Search results

1 – 10 of over 21000
Article
Publication date: 6 June 2022

Diana K. Young, Alexander J. McLeod and Darrell Carpenter

In response to the tech skills gap, this research paper aims to examine the influence of occupational characteristics, gender and work-life balance on IT professionals'…

1478

Abstract

Purpose

In response to the tech skills gap, this research paper aims to examine the influence of occupational characteristics, gender and work-life balance on IT professionals' satisfaction with and commitment to their chosen occupation. In addition, the authors explore occupational differences across these investigated factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employed a survey research method and partial least squares (PLS) modeling using 293 responses collected from professionals representing five clusters of Information Technology (IT) occupations. Authors further conducted exploratory post-hoc analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests to check for significant differences in key constructs across five IT occupational clusters.

Findings

Occupational characteristics were found to be significantly related to respondents' occupational satisfaction while work-life balance was associated with their level of occupational commitment. Authors also found that that the influence of work-life balance on occupational commitment was more positive for females than for males. Finally, significant differences were found for task significance, task variety, task autonomy, work-life balance and compensation across the five occupational clusters examined.

Originality/value

A key contribution of this study is the focus on IT professionals' satisfaction with and commitment to their chosen occupation rather than a job, organization or profession. Accordingly, the authors contribute a nuanced understanding of an occupation as a facet of job, professional and career outcomes. Authors also explore how gender moderates the influence of work-life balance on occupational commitment. Finally, rather than treating the IT profession as a unified whole as has been done in most prior studies, authors explore satisfaction and commitment related differences across occupational clusters.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. 36 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 February 2020

Kwasi Dartey-Baah, Samuel Howard Quartey and Grace Asiedua Osafo

Bank tellers have been ignored in stress research. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between occupational stress, job satisfaction, and gender…

2404

Abstract

Purpose

Bank tellers have been ignored in stress research. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between occupational stress, job satisfaction, and gender difference among bank tellers in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a cross-sectional survey approach, the authors used questionnaires to collect data from bank tellers in Ghana. Valid questionnaires were retrieved from 112 tellers across four banks. The hypotheses were tested using Pearson r-test, standard multiple regression and independent t-test.

Findings

The results revealed that tellers are more likely to exhibit counterproductive behaviours such as job dissatisfaction due to work-related stress. The results further showed that gender is not a strong determinant of job satisfaction and occupational stress among the bank tellers. Thus, both male and female tellers can have similar stress perceptions and experiences. Also, both male and female tellers can be satisfied with their jobs.

Research limitations/implications

The findings must be interpreted with caution because cross-sectional surveys are often criticised for causality issues. The causality issue here is that the use of cross-sectional data did not allow the study to examine any changes in some of the constructs examined with time. Also, the results are occupation, industry and country-specific.

Practical implications

To reduce counterproductive behaviours due to occupational stress, human resource managers and line managers of the banks urgently need to train bank tellers on stress management. Emotional intelligence training is also necessary for bank tellers to obtain the needed resources and competencies to deal with daily stress.

Social implications

A stressful work environment negatively affects employee and organisational productivity and performance. The socioeconomic consequences of occupational stress are expensive for organisations, economies and society. The indirect effect of stress on employees' families and friends are often ignored by organisations.

Originality/value

The transactional stress theory has been applied towards an understanding of occupational stress and job satisfaction among bank tellers. The examination and establishment of particular relationships between occupational stress, job satisfaction and gender difference are significant for human resource managers and other line managers.

Details

International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, vol. 69 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-0401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 March 2015

Leena Maren Pundt, Anne Marit Wöhrmann, Jürgen Deller and Kenneth S. Shultz

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship of personal motivational goals and the corresponding occupational characteristics of volunteer, work-related activities in…

1822

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship of personal motivational goals and the corresponding occupational characteristics of volunteer, work-related activities in retirement with life and work satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

Fully retired individuals working for a non-profit organization in their former professional career field on a non-paid basis were surveyed using an online survey (n=661) to assess their motivational goals, the occupational characteristics of their projects, and satisfaction with life and work.

