Alternative Arrangements Research Articles

Creating an Alternate Field Experience Framework for University-Based Preservice Teacher Education in the COVID-19 Nigeria

It is widely reported that several institutions of higher learning in various parts of the world attempted to mitigate the risks of learning disruptions occasioned by school closures, by switching to the online system of education. In the Nigerian context however the field experience component of teacher education witnessed an unprecedented setback as the online system that was later activated in some universities failed to factor the component into the alternative arrangement. Given that the present COVID-19 is not likely to be the last, as established by various reports including the World Bank December, 2021 document, the exercise may have to be suspended or delayed whenever there are emergency school closure. This paper attempts to formulate a COVID-19 compliant field experience framework for the Nigerian setting. The formulation is based on findings from a survey of emerging COVID-19 focussed alternatives and preservice teachers. The paper whose context comprises three Nigerian public universities where the lead researcher was, at different times, a field experience assessor employs a combination of a survey method, the philosophical method, observation, document analysis, and creative synthesis. The literature, findings from the survey and online interviews with student teachers constitute the bases of the formulation.

Differentiated integration in the European Union: Institutional effects, public opinion, and alternative flexibility arrangements

Research on differentiated integration (DI) in the European Union (EU) has focused on the causes, conditions, and patterns of differentiation in European integration. By contrast, we know less about its effects on institutional outcomes and public support; moreover, alternatives to de jure DI in providing flexibility are still rarely accounted for. This introduction to the special issue takes stock of, and discusses omissions, in the current literature on DI. We propose an analytical framework, centering on efficiency and legitimacy, to study the effects of different types of DI. We use this framework to motivate the choice and assess the contributions of the articles selected for this special issue.

Seismic response of an offshore wind turbine jacket structure with pile foundations

Offshore wind farm jacket structures are preferable in the deeper waters due to their flexible construction and cost-effectiveness. However, both wind tower and jacket structure are sensitive to cyclic/dynamic loading. With the rapid advancement in offshore wind farms globally, they are being constructed in the seismic regions of the world, such as offshore Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand the seismic performance of offshore wind turbines. This research investigates the behavior of an offshore wind turbine jacket structure with pile foundations subjected to earthquake loading using dynamic centrifuge testing. A jacket-equivalent wind tower model was developed and tested under the two-layered sandy soil with a dense bottom layer overlain by a loose top layer to capture the liquefaction effects under seismic loading. Using the centrifuge test data, it will be shown that with the build-up of excess pore pressure in the soil causing liquefaction under strong seismic loading, the offshore wind turbine (OWT) structure suffers severe settlements and rotations that exceed the prescribed limits. However, it was possible to restrict the settlements and rotations by having an alternative arrangement that places the pile cap on the mudline. These results highlight the need to consider vertical settlements induced by the liquefaction in addition to the restriction of the rotations at the mudline level of the foundation and the need for more research on innovative ways to mitigate liquefaction induced settlements.

An overview of the impacts of autonomous vehicles on fire safety in parking buildings

Several fire safety benefits are realised when considering autonomous vehicles (AVs) using parking buildings. Hazards posed by the increasing number of alternatively powered vehicles on the road, such as electric vehicles (EVs), may be mitigated. Parking AVs in designated zones would allow for the installation of fire-suppression systems other than those that are water-based, permit alternative ventilation requirements and allow for the reconfiguration of the building structure. Connected AVs could communicate with other vehicles, the parking building and the emergency services, resulting in a more effective response to a developing fire incident. However, AVs may increase fire safety hazards when considering alternative parking arrangements that promote more extensive fire spread, increase the median fire load energy density by at least 13% and inhibit firefighting. This may impact on the operational capability of the emergency services and the expectations of the structural fire safety design of the building. In this paper, options are presented that would influence the design and use of parking buildings where AVs and EVs are present. Presently, it is unclear whether the introduction of AVs will increase or decrease the fire safety risk to life and property, and further research is suggested to better understand such matters.

