Work Demands Research Articles

Physical and psychosocial work demands associated with pain and disability among skilled male Arab waiters.

Physical and psychosocial demands (e.g., serving, cleaning, fulfilling orders) can lead to work-related musculoskeletal pain (WRMSP). To assess the prevalence of WRMSP in the upper quadrant and lower back among skilled male Arab waiters; to evaluate the disability related to WRMSP; to evaluate the association between work demands and WRMSP with related disability. 100 skilled male Arab waiters working full-time, aged 18-60, participated in the cross-sectional study. Participants completed basic demographics and working conditions; the NDI; QuickDASH; the OswestryQ; workload, burnout, and job satisfaction at work; the adjusted NordicQ; and the TaskQ, compiled especially for this study. A 12-month pain prevalence, pain frequency, and work avoidance were high: neck- 42%, 60.5%, 89.5%; shoulders -53%, 78.2%, 94.4%; elbows- 46%, 78.6%, 83.3%; lower back- 45%, 44%, 78.7%, respectively. Pain prevalence in at least one site was 83%. The OswestryQ, QuickDASH, and NDI revealed mild-moderate pain and disability (14.85/50, 25.54/75, 13.74/50, respectively). Burnout score was positively associated with OswestryQ, QuickDASH, and NDI. Job satisfaction was negatively associated with 12 months of pain in the lower back, hands, arms, shoulders, and hands (NordicQ). TaskQ was positively associated with OswestryQ. Male Arab waiters who work in physically and psychologically challenging conditions report high levels of WRMSP with a high frequency and related work avoidance. Many of them must keep their jobs as they are their families' primary or sole providers. It is possible that they are trying to prevent more severe disabilities in the future by ensuring temporary rest and pain prevention.

The role of inspiratory muscle fatigue and its impact on strength and respiratory function

Inspiratory muscles are essential for breathing and during exercise. However, excessive effort on the respiratory system can cause the inspiratory muscles, such as the external intercostals and the diaphragm, to become fatigued, therefore impairing performance (Wuthrich et al., 2013, Exp Physiol, 12, 1705–1717). Inspiratory muscle fatigue is when there is a loss in the capacity to produce force and/or velocity in a muscle, meaning they become tired and weak due to increased work demands (Tsukamoto et al., 2019, J Phys Ther Sci, 31, 318–325). Inspiratory muscle fatigue impacts performance because the force produced by the inspiratory muscles starts to decline which therefore causes them to fatigue as they cannot work to the maximum capacity no longer. This is vital in aerobic exercises such as rowing, cycling and running as the demand for oxygen is higher to perform the tasks. The diaphragm is the most dominant respiratory muscle involved in inspiration, alongside the external intercostal muscles. During inspiration, the diaphragm contracts and flattens, and the external intercostal muscles contract, pulling the ribcage up and outwards. The main function of these muscles is to allow a maximum amount of oxygen into the lungs by increasing the surface area in the thoracic cavity (Siafakas et al., 1999, Thorax, 54, 458–465). Several studies have explored delaying muscle fatigue by using inspiratory muscle training in healthy individuals. This is because it improves the strength of the respiratory muscles by increasing the endurance and capacity of the diaphragm. Results highlighted that maximum inspiratory pressure increased between 16 and 18% (Segizbaeva et al., 2014, Hum Physiol, 40, 683-689), a 7% increase in inspiratory muscle strength (Smith et al., 2021, Am J Physiol, 312, 1013-1018), a delay in muscle fatigue, and an improvement in performance. There is limited research on cycling, rowing, and running; therefore, this study aims to determine whether any of these exercises delay or increase muscle fatigue and to determine if maximal inspiratory pressure and maximal expiratory pressure improve respiratory function. This study aims to recruit 9–12 participants, which will involve four visits to the laboratory. Exercises include a 10-kilometre cycling session, a 3-kilometre treadmill running session, and a 2-kilometre rowing session, and these will be done in a randomised order. Visit 1 includes familiarisation; visit 2 involves baseline measures being recorded and test 1 being conducted; visit 3 includes test 2 being administered; and visit 4 involves test 3 being conducted. The measurements that will be collected at each kilometre are heart rate, rate of perceived exertion, and dyspnea. Blood lactate, maximal inspiratory pressure, and maximum expiratory pressure, however, will be collected before and after each test. At this present time, results are pending. My hypothesis for this study would be that all the cardio-based exercises will see an improvement in respiratory function and strength, with treadmill running having the biggest improvement as, throughout the 4 weeks, adaptation would have occurred.