Findings

Results suggested that post-retirement volunteer workers differentiated between perceived life and work satisfaction. The motives of achievement, appreciation, autonomy, contact, and generativity significantly directly affected life satisfaction and indirectly affected work satisfaction. Occupational characteristics assessing achievement, appreciation, autonomy, contact, and generativity had direct effects on work satisfaction but not on life satisfaction except for occupational autonomy.

Research limitations/implications

The study was cross-sectional and based on self-report data of highly educated German retirees working in volunteer professional positions, thus potentially limiting the generalizability of findings.

Practical implications

Organizations should enable post-retirement volunteer workers to meet their motivation goals by designing work opportunities to fulfill the motivational goals of achievement, appreciation, autonomy, contact, and generativity.

Social implications

Post-retirement activities possess the potential to help solve societal problems by countering the shortage of specialists and managers at the same time that the burden on social security systems is reduced.

Originality/value

The paper presents evidence that different personal motivational goals and occupational characteristics are important in post-retirement activities. The findings imply that work designs created for post-retirement activities should provide a variety of occupational characteristics, such as occupational achievement and appreciation.

Details

Journal of Managerial Psychology, vol. 30 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0268-3946

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 October 2019

Saira Yousaf, Muhammad Imran Rasheed, Zahid Hameed and Adeel Luqman

The purpose of this paper is to apply conservation of resource (COR) theory and the buffering hypothesis of social support to explore occupational stress and its negative outcomes…

3646

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply conservation of resource (COR) theory and the buffering hypothesis of social support to explore occupational stress and its negative outcomes such as job engagement and turnover intentions for front-line hospitality industry employees in the People’s Republic of China.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data were collected in two waves from 318 front-line employees in a chain of restaurants located in the eastern region of the People’s Republic of China.

Findings

Integrating COR theory and the buffering hypothesis of social support, job satisfaction is found to be a mediating mechanism in the relationships between occupational stress and job engagement and occupational stress and employee turnover intentions for front-line hospitality industry workers. Moreover, the authors found the boundary condition role of work-social support. The relationships between stress and its negative outcomes are weak for the employees receiving high social support at work.

Originality/value

This study calls for researchers’ attention towards the issues of occupational stress focussing on the implications of work-social support for front-line hospitality industry employees.

Details

Personnel Review, vol. 49 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0048-3486

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 May 2009

Gary Blau

The purpose of this paper is to test whether a four‐dimensional model of occupational commitment could help to help explain intent to leave one's occupation.

1810

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test whether a four‐dimensional model of occupational commitment could help to help explain intent to leave one's occupation.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 2,032 massage therapists and bodywork practitioners completed an on‐line survey measuring occupational commitment, intent to leave occupation, job satisfaction, job perception, and personal variables. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the study hypotheses.

Findings

Controlling for personal and then job‐related variables, general job satisfaction was a significant negative correlate of intent to leave the occupation beyond these variables. Controlling for personal, job‐related and job satisfaction, three of the four occupational commitment dimensions, affective, accumulated costs, and limited alternatives, were each significant negative correlates of intent to leave. Normative commitment was not a significant correlate. After controlling for lower‐order interactions, a four‐way interaction of the occupational commitment dimensions explained significant additional variance in intent to leave. Separate “high” (versus “low”) cumulative commitment subgroups were created by selecting respondents who were equal to or above (versus below) the median on each of the four occupational commitment dimensions. An independent samples t‐test indicated that low cumulative commitment massage therapists and bodywork practitioners were more likely to intend to leave than high cumulative commitment practitioners.

Research limitations/implications

Despite the cross‐sectional, self‐report research design, the results suggest that a four‐dimensional model of occupational commitment is useful for understanding intent to leave occupation. Given the costs and difficulties associated with changing occupations, follow‐up research using other samples and additional noted research design variables is needed.

Originality/value

The results and recommendations in the paper will be of interest to those involved in the field of human resources.