Alternative Work Arrangements: Understanding the Experience of the Modern Worker

In recent years, technological advancements have fundamentally changed how, when, and where individuals work. An increasing number of modern workers have jobs outside of the 9-to-5 traditional work arrangement and instead seek work through alternative work arrangements, such as gig work or multiple jobholding. This trend has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic and will likely continue due to the benefits inherent in these alternative work arrangements such as increased income and flexibility. This symposium focuses on both the benefits and challenges of alternative work arrangements. Throughout this proposed symposium, we elaborate on the experiences of workers with alternative work arrangements face. More specifically, the papers in the symposium focus on the work identities and relational strategies of the modern worker, the status inconsistencies between the types of work they perform, the freedom they receive from the alternative work arrangements, and whether or not they disclose their alternative forms of work and how their alternative work arrangements impact important work outcomes. Thus, each paper offers insights into what the future of work will look like and what organizations and managers should consider to successfully retain talent and cooperate with new types of workers. With this symposium, we see the potential to bridge the perspectives of organizations and individual workers so that both parties can benefit from these new types of work arrangements. A Comparison of the Relational Challenges of Organizational Workers Versus Gig Workers. Presenter: Elizabeth Nguyen Trinh; U. of Michigan, Ross School of Business Presenter: Brittany Lambert; Indiana U. - Kelley School of Business Presenter: Brianna Barker Caza; U. of North Carolina at Greensboro Presenter: Susan J. Ashford; U. of Michigan Is Multiple Jobholding Depleting or Enriching? Presenter: Sherry E. Moss; Wake Forest U. Presenter: Brianna Barker Caza; U. of North Carolina at Greensboro Presenter: Arran Caza; U. of North Carolina, Greensboro The Effects of Psychological Reactance on Side-hustlers’ Daily Hostility and Initiative Presenter: Hudson Sessions; Southern Methodist U. Presenter: Michael Baer; Arizona State U. Presenter: Jennifer Nahrgang; U. of Iowa A Self-Regulation Perspective on How Adult Content Creators Achieve Multiple Job Coherence Presenter: Emily D. Campion; U. of Iowa Presenter: Kathleen Keeler; Ohio State U. Do You Want to Know a Secret? Disclosure and Concealment of Multiple Job Holding Presenter: Sujin Jeong; U. of Iowa Presenter: Jennifer Nahrgang; U. of Iowa

Creating a Better World Through Alternative Employment Arrangements

In the last years, we have seen a rapid increase of alternative employment arrangements due to technological advances, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the changing expectations of workers. Alternative employment arrangements that include gig work, freelancing, side hustles, and microwork through digital platforms have become an integral part of the modern workforce and thus dramatically changed the nature of work. This symposium aims to explore the ways in which alternative work arrangements influence the daily lives and identities of individual workers, how workers respond to the algorithmic practices embedded in some of the largest gig worker platforms, and why traditional conceptualizations of commitment and human resource management fail to incorporate independent workers who are often outside the boundaries of formal HRM practices. Using different theoretical perspectives (Affective Event Theory, Identity Theory) and employing a variety of qualitative and quantitative research methods, we specifically focus on strategies that help workers to better realize the benefits and reduce the downsides of alternative employment arrangements and thus facilitate a creation of a better world for nonstandard workers. Psychology of Solo: Good and Bad Days Working in the Gig Economy and Their Effect on Mental Health Presenter: Phoenix Von Wagoner; U. of Colorado, Boulder Presenter: Ksenia Keplinger; Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems Presenter: Russell Cropanzano; U. of Colorado, Boulder Presenter: Brittany Lambert; Indiana U. - Kelley School of Business Unhooking from the Matrix: Targeting the Algorithmic Manager through Algo-Activism Presenter: Kalie Wertz; Columbia Business School Presenter: Lindsey Cameron; The Wharton School, U. of Pennsylvania I am a human being, not an algorithm: Commitment within the precarious space of microwork Presenter: Niki Panteli; Royal Holloway Uni of London & NTNU, Norway Balancing the Main Act and the Side Hustle Presenter: Yifeng Fan; Fairfield U. Professional Boundaries and Barriers to HR Involvement with Independent Professionals Presenter: David Cross; Southampton Business School, U.K

Experiencing the Pull and Push: Influences on Independent Contractor Motivation and Job Satisfaction