What is the appropriate measure of radiology workload: Study or image numbers?

Previous studies assessing the volume of radiological studies rarely considered the corresponding number of images. We aimed to quantify the increases in study and image numbers per radiologist in a tertiary healthcare network to better understand the demands on imaging services. Using the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), the number of images per study was obtained for all diagnostic studies reported by in-house radiologists at a tertiary healthcare network in Melbourne, Australia, between January 2009 and December 2022. Payroll data was used to obtain the numbers of full-time equivalent radiologists. Across all modalities, there were 4,462,702 diagnostic studies and 1,116,311,209 images. The number of monthly studies increased from 17,235 to 35,152 (104%) over the study period. The number of monthly images increased from 1,120,832 to 13,353,056 (1091%), with computed tomography (CT) showing the greatest absolute increase of 9,395,653 images per month (1476%). There was no increase in the monthly studies per full-time equivalent radiologist; however, the number of monthly image slices per radiologist increased 399%, from 48,781 to 243,518 (Kendall Tau correlation coefficient 0.830, P-value < 0.0001). The number of monthly images per radiologist increased substantially from 2009 to 2022, despite a relatively constant number of monthly studies per radiologist. Our study suggests that using the number of studies as an isolated fundamental data set underestimates the true radiologist's workload. We propose that the increased volume of images examined by individual radiologists may more appropriately reflect true work demand and may add more weight to future workforce planning.

Investigating Health and Well-Being Challenges Faced by an Aging Workforce in the Construction and Nursing Industries: Computational Linguistic Analysis of Twitter Data.

Construction and nursing are critical industries. Although both careers involve physically and mentally demanding work, the risks to workers during the COVID-19 pandemic are not well understood. Nurses (both younger and older) are more likely to experience the ill effects of burnout and stress than construction workers, likely due to accelerated work demands and increased pressure on nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we analyzed a large social media data set using advanced natural language processing techniques to explore indicators of the mental status of workers across both industries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This social media analysis aims to fill a knowledge gap by comparing the tweets of younger and older construction workers and nurses to obtain insights into any potential risks to their mental health due to work health and safety issues. We analyzed 1,505,638 tweets published on Twitter (subsequently rebranded as X) by younger and older (aged <45 vs >45 years) construction workers and nurses. The study period spanned 54 months, from January 2018 to June 2022, which equates to approximately 27 months before and 27 months after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. The tweets were analyzed using big data analytics and computational linguistic analyses. Text analyses revealed that nurses made greater use of hashtags and keywords (both monograms and bigrams) associated with burnout, health issues, and mental health compared to construction workers. The COVID-19 pandemic had a pronounced effect on nurses' tweets, and this was especially noticeable in younger nurses. Tweets about health and well-being contained more first-person singular pronouns and affect words, and health-related tweets contained more affect words. Sentiment analyses revealed that, overall, nurses had a higher proportion of positive sentiment in their tweets than construction workers. However, this changed markedly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since early 2020, sentiment switched, and negative sentiment dominated the tweets of nurses. No such crossover was observed in the tweets of construction workers. The social media analysis revealed that younger nurses had language use patterns consistent with someone experiencing the ill effects of burnout and stress. Older construction workers had more negative sentiments than younger workers, who were more focused on communicating about social and recreational activities rather than work matters. More broadly, these findings demonstrate the utility of large data sets enabled by social media to understand the well-being of target populations, especially during times of rapid societal change.

