staff and allied professionals in the collaborative use of resources to help people recovering from or managing mental health difficulties move forward in their lives.
Originality/value
This study highlights the need for community collaborative social initiatives to be properly funded and validated. Approaches to evaluation could usefully be formulated on the basis of Antonovsky's model. Professionals need to consider investing in creating peer support and positive affect when working with people with mental health needs.
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Women with learning disabilities have many social, personal and psychological problems that stem from being neglected, as well as from being doubly disadvantaged by their gender…
Abstract
Women with learning disabilities have many social, personal and psychological problems that stem from being neglected, as well as from being doubly disadvantaged by their gender and their learning disability. Most of these psychosocial problems are not addressed as they arise, and lead to psychiatric diagnosis and medicalisation of non‐medical issues. It is important to recognise parenting in women with learning disabilities, as well as concerns such as sexual and emotional abuse and violence, and to address them by appropriate agencies. Research suggests that trained mental health staff with a good understanding of gender as well as of disabilities would be able to address the needs before they turn into crises. International and national surveys give a good understanding of where the needs lie and how services could be structured most effectively. Recognition of the problems, a robust gender‐sensitive approach and management skills at community level seem to be most important in dealing with women with learning disabilities. Most women with learning disabilities need local, generic, gender‐sensitive non‐stigmatising services. Only a very small minority of women with behavioural problems will need the highly specialised psychiatric learning disabilities team.
Liang Lu and Wenhu Huang
As the installation of the vibration isolation device to the spacecraft for the whole spacecraft vibration isolation, the interface structure is typically modeled as a rigid…
Abstract
Purpose
As the installation of the vibration isolation device to the spacecraft for the whole spacecraft vibration isolation, the interface structure is typically modeled as a rigid structure during the design phase. However, the flexibility of the interface structure does exist for a large‐sized adaptor. This is a source of uncertainty and could reduce the reliability of the system. It is necessary to investigate the influence of this type of flexibility on the vibration isolation performance in an engineering practice. This paper aims to address this situation.
Design/methodology/approach
The vibratory transmissibility from the bottom of the isolator is generally used to evaluate the performance of the vibration isolation. By introducing the interface flexibility from both the adaptor and the vibration isolation device, a planar model which includes a flexible beam representing the interface structure is established to study the influence of this type of flexibility on the vibratory transmissibility.
Findings
It is found that, when this type of flexibility is included, an extra low‐frequency mode dominated locally by the interface structure is induced, and then a significant resonance appears in the vibratory transmissibility of the vibration isolation device at a low frequency.
Originality/value
The vibration isolation performance may be over‐estimated in the design by taking the interface as rigid. The inherent flexibility of the interface structure, on the other hand, may degrade the performance of the vibration isolation device and degrade the function of the rotation constraint device added into the vibration isolation device.
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Supermaxes across the United States detain thousands in long-term solitary confinement, under conditions of extreme sensory deprivation. Almost every state built a supermax…
Abstract
Supermaxes across the United States detain thousands in long-term solitary confinement, under conditions of extreme sensory deprivation. Almost every state built a supermax between the late 1980s and the late 1990s. This chapter examines the role of federal prisoners’ rights litigation in the 1960s and 1970s in shaping the prisons, especially supermaxes, built in the 1980s and 1990s in the United States. This chapter uses a systematic analysis of federal court case law, as well as archival research and oral history interviews with key informants, including lawyers, experts, and correctional administrators, to explore the relationship between federal court litigation and prison building and designing. This chapter argues that federal conditions of confinement litigation in the 1960s and 1970s (1) had a direct role in shaping the supermax institutions built in the subsequent decades and (2) contributed to the resistance of these institutions to constitutional challenges. The history of litigation around supermaxes is an important and as-yet-unexplored aspect of the development of Eighth Amendment jurisprudence in the United States over the last half century.