The number of individuals engaging in non-standard employment is increasing. Drawing on self-determination theory (SDT), this study examines the motivation and job satisfaction of independent contractors, a prominent alternative work arrangement subgroup. Specifically, we examine how the rationale for workers entering contracting work arrangements affects in-role contractor motivation and job satisfaction. Based on a sample of N = 241 adjunct instructors from two universities, we find that the positive relationship between those entering contracting because they perceived the work would offer autonomy, flexibility and the ability to pursue personally interesting work (pull factors) and their resultant job satisfaction is fully mediated by the level of autonomous motivation actually experienced in their work. The degree to which individuals entering contract work because of an inability to secure a desired work role or pursue their preferred career path (push factors) was inversely related to job satisfaction, which was not mediated by autonomous nor controlled motivation. Finally, the level of perceived supervisor and organizational support that contractors experienced did not moderate the relationship between either push or pull factors and autonomous motivation. This study demonstrates the importance of recruiting and selecting contractors that value the benefits of contract work (e.g., autonomy, flexibility). It also highlights the need for future research to understand the role of leadership in autonomous, alternative work arrangements.

Impossible Trinity in a Small Open Economy: A State–Space Model Simulation

Should monetary policy independence be maintained when the exchange rate is fixed under closed capital account conditions in a small open economy? In this study, we simulate the impossible trinity condition during 1989 to 2019 on the Nepalese economy that restricts capital flows and fixes the exchange rate with India. We modify the traditional Taylor rule based on the monetary policy reaction function to characterize Nepal's economic conditions more closely. The state–space model simulation shows that the policy trilemma does not hold in Nepal, such that the model can predict interest rate when the weight for domestic conditions is assigned at a substantially lower level. Therefore, the existing policy mix may need to be revisited to maintain monetary policy independence. Nepal might consider devaluing its currency to neutralize the adverse effects of the negative risk premium and ameliorate the real exchange rate appreciation in the short run and explore alternative arrangements in the long run.

White criadas and the ‘servant crisis’ in pre-abolition Rio de Janeiro

ABSTRACT This article interrogates the problematic relation of whiteness and servitude in mid to late-nineteenth-century Rio de Janeiro, when a fast-growing number of Portuguese female migrants, mostly from the Azorean islands, sought employment in households where domestic service had been hitherto associated with black slavery. As I argue, the accounts of elite domestic lives in popular print cultures at the time reveal a nascent narrative of ‘servant crisis’—e.g. the conviction that reliable servants were disappearing in Brazil – in reaction to the alternative work arrangements and new types of servants, which began defining domestic service over the decades leading toward the abolition of chattel slavery (1888). In fact, the vicissitudes of labor during these pre-emancipation decades set the stage for the earliest version of the ‘servant crisis’ trope that has characterized the national elites’ discourse about domesticity up to this day.

General practice-based undergraduate pharmacy longitudinal clerkship: a theoretically underpinned qualitative evaluation

Background A Pharmacy Longitudinal Clerkship (PLC) was designed to develop student pharmacists’ (SPs) competence in a general practice setting.AimThe aim was to carry out a theoretically underpinned qualitative evaluation of stakeholder perceptions of influences of behavioural determinants on SP development for clinical practice in general practice.Method General practice-based PLCs were delivered in 2019/20 and 2020/21 for two cohorts of SPs in NHS Highland, Scotland. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were used to explore stakeholder perceptions of influences of behavioural determinants on SP development. Informed written consent was obtained. An interview schedule was developed and piloted using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic methodology. Ethics approval was granted.Results Seven SPs and five general practitioner (GP) tutors were interviewed. Key themes were identified mapped to TDF domains and included: knowledge—utilisation and practical application of knowledge; skills—triangulation of skills under clinical supervision; beliefs about capabilities—confidence building with clinical and patient contact; professional role and identity—elucidation of professional roles within general practice.Conclusion This evaluation shows benefits of embedding SPs within clinical teams and immersing them in a clinical environment over a prolonged period in a general practice Pharmacy Longitudinal Clerkship. It is expected this will translate into a more confident transition to postgraduate professional clinical practice. Funding should be sought to test alternative PLC arrangements including: multiple full-time longitudinal placement blocks; or ultimately a year-long longitudinal clerkship programme with an IPE element.