A Healthy Balance: The Effects of the Interaction between Work Autonomy and Work Demands on R&amp;D Team Members' Creative Behavior and Taking Charge

ABSTRACTIn the era of digital intelligence, how to improve the behavioral quality of R&amp;D team members by granting work autonomy and proposing corresponding work demands is a pressing issue in the transformation of organizational management into digital intelligence. Based on the conservation of resources theory, this study investigates the effects of the interactions among work time autonomy, work method autonomy, and different types of work demands on team members' creative behavior and taking charge. By analyzing the two‐stage data of 233 paired samples of team members and leaders, the results showed that: Work time autonomy was significantly positively correlated with creative behavior and taking charge of team members, and work method autonomy was significantly positively correlated with creative behavior and taking charge of team members, while the interaction between work time autonomy and work method autonomy was significantly positively correlated with the team members' taking charge; the interactions among work time autonomy, work method autonomy and innovative job requirements positively affect team members' creative behavior and taking charge; while the interactions among work time autonomy, work method autonomy and high performance expectations negatively affect team members' taking charge. This study provides a way to realize scientific management in the period of digital intelligence transformation.

Initial evaluation of measurement properties of the Work Environment Impact Questionnaire (WEIQ) - using Rasch analysis

BackgroundTo provide both preventive and rehabilitative conditions in a workplace, one must understand how employees experience work demands. Such an understanding can be obtained from each individual with valid and quality-assured questionnaires. The Work Environment Impact Questionnaire (WEIQ) is a new questionnaire for measuring employees’ self-perceived work ability in relation to their specific workplace environment. The purpose of this study was to assess the measurement properties in terms of construct validity of the WEIQ.MethodsA cross-sectional survey study was conducted with 288 respondents from three different workplaces involving assisted living personnel, vocational rehabilitation personnel and personnel at a research institute. The measurement properties of the WEIQ were assessed according to Rasch Measurement Theory (RMT), including assessment of item-to-sample targeting, threshold ordering, item fit statistics, unidimensionality and reliability.ResultsItem fit, i.e., fit residuals, item characteristic curves (ICC) and chi square values, were all satisfactory, and no disordered thresholds were present after collapsing the lowest response categories. However, issues with local dependent (LD) item correlations was present in 7.6% cases, four items showed statistically significant differential item functioning (DIF), where 11% of the respondents had person fit residuals outside the recommended range of ± 2.5 and the t-test for unidimensionality did not meet the criterion of 5%. Scale-to-sample targeting and reliability (0.92) were good. LD could be resolved with testlets and at the same time maintaining fit and improving dimensionality, but then the reliability decreased to 0.82.ConclusionsThis study provides an initial validation of the WEIQ to be used for assessing employees’ self-perceived work ability. Most measurement properties were acceptable, but further exploration of LD, DIF and unidimensionality in additional work settings and with larger sample sizes is warranted.Trial registrationNot applicable.

Parenting Stress and Coping Strategies Adopted by Working Mothers; A Thematic Research

In today's society, an increasing number of mothers are balancing the demands of work and family responsibilities. As more women enter the workforce, understanding the unique stressors faced by working mothers in their parenting role becomes paramount. The challenges of juggling work and family life can contribute to heightened levels of parenting stress, impacting maternal well-being and family dynamics. Furthermore, the strategies employed by working mothers to cope with these stressors are crucial for maintaining a healthy work-family balance and promoting positive parent-child relationships. However, there is a gap in our understanding of the specific stressors experienced by working mothers and the effectiveness of various coping strategies they adopt. The study likely involves an investigation into the unique stressors experienced by older first-time mothers and how they adapt to the demands of motherhood. Reece may have conducted interviews, surveys, or observational studies to assess stress levels, coping mechanisms, and maternal adaptation among this population.

