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The purpose of this paper is to study the compound effect between silane and cerium salts in the passivation process of chemical conversion treatment of zinc.

Chemical conversion treatment using 3‐Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane on zinc is investigated as an alternative treatment to chromate conversion. The surface chemistry of the silane‐treated samples is investigated with mass change measurements, polarization curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and the salt spray tests (SST). The surface morphology of samples was studied using a scanning electron microscope.

The polarization curves, EIS and SST data are in agreement. On the surface of zinc, the silane formed a compound with the cerium, thus enhancing the adhesion and corrosion resistance of the polymer film.

There have been few reports on the compound effects of silanes and cerium salts in the passivation process. The mechanism of this compound effect may be due to the ability of Ce^3 +ions to gain access to the interface through tiny cracks or micropores in the cross‐linking structure of GPS polymer films on zinc, and the subsequent oxidation of Ce^3 +to Ce^4 +by H₂O₂ may result in a barrier effect between the electrolyte and the metallic substrate.

Personal financial stress-free living is desired by many, which dwells on sound financial literacy (including financial behaviour, financial knowledge and financial attitude). Many individuals do not make optimal savings and investment decisions. The realisation that these choices may well lead to low living standards has also increased economic anxiety, especially in Sub-Sahara African countries, including Ghana. Thus, this study underscores the link between financial literacy and financial distress in Ghana. It establishes whether persons that are financially literate escape financial distress in their life.

The paper engages nationally representative survey data and adopts a positivist research approach with logistic regression analysis to establish the likelihood of financial literate persons experiencing financial distress.

This study establishes that financially literate individuals are 2.4% less likely to experience financial distress. Socioeconomic characteristics greatly influence the probability of one experiencing financial hardship. It submits that policy can be directed towards improving financial habits (financial literacy) to enhance individuals' financial behaviour to lessen personal financial distress.

Not much attention has been paid to whether financial literacy has a nexus with financial distress. Few studies (not on Sub-Saharan Africa) that have looked at this are done, neglecting a sensitivity analysis of socioeconomic characteristics in establishing the relations. However, this current study dwells on econometric analysis to establish the margin or extend to which a financially literate person may or may not escape financial distress given his/her socioeconomic characteristics.

Highly committed, motivated and engaged employees assure organizational success and competitiveness. The study aims to examine the association between human resource development (HRD) practices and employee engagement with organizational commitment as a mediating variable.

Data were collected from 760 employees of 13 star-rated hotels comprising 5 (five-star) and 8 (four-star). The data supported the hypothesized relationships. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the proposed model and hypotheses. Construct validity and reliability were established through confirmatory factor analysis.

The results indicate that HRD practices and affective commitment are significantly associated. HRD practices and continuance commitment were shown to be non-significantly associated. HRD practices and normative commitment were shown to be non-significantly associated. Employee engagement and organizational commitment are significantly associated. The results further show that organizational commitment mediates the association between HRD practices and employee engagement.

The generalizability of the findings will be constrained due to the research's hotel industry focus and cross sectional data.

The study's findings will serve as valuable pointers for stakeholders and policymakers of the hotel industry in the adoption, design and implementation of proactive HRD interventions to keep highly engaged and committed employees for organizational competitiveness and sustainability.

By evidencing empirically that organizational commitment mediates the nexus between HRD practices and employee engagement, the study extends the literature.

This study investigates the relationship between women’s networks perceptions and job satisfaction. It also examines the mediating effects of perceived organizational support (POS) for women’s work contributions on the relationship between networks perceptions and job satisfaction.

The participants are female employees working in Scotland (n = 247). The data were collected using a survey questionnaire. PROCESS macro (model 4, Hayes, 2018) was used to test the proposed model.

The results revealed that (controlling for work time, age and sector) there is a significant relationship between women’s networks perceptions and job satisfaction. In addition, POS for women’s work contribution mediates the relationship between networks perceptions and job satisfaction. These findings show the significant effects of networks perceptions on employees’ job, satisfaction directly and through POS for women’s work contributions. Therefore, understanding the networks perceptions of employees and organizational factors will assist in improving job satisfaction.

This study is unique for examining the role of POS for women’s work contribution in the relationship between employees’ networks perceptions and job satisfaction. It addresses gender inequality in the workplace in terms of women’s career advancement and job satisfaction. In addition, this research offers insight into the development of a seven-item measurement scale related to networks perceptions.