Time Outdoors in Nature to Improve Staff Well-Being: Examining Changes in Behaviors and Motivations Among University Staff in the Use of Natural Outdoor Environments Since the Emergence of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BackgroundWork-related stress is of growing concern to employers because of its significant implications for employee dissatisfaction, reduced productivity, and lowered emotional and physical health. Job-related stress is particularly acute among staff members in higher education, negatively impacting the professional work and personal welfare of staff. During the COVID-19 pandemic, stress levels increased, due to work- and non-work-related factors. Work expectations and environments shifted, as did new non-work responsibilities, such as care of dependents. As a result, many people were forced to spend much more time at home. Given the anticipated levels of stress (higher) and the change in time spent at home (increased), we sought to explore if adults were spending more time outdoors, as compared to pre-pandemic times, and if so, for what purposes. We hypothesized that people would be spending more time outdoors in nature during the pandemic, and that they would be doing so to achieve some of the well-documented benefits including managing stress, and bolstering mental health and wellbeing. We further hypothesized that some staff would experience barriers to spending time outdoors in natural outdoor environments (NOEs), potentially limiting their ability to experience these beneficial effects.Materials and MethodsThis study surveyed 507 staff from a large United States university to examine the degree to which staff were spending time in natural outdoor environments (NOEs) during the pandemic (two time-points, compared to pre-pandemic), and whether and how nature-based routines changed as a result of its emergence. The study also examined whether staff were motivated to spend time in nature to improve their mental health and/or wellbeing.ResultsThe majority of respondents reported spending more time in NOEs since COVID-19 emerged, particularly early in the pandemic. Respondents reported doing so for restorative purposes, including stress relief, improved mental health, and improved physical health. Relative accessibility of NOEs, both in terms of proximity and number of barriers to access, significantly impacted both time outdoors and the number of NOEs used. Access to safe, high-quality NOEs was not experienced equally across staff respondents; barriers to access tended to be higher among staff living with dependents or others in their household, and for staff who identify as non-White.ConclusionSpending time outdoors may have served as a protective factor for many university staff against some of the potentially detrimental effects of the pandemic, particularly reduced mental health and well-being. Universities can contribute to the ongoing well-being of their staff by supporting access to safe, high-quality NOEs on or adjacent to campus. This may also serve to reduce disparities in access to nature and experience of its benefits. Universities may also consider alternative work arrangements for staff to allow for more time for health and wellness self-care during the work day, including spending time outdoors in nature.

Design and experiment of a low frequency non-contact rotary piezoelectric energy harvester excited by magnetic coupling

In this paper, a low frequency non-contact rotary piezoelectric energy harvester excited by magnetic coupling (L-PEH) was proposed. Through the coupling between the magnet inside the rotor driven by rotating motion and the magnet on the piezoelectric plate, the process of rotating motion transforming into electrical energy was realized. The purpose of this paper was to improve the output performance of piezoelectric energy harvester at low frequency by optimizing the magnetic field conditions, so the influence of the number of magnets and the arrangement of magnets on the output performance was studied in detail. A series of theories, simulations and experiments proved that the alternative magnet arrangement (mode 1) could optimize the output performance of the L-PEH. When the arrangement of magnets was mode 1 and the number of magnets was 2, the peak-to-peak voltage of rectangular and circular piezoelectric plates was 182.5 V and 4.4 V at 250r/min. Under the above optimal parameter variables, the L-PEH could generate the maximum output power of 140.45 mW. In addition, the output power generated by the prototype could fully meet the power consumption of low-power electronic equipment such as light-emitting-diodes (LEDs). In general, by changing the number and arrangement of magnets, i.e. optimizing the magnetic field conditions, L-PEH could effectively collect rotational energy and had a good application prospect in the power supply of micro electronic equipment.