EMPOWERING EMPLOYEES THROUGH INNOVATIVE HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE AGE OF REMOTE WORK

The era of remote work has significantly changed the way companies operate, with a focus on flexibility and innovative use of technology. In this context, human resource management (HR) practices become critical in influencing employee engagement and productivity. The challenges arising from the transition to remote work demand innovation in management approaches, especially in terms of employee empowerment and development. The aim of this research is to explore the effectiveness of innovative HR management practices in empowering employees in the era of remote work. This research was conducted using a qualitative approach, with data obtained from literature studies and relevant previous research. Data analysis was carried out in depth to identify the impact of this practice on employee performance and satisfaction. The conclusion shows that adapting innovative HR management policies and practices can improve operational efficiency and employee satisfaction. The implementation of adaptive management strategies and the use of technology play an important role in ensuring effective communication and accurate performance monitoring in unconventional work environments. Additionally, increasing employee engagement and motivation can be achieved through reward and recognition initiatives and involving them in decision making. Employee skills development and well-being have also proven critical in maintaining and increasing productivity in remote work settings. This study confirms the need for organizations to continuously adapt and update their HR management practices to remain relevant and effective in the digital era.

Flourishing School Leadership: Perspectives of Canada’s Outstanding Principals

&lt;p&gt;With research pointing to increased levels of stress and work demands on school leaders, attention has turned to examining the factors that contribute to their well-being. Studies have also shown that many school administrators not just survive but also thrive in their work and succeed despite work-related challenges. Furthermore, some principals experience flourishing at work, which is characterized by optimal functioning, feeling good, and achieving a balanced life. Our study examined the sense of flourishing of the national award-winning principals in the Canada’s Outstanding Principals program, which recognized outstanding contributions of principals in publicly funded schools. In this article, we describe the participants’ perceptions in relation to the following constructs in the overall flourishing: flow, thriving, resilience, and grit. This study highlights the conditions, behaviours, mindsets, and characteristics that are critical for the well-being of school administrators.&lt;/p&gt;

Investigating the association between work family conflict (WFC) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in an Australian community-based cohort study.

Difficulties managing work and family demands are common and have been found to be associated with stress and poor mental health. However, very few studies have examined Work Family Conflict (WFC) in connection with diagnosable anxiety disorders (and none with Australian representative data). The current study investigated whether high WFC was significantly associated with a diagnosis of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) after controlling for a broad range of socio-demographic contextual factors, related psychosocial job, family and individual characteristics, and prior anxiety symptom history. Data was analysed from an Australian population-based community cohort - the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life project. Eligible participants (N = 1159) were employed full-time or part-time, with data collected by both online questionnaire and face-to-face interview. Presence of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in the past 12-months was diagnosed by the GAD module in the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) (based on DSM-IV criteria) and severe anxiety symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) 7-item 'other anxiety' model. The findings consistently showed that those experiencing high WFC had higher odds of a GAD diagnosis (final adjusted model: CIDI: OR: 2.55, CI: 1.38-4.70) as well as clinical levels of anxiety symptoms (PHQ: OR:2.61, CI:1.44,4.72). This was the case after controlling for an extensive range of covariates. This is one of the first studies to show that WFC is associated with greater likelihood of GAD. The challenge of juggling both work and family can have far-reaching impacts - not just increasing distress broadly, but also potentially increasing the likelihood of clinically diagnosable anxiety.

Demands and Resources of Working from Home: From Pandemic to Economic Crisis

Situated in the backdrop of Sri Lanka, this article delves into the challenges hindering work from home (WFH) for employees and explores how organisations have navigated these hurdles during the ever-evolving stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic turmoil. Employing a qualitative approach, 77 in-depth, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 46 individuals—comprising 20 employees and 26 human resources practitioners (HRPs). Some participants were interviewed multiple times, offering insights into various phases of the study. Through the lens of the job demands and resources (JD-R) framework, our analysis uncovered four key job demands impeding remote work and identified resources that have empowered employees to navigate and alleviate these challenges: (a) adjustment demands and resources, (b) work demands and resources, (c) family demands and resources, and (d) emotional demands and resources. Despite persistent challenges across stages, their manifestations were unique. Even after two years of widespread WFH practice and extensive use of resources, WFH demands endure in diverse ways. In conclusion, our findings underscore numerous resources available to HRPs, offering valuable insights to address WFH demands and fortify the success and sustainability of WFH practices.

