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1 – 10 of over 2000Roman Soucek, Amanda S. Voss, Hans Drexler and Klaus Moser
Digitalization and flexibility of workplaces as aspects of new ways of working are associated both positively and negatively with employees’ well-being. However, the mechanisms…
Abstract
Purpose
Digitalization and flexibility of workplaces as aspects of new ways of working are associated both positively and negatively with employees’ well-being. However, the mechanisms behind this relationship are not clear yet. We present work intensity as a link between new ways of working and psychological well-being. Furthermore, we address two job resources to alter this association: autonomy and boundary control.
Design/methodology/approach
Overall, 1,099 employees of a public administration organization participated in the survey and answered a web-based questionnaire. The organization was in the transition to new ways of working including the introduction of a digital filing system and remote work.
Findings
The results of regression analyses provided evidence that flexibility and dissolution of boundaries were positively related to work intensity, which in turn was associated with emotional exhaustion and work engagement. Thus, new ways of working were negatively associated with psychological well-being, mediated by work intensity. Further analyses revealed that the job resources of autonomy and boundary control moderated the relationship between flexibility respectively dissolution of boundaries with work intensity. Thus, these job resources acted as buffering factors and mitigated the association of new ways of working with work intensity.
Originality/value
The results indicated that work intensity could be perceived as a conceptual bridge between new ways of working and psychological well-being providing a promising target variable for the deployment of job resources to preserve employees’ well-being.
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Maaike Schellaert and Eva Derous
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many employees to work from home, resulting in new demands that might cause older workers to reevaluate their retirement decisions. Building on the…
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many employees to work from home, resulting in new demands that might cause older workers to reevaluate their retirement decisions. Building on the extended Job Demands-Resources model, which explains work-related outcomes in times of crisis, this study investigated the change in older workers’ intention to continue working during COVID-19 and the role of ICT-related strain and social support during teleworking.
Design/methodology/approach
A two-wave longitudinal study was conducted among 1,406 older workers (i.e. 50 years or older). Data were collected before the COVID-19 pandemic (2019: T1) and during the pandemic (2021: T2). In total, 967 older workers completed the survey at both waves.
Findings
Older workers’ nearing retirement experienced a decline in intentions to continue working during the pandemic, while intentions of older workers further away from their retirement increased. At T2, the negative relationship between telework intensity and the intention to continue working was mediated by ICT-related strain. Perceived social support at work seems to buffer the negative impact of telework intensity on ICT-related strain.
Originality/value
This study provides valuable insights into factors that may stimulate older workers' workforce participation by investigating effects of ICT-related strain and social support during telework. Organizations can implement interventions that enhance job resources and reduce job demands during telework to help mitigate ICT-related strain and postpone retirement.
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Zhijiang Wu, Yongxiang Wang and Mengyao Liu
The negative effects of job stress and burnout on construction professionals (CPs) at the construction site have been widely concern in the construction industry. The purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
The negative effects of job stress and burnout on construction professionals (CPs) at the construction site have been widely concern in the construction industry. The purpose of this study is committed to explore the impact of job stress on CPs on the construction site, especially in the context of the widespread use of social media to express their emotions.
Design/methodology/approach
This study developed a job-related stress-burnout-health conditions-turnover intention (S-B-HT) framework to explore the direct and lagged effects of job stress, we also examined the moderating effects of online emotions, operationalized in terms of emotional intensity and expression pattern, on the relationship between job stress with job burnout under two evolution paths (i.e. health conditions or turnover intention). This study collected 271 samples through a survey questionnaire for empirical testing, and introduced structural equation models to validate the proposed conceptual model.
Findings
The results show that job stress has a significant positive effect on job burnout, and job burnout maintains a positive relationship with health conditions (or turnover intention) under the interference mechanism. Simultaneously, the online emotions expressed in social media have a positive moderating effect in two stages of the evolution path.
Practical implications
The findings of this study remind the project manager need to timely find and solve the job burnout characteristics of CPs due to excessive job stress, especially to prevent the accidental consequences caused by job burnout.
Originality/value
On this basis, this study provides an important value of using social media to express emotions for the project team to alleviate the adverse of professionals under job stress.