Details

Career Development International, vol. 14 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1362-0436

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 August 2012

Murat Gümüş, Bahattin Hamarat, Ertuğrul Çolak and Erol Duran

This paper aims to explore the effects of two work related identification (occupational and organizational) of school teachers on intention to early retirement (withdrawal) and…

2043

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the effects of two work related identification (occupational and organizational) of school teachers on intention to early retirement (withdrawal) and satisfaction with the occupation and satisfaction with the school. It also seeks the influence of perceived external prestige on withdrawal and satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study was carried out at public schools in Canakkale, Turkey. Data collected from 238 teachers were analyzed. The correlations between identification and organizational prestige, desire for early retirement, and overall satisfaction of teachers were tested with several demographic variables such as age, gender, tenure and union membership. Ordinal logistic regression analysis (OLR) was conducted to reveal probabilistic behavior of response variables on the basis of explanatory variables.

Findings

The results show that both categories of identification have reverse effect on intention to early retirement, and both categories have positive effect on job satisfaction. Perceived external prestige has no effect on intention to early retirement and job satisfaction, but it increases satisfaction from the school. Finally, the “self” and the “occupation” were found salient categories for teachers' identification.

Originality/value

Identification literature has long been concentrated on organizational level identification. This paper explores the influence of both organizational and occupational categories of identification, comparatively. Being a teacher is seen as a prestigious occupation in Turkey. Findings about identity as a teacher also confirmed that “self” and “occupation” are two main identity references in the Turkish setting.

Book part
Publication date: 23 February 2015

Deirdre McCaughey, Jami DelliFraine and Cathleen O. Erwin

Hospitals in North America consistently have employee injury rates ranking among the highest of all industries. Organizations that mandate workplace safety training and emphasize…

Abstract

Purpose

Hospitals in North America consistently have employee injury rates ranking among the highest of all industries. Organizations that mandate workplace safety training and emphasize safety compliance tend to have lower injury rates and better employee safety perceptions. However, it is unclear if the work environment in different national health care systems (United States vs. Canada) is associated with different employee safety perceptions or injury rates. This study examines occupational safety and workplace satisfaction in two different countries with employees working for the same organization.

Methodology/approach

Survey data were collected from environmental services employees (n = 148) at three matched hospitals (two in Canada and one in the United States). The relationships that were examined included: (1) safety leadership and safety training with individual/unit safety perceptions; (2) supervisor and coworker support with individual job satisfaction and turnover intention; and (3) unit turnover, labor usage, and injury rates.

Findings

Hierarchical regression analysis and ANOVA found safety leadership and safety training to be positively related to individual safety perceptions, and unit safety grade and effects were similar across all hospitals. Supervisor and coworker support were found to be related to individual and organizational outcomes and significant differences were found across the hospitals. Significant differences were found in injury rates, days missed, and turnover across the hospitals.

Originality/value

This study offers support for occupational safety training as a viable mechanism to reduce employee injury rates and that a codified training program translates across national borders. Significant differences were found between the hospitals with respect to employee and organizational outcomes (e.g., turnover). These findings suggest that work environment differences are reflective of the immediate work group and environment, and may reflect national health care system differences.

Details

International Best Practices in Health Care Management
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78441-278-4

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 May 2007

Raquel Velada and António Caetano

The purpose of this article is to analyse the mediating effects of perception of learning between occupational satisfaction, affective reactions, utility reactions and perceived…

7178

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to analyse the mediating effects of perception of learning between occupational satisfaction, affective reactions, utility reactions and perceived training transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

The participants in the study were 185 Portuguese teachers who attended a professional training programme.

Findings

The results of this study show that occupational satisfaction, affective and utility reactions are associated with perception of learning and perceived training transfer. Furthermore, the results also reveal that perception of learning fully mediates the relationship between occupational satisfaction and perceived training transfer and partially mediates the relationship between affective reactions, utility reactions and perceived training transfer.

Research limitations/implications

Results are based on self‐reported measures to evaluate training transfer.

Practical implications

Organisations interested in maximising their return on investment on training and development should regularly monitor the employees' level of satisfaction with their occupation and determine whether new actions need to be taken regarding human resources practices or the working conditions. To enhance training transfer, careful attention should be given to the training design in order to ensure that it reflects the trainees' needs previously identified and to guarantee that trainees acquire a good level of learning in the programme.