Safety and Security Issues, Gender-Based Violence and Militarization in the Time of Armed Conflict: The Experiences of Internally Displaced People From Marawi City

This study delves into the experiences of armed conflict and displacement among civilians, who evacuated from the Islamic City of Marawi to nearby cities and municipalities in Northern Mindanao, as well as other parts of the Philippines, to escape the clashes between ISIS-affiliated extremists and security forces in 2017. Drawing upon in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with survivors of armed conflict and duty-bearers, such as government employees, staff of non-government organizations (NGOs), doctors, faculty members and administrators of educational institutions, and volunteers who aided in relief efforts, this research identifies the safety and security issues and vulnerabilities confronting internally displaced people (IDPs) from Marawi City, who are predominantly racial, ethnic, and religious minorities. This study investigates the trends in and risks for gender-based violence among women and girls and men and boys in conflict zones and the challenges in the promotion of their safety and well-being. This paper examines the dynamics of gender-based violence and the respondents’ experiences of private, community-based, and state-sponsored violence in conflict zones and the risk of further violence upon their return to Marawi City. This research also examines the experiences of militarization among IDPs and their views of Martial Law, which was declared in Mindanao on the first day of the Marawi Siege in May 2017. This study illuminates the nuances in the experiences of IDPs living in traditional evacuation centers and alternative home-based evacuation arrangements, their service needs, and the support systems and interventions available to them. The researcher highlights the links between racial, ethnic, gender, and social class inequality in the Philippines and the vulnerability of IDPs, given their dismal living conditions and the absence of normalization in their lives due to the prolonged siege. This paper highlights the intersections between private and public violence, the human rights issues confronting IDPs from Marawi City, and the local and international responses to their situation.

The Dichotomy of a Changing Workplace: Analysing South Africa’s Newspapers during the Covid-19 Situation

This paper analyses the potential influence of the selected, South African online newspapers on the discourse of alternative workplace arrangements during the Covid-19 era. A content analysis of online newspapers’ coverage of the pertinent workplace requisites of performance during the Covid-19 pandemic enlightens the complex dichotomy of a traditional office workplace against work from home and a hybrid work model. The essence of anticipatory corporate leadership is that personnel behavior has to adapt to the changing work situation. This paper hypothesis that the framing of ideas by South African newspapers promotes perceptions and particular interpretations of the prevailing workplace environment during the two years of the Covid-19 period in South Africa. The research uses qualitative content analysis, which is the written texts, and quantitative methods of content analysis of newspapers by conducting a hypothesis test and independent group ANOVA test. That provides perspectives of choices and reasons for or against the distinct workplace situation. The results show that the newspaper reports focused more on the “Work from Home” practice. The newspapers’ perspective on the “Work from Home” culture may heighten the anticipatory strategies of corporate leaders in their pursuit to sustain high work performance. The circulation level of selected online newspapers in South Africa influences the research findings.

The Effect of Fragility on Labour Market Employment and Wages in the Philippines

Fragility refers to weak regional institutions that fail to respond to specific risks and needs of the community. The article aims to measure fragility and its effects on labour market employment and wages. The observed non-work-related migration is used to derive annual fragility indices for regions that are then incorporated into standard labour market employment and Mincer wage equations. The estimates indicate higher employment but lower wages in fragile regions. Under weak institutions, workers will decide to engage in alternative low-paying work arrangements in anticipation of conflict, environmental or income shocks. Furthermore, biases on effects of macroeconomic policies can be noted in regression estimates that do not control for fragility.

Recognition of Family Life by Children Living in Kinship Care Arrangements in England

Abstract Kinship care is the long-term caring arrangement within the family constellation for children who cannot remain with their birth parents. Despite being the most prevalent alternative care arrangement for children worldwide, there are significant gaps in the knowledge about kinship care and few children’s perspectives in kinship care research. This article focuses on how children’s views, understood through theories of recognition, can assist understanding their lived experiences in kinship care. The recognition of kinship care has implications on how it is supported, regulated and financed. Insights were drawn from nineteen children in England using dialogical participation and critical realism methodologies, and methods such as child-led tours, photo-elicitation and visual methods. Analysis of the children’s insights unsettles simplistic dichotomous recognition of kinship care, family, participation and childhood seen in most current UK social work policy and practice. The research also demonstrates that children’s views are worthy of further inclusion in social work policy, practice and research, especially for kinship care.