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Hyerim Cho and Stephanie Sisco
Education-based discrimination has not received sufficient attention within the field of human resource development (HRD), which can provide practical interventions to help solve…
Abstract
Purpose
Education-based discrimination has not received sufficient attention within the field of human resource development (HRD), which can provide practical interventions to help solve the hardships of high school graduate employees (HSGEs). This paper aims to bring this issue to the forefront by framing the current marginalization of South Korean HSGEs as an individual-level issue that has repercussions to early career development, and also as an organizational-level issue that has implications on workplace learning and development.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper used an integrative literature review method by analyzing studies that have focused on the challenges faced by HSGEs. The objective was to identify patterns of their experiences and call attention to strategies they utilize to cope with the marginality they face in the workforce. The Korea Citation Index (KCI), a database that manages Korean domestic journals, was used. In total, 187 articles were found, and 15 articles succinctly matched the research criteria.
Findings
HSGEs struggled with employment unreadiness and faced discrimination based on their academic background, young age and low-rank position within organizations. In turn, they were vulnerable to poor working conditions (e.g., high work intensity, long working hours, etc.). These challenges led HSGEs to pursue a college degree and/or engage in workplace learning.
Originality/value
The use of critical human resource development (CHRD) has typically been limited within a South Korean context. We deliberately applied a critical perspective to raise awareness about how contemporary forms of marginality have gone unchecked, specifically by interrogating the exclusion and disempowerment experienced by HSGEs.
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Julia Mai, Hannah K. Lennarz, Wögen N. Tadsen and Corinna Titze
Outside of teaching, little knowledge exists about the emotion work of pedagogical professionals, i.e., the emotion work that is performed in kindergartens, residential homes or…
Abstract
Purpose
Outside of teaching, little knowledge exists about the emotion work of pedagogical professionals, i.e., the emotion work that is performed in kindergartens, residential homes or school counseling. This study addresses this shortcoming by answering the questions (1) how is emotion work experienced and coped with in pedagogical professions? and (2) how does pedagogical professionals’ emotion work relate to burnout?
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory sequential mixed methods approach consisting of an interview and a questionnaire was applied. First, n = 10 interviews were conducted to investigate how emotion work is experienced and managed by pedagogical professionals. Second, hypotheses regarding the relationship between identified resources and burnout were derived and empirically tested in a questionnaire survey with n = 97 participants.
Findings
The interviews provided insight into various emotional job demands and resources. Emotion work has been shown to be a key aspect of pedagogical work. Detached concern was identified as an emotion-regulating resource in coping with the resulting emotional job demands. The results of the quantitative phase revealed that pedagogical professionals’ detached concern plays a vital role in preventing burnout.
Originality/value
This study adds new insights to the understanding of emotion work performed in care work professions outside of teaching. The acknowledgement of pedagogical work, as skilled (emotion) work, and the investigation of resources is an important step in improving the working conditions of pedagogical professionals and thus protecting their health and well-being.
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Eugene Lee, Renee Mitson and Hao Xu
The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of leaders’ use of motivational language on psychological relatedness and its effect on employee well-being in flexible and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of leaders’ use of motivational language on psychological relatedness and its effect on employee well-being in flexible and remote working conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey among 375 full-time working professionals in the US was conducted with varying frequencies of remote work arrangements. For the analysis, we used a series of PROCESS analyses to examine the moderating effect of leaders’ motivational language use on the relationship between participants’ remote work status and relatedness, with employee well-being as the dependent variable.
Findings
The findings revealed a significant moderating effect of leaders’ perlocutionary (direction-giving) language use on the relationship between employees’ remote work status and relatedness. Specifically, the relationship between remote work status and relatedness was stronger when the use of perlocutionary (direction-giving) language gradually increased. Such enhanced relatedness, in turn, generated higher satisfaction and psychological well-being. The study shows the strategic advantage of direction-giving language in enhancing relatedness, thereby contributing to higher levels of employee satisfaction and psychological well-being in remote work environments.
Originality/value
The originality of this article lies in its integration of motivational language theory and self-determination theory to explore the well-being of employees within flexible and remote work status. Furthermore, we conceptualize remote work as a continuous variable with different degrees of flexibility, ranging from occasional telecommuting to fully remote work, allowing for a nuanced understanding of how leaders’ use of motivational language interacts with varying levels of remote work arrangements to influence employee well-being.
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Gemma Dale, Hannah Wilson and Matthew Tucker
This research investigates the personal experiences of hybrid workers, exploring their perspectives on their health and well-being when undertaking hybrid working arrangements…
Abstract
Purpose
This research investigates the personal experiences of hybrid workers, exploring their perspectives on their health and well-being when undertaking hybrid working arrangements. The research further explores how organisations can proactively support the health and wellbeing of hybrid workers, mitigating any potential health risks.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional, qualitative online survey was used to collect data from 412 hybrid workers. The data were analysed thematically. This approach allows for nuanced insights into the personal experiences of hybrid workers to be understood.