Originality/value

The present study extends the empirical literature about the predictors of training transfer, showing that learning can play a mediating role between some predictors and transfer.

Details

Journal of European Industrial Training, vol. 31 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0309-0590

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 September 2012

Gary Blau, Ed Boyer, Kathleen Davis, Richard Flanagan, Sreenu Konda, Than Lam, Andrea Lopez and Christopher Monos

The aim of the paper is to formally test that physical exhaustion is distinguishable from work exhaustion, and to investigate common as well as differential correlates of each…

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to formally test that physical exhaustion is distinguishable from work exhaustion, and to investigate common as well as differential correlates of each type of exhaustion.

Design/methodology/approach

An on‐line survey sample of 1,895 complete‐data massage therapists and body workers (MT & BWs) was used to test the study hypotheses.

Findings

Factor analytic support was found for distinguishable measures of work exhaustion and physical exhaustion. In separate regression models common significant correlates for both types of exhaustion included: gender (females higher), higher surface acting, higher accumulated and continuing education occupational costs, and lower job satisfaction. However, job satisfaction had a significantly stronger negative correlation to work exhaustion versus physical exhaustion. Looking at impact on occupational outcomes, physical exhaustion had a stronger positive correlation to being forced to stay in occupation than work exhaustion, but work exhaustion had a stronger positive correlation to intent to leave occupation than physical exhaustion. Unique correlates for work exhaustion included more years in practice and lower education level, while unique correlates for physical exhaustion included: more average days worked/week, higher deep acting, and higher occupational identification.

Research limitations/implications

From a measurement perspective, the three‐item measure of physical exhaustion and five item measure of work exhaustion each had a good reliability. However, ideally more items should be used to measure physical exhaustion, and other work exhaustion scales should be utilized to validate the results. Expanding the job demands‐resources framework to also include occupational‐level variables, such as accumulated costs, seems to hold promise for helping to further understand the antecedents of exhaustion.

Practical implications

Work and physical exhaustion can impact on occupational outcomes and are risks for other samples such as nurses, home health care aides, physical therapists, and athletic trainers. Many MT & BWs work alone and meditation is suggested as an effective method to improve job satisfaction, reduce work exhaustion and decrease occupational intent to leave.

Originality/value

The paper uses a sample of massage therapists and body workers and overall the findings suggest that work exhaustion and physical exhaustion are related but distinct exhaustion components.

Details

Career Development International, vol. 17 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1362-0436

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 June 2009

Timothy David Ryan and Michael Sagas

The purpose of this study is to examine within college coaches the effects of pay satisfaction and work‐family conflict (WFC) on occupational turnover intentions. Specifically, it…

5637

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine within college coaches the effects of pay satisfaction and work‐family conflict (WFC) on occupational turnover intentions. Specifically, it predicts that WFC would mediate the relationship between satisfaction with pay to occupational turnover intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through a mailed questionnaire of college coaches. Regression analysis was used to test the mediated relationship.

Findings

Results confirmed a significant relationship between all variables in the study (p<0.001 for all). Using regression, when pay satisfaction and WFC were used to predict occupational turnover intentions, the mediator, WFC (β=0.29, p<0.001), maintained its effect on turnover. However, satisfaction with pay was insignificant, suggesting the mediated relationship.

Research limitations/implications

While several areas within sport are impacted by dissatisfaction with pay and WFC, this sample was limited to college coaches.

Practical implications

Managers need to be aware of the impact of pay satisfaction and WFC have on turnover intentions, especially because of the importance turnover has on team performance. It is suggested that while pay satisfaction has a direct effect on occupational turnover intentions, WFC is one significant process through which pay satisfaction acts on an individual's intention to withdraw from the coaching occupation. It may also suggest that coaches not satisfied with pay are more aware of the conflict between work and family.

Originality/value

Anecdotal evidence suggests that pay satisfaction with pay and WFC are significant reasons teams lose coaches or front office personnel; however, no work has been done relating these variables and turnover.

Details

Team Performance Management: An International Journal, vol. 15 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1352-7592

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 21000