EXTENDING EMPLOYMENT INJURY AND DISEASE PROTECTION TO NON-TRADITIONAL AND INFORMAL ECONOMY WORKERS: THE QUEST FOR A PRINCIPLED FRAMEWORK AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES

Non-traditional and informal economy workers often work outside the sphere of a formal employment relationship and are therefore by and large excluded from occupational injuries and disease protection. It is argued that innovative approaches, set within a principled and policy framework, need to be considered from a comparative perspective in order to extend this protection to these workers. These approaches refer to an appropriate definitional or conceptual widening of coverage; relevant human rights, international standards and standard-setting considerations; alternative institutional arrangements and appropriate regulatory responses; an increased role for governments and innovative funding options; and alternative prevention, rehabilitation/re-integration and compensation modalities. It is further argued that the South African occupational health and safety and workers compensation regimes could benefit richly from the comparative experiences and perspectives in this regard.

The European Semester: An Ordoliberal Construct?

AbstractThe outbreak of the COVID‐19 pandemic appears to have inflicted a decisive blow to ordoliberalism's influence on the economic governance of the Eurozone. This contribution shows that the decline of the ordoliberal ideas precedes the pandemic and can be traced in the management of the financial crisis of 2007–2009. Drawing on the theoretical approach of sociological institutionalism and using insights from 18 interviews with participants in the Economic and Financial Committee and the ECOFIN, this article analyses the evolution of policy‐makers' economic policy beliefs and their impact on the fiscal reform of 2010–2013. It is argued that the establishment of the European Semester was the institutional reflection of an intellectual shift from rules‐based to institutions‐based discipline. I find that the latter conflicts with core ordoliberal principles of the Freiburg economic school, opening the way for alternative institutional arrangements, such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

Enhancing Pharmacy Faculty Well-Being and Productivity While Reducing Burnout

Objective To explore methods that pharmacy programs can use to redefine their work environment to reduce stress, improve well-being, and increase faculty productivity.Findings To demonstrate a culture of support, organizations should consider a five-fold approach to enhancing and maintaining faculty well-being, including optimizing faculty and staff support, establishing a faculty development and mentoring program, permitting flexibility in work schedules, improving productivity of meetings, and managing communication tools. Individuals can also take measures to improve their well-being, including controlling email, giving attention to faculty citizenship, implementing stress reduction and coping techniques, and maintaining boundaries between work and home.Summary This article discusses approaches that have been shown to reduce burnout and provides strategies organizations and individuals can implement to improve productivity and faculty well-being. While certain areas, such as faculty wellness and productivity, have been well-studied in the pharmacy and health professions literature, significant gaps were identified in other areas, including alternate work arrangements. In some cases, data from the business sector can be extrapolated to pharmacy education; however, inferences from effective corporate strategies may not be transferable to the culture and expectations of academia. While there is significant overlap between institutional and individual strategies, a culture of communication, collaboration, support, and citizenship is foundational. There is no single strategy that will work for everyone, and flexibility is important to develop an individualized approach.

Interactive influence of work–life balance benefits, employee recommendation, and job attributes on employer attractiveness and job pursuit intentions: two experiments

Drawing on signaling theory (Spence 1978), we propose that communicating work–life balance benefits offered along with favorable employee recommendations and valued job attributes could be construed as signals organizations deliberately use to influence potential applicants' perceptions of employer attractiveness and enhance job pursuit intentions. We test these ideas in two experiments. In study 1, using carefully constructed vignettes to manipulate work–life balance (WLB) benefits, employee recommendation, and job attributes in a 2 × 2 × 2 between-subjects design and with data gathered from 320 Indian MBA students, we found support for the direct and interactive effects of these variables on employer attractiveness. In study 2, using a 3 × 2 × 2 between-subjects design and data from 360 Indian MBA students, we examined the influence of three different alternative work arrangements, a form of WLB benefit, and how such benefits interact with employee recommendations and job attributes to influence job pursuit intentions. We discuss implications for theory, research, and practice.