Findings
Findings indicate that employees who undertake hybrid work experience both positive and negative effects on their subjective well-being; hybrid work arrangement has the potential to act as a job resource or job demand. The study further identifies actions that can support healthy hybrid work that will be of value to organisations offering these working arrangements.
Originality/value
Although empirical research has previously examined the relationship between remote work and employee well-being, there is a lack of in-depth understanding about employees’ experiences of well-being whilst undertaking hybrid work – an emerging and relatively unexplored working arrangement. This research therefore addresses a significant gap in the literature by providing a deep understanding of how hybrid work influences employee well-being. Furthermore, previous research has not yet explored how hybrid worker health can be enabled and supported by organisations and individuals themselves.
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Xiaoni Ren and Hanlin Xu
This study aims to identify and analyse the gains and strains associated with flexible working practices (FWPs) introduced and adopted prior to and during the pandemic and…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify and analyse the gains and strains associated with flexible working practices (FWPs) introduced and adopted prior to and during the pandemic and consider how these experiences are likely to shape the future of workplace flexibility post-pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study research strategy was adopted to explore the FWPs implemented by a state-owned organisation in the Chinese publishing industry. A mixed data collection method was used. Quantitative data was collected from 50 valid questionnaires, which was followed by 7 qualitative interviews to gain rich insights into the availability and effectiveness of various FWPs and associated benefits and drawbacks.
Findings
While the results confirm positive effects FWPs have on employee engagement and retention and on business continuity and employee well-being during the pandemic, the empirical analysis highlights the performance-driven patterns in use and impacts of some FWPs, which caused concerns and dilemmas. Besides the increasing intense market competition, the changing face of state-owned enterprises and managerial attitudes have been found to have significant effects on the use of FWPs.
Originality/value
This paper has contributed to a better understanding of flexible working in an under-researched setting, reflected in changes before and during the pandemic, offering an insight into the commercialised nature of flexible working in the Chinese context. It has implications for organisations and HR practitioners as they envision future workplace flexibility.
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Hongwei Huang, Zijun Cai, Wenxi Zhao and Zijun Zhou
This study aims to explore the relationship between experience layoffs and employees’ work engagement. Drawing on the psychological contract theory, we examine the parallel…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the relationship between experience layoffs and employees’ work engagement. Drawing on the psychological contract theory, we examine the parallel mediating role of cognitive and affective job insecurity, along with the moderating role of perceived organisational support.
Design/methodology/approach
The hypotheses were tested based on data collected from 737 employees of companies in various industries in China in an online survey.
Findings
The results showed the significant effect of experiencing layoffs on employees’ work engagement through cognitive and affective job insecurity, and the effect was stronger when perceived organisational support was lower. The moderated mediation effect mainly occurred through affective job insecurity but not cognitive job insecurity.
Originality/value
This study deepens the understanding of the mechanism of the negative effect of experiencing layoffs and the boundaries of its impact from a psychological contract breach perspective. By analysing the mediating role of cognitive and affective job insecurity, we have enhanced our understanding of the exchange-based mechanism of employees after experiencing layoffs. By examining the moderating role of perceived organisational support, we reveal the important role of supportive behaviours of organisations in mitigating the negative effects of experiencing layoffs.
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Simona-Roxana Ulman and Krisztina Melinda Dobay
Firstly, the authors aimed at offering a general perspective on poverty, highlighting important directions of thinking from the theoretical development, including poverty's main…
Abstract
Purpose
Firstly, the authors aimed at offering a general perspective on poverty, highlighting important directions of thinking from the theoretical development, including poverty's main causes (like education, health, social protection, economic growth, employment and good governance). Secondly, it was investigated the problem of poverty in Romania after its accession to the European Union (EU), aiming to show (1) Romania's position among the EU member states, nearby (2) the direct and indirect effects of the selected factors particularly in this country.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on data from Eurostat and Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), descriptive and path analyses were performed for the period between 2007 and 2020.
Findings
The main results emphasized (1) the critical position of Romania among the EU member states in 2020 and the progress recorded since 2007, nearby (2) the direct and indirect effects of the selected factors on poverty in this country. The study highlighted the limited chances for the full participation of the poor people of Romania in the progress of the entire society, especially in terms of education and economic growth.
Originality/value
The major contribution of this study is that it assumes to investigate a profound and persistent societal phenomenon in Romania that is not sufficiently analyzed, discussed and understood. Consequently, this study attained its main objective of showing that the main traditional socio-economic causes of poverty are still pertinent in the actual Romanian society.
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