Bridging the gap between diversity, equity and inclusion policy and practice: the case of disability

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies have increasingly gained importance in recent years as companies have begun to recognise the importance of creating a more inclusive workplace. Research has shown, however, that working practices do not always reflect policies. This article uses the case of disability to investigate the challenges and facilitators of implementing DEI policies and putting them into practice. Based on 29 interviews with people working in the private sphere, the findings suggest that organisations face three main challenges in seeking to put disability-related DEI policies into practice: (i) getting people on board, (ii) gathering information, and (iii) meeting increased demand for knowledge work. Having said that, integrating policy and practice is facilitated by (a) engaging in partnerships, (b) garnering line managers’ support, and (c) fostering open communication.

Prevalence of burnout syndrome in hospital health professionals and associated factors

The hospital environment presents unique challenges compared to other healthcare sectors, such as caring for patients in delicate conditions, long work hours, shift work, and multiple professional commitments. These characteristics can compromise the quality of life of workers and increase the risk of developing Burnout Syndrome. This study aims to examine the prevalence of Burnout Syndrome among healthcare professionals working in a hospital environment, as well as to identify associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 209 professionals. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire containing sociodemographic and occupational information, as well as the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey. The prevalence of Burnout Syndrome was 28.7% (n=60). Professionals with incomes up to R$5000.00 and those in their first job showed a higher likelihood of experiencing this disorder. These findings suggest a moderate prevalence of Burnout Syndrome and underscore the importance of remuneration in valuing workers, as well as the potential association between inexperience and difficulty in coping with the demands of healthcare work.

Situating Reproduction: How Becoming Mothers Impacts Field Work and Why It Matters

Even as geographers increasingly examine their embodied experiences as field researchers, limited attention has been given to the reproductive labor of pregnancy and mothering in shaping field work. As early career geographers experiencing a range of reproductive positions before motherhood, during pregnancy, and becoming mothers, we build on the foundational work of feminist scholars to examine our evolving subjectivities and the reciprocal influence of mothering and field research. We argue, first, that the dual demands of field work and care work affect mothers’ access and experiences in academia. Second, through our concept of situating reproduction, we unpack mothers’ changing standpoints and show that the experience of mothering shapes the knowledge we produce. Finally, we advocate that academic institutions recognize and support mother-field workers, particularly at early career stages. We advocate for increased researcher reflexivity to better understand the shifting positionalities of mother-field researchers and how motherhood affects geographical scholarship.

COVID Recovery Laparoscopic Simulation Program for Gynecological Registrars—Trainee Perceptions of Regional Model

Study ObjectiveThe acquisition of gynecological operating skills can be challenging for trainees given the conflicting demands of clinical work. Alternative models of surgical skill training such as laparoscopic simulation is, therefore, required. This study demonstrates the development of a regional gynecological surgery laparoscopic simulation program and trainee perceptions of such an approach. DesignAn intervention-based cohort study. SettingA regional model based in West Midlands training region. Patients/ParticipantsResponses from 64 trainees in the training region who participated in this regional program were included. InterventionsA 3-stream curriculum was developed to deliver key training outcomes as required by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) core curriculum as a component of a COVID Recovery Program. Courses were held in 7 teaching hospitals. Courses consisted of both theory and practical teaching. MeasurementsA structured feedback tool was used to collect trainee perceptions of the program. Trainee satisfaction was measured on the Likert scale of 1 to 3. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted with rank-order analysis of coded free-text responses. Main ResultsOverall, the majority of trainees 92% (n = 58/64) were very satisfied with the course. Rank-order analysis demonstrated hands-on-practice to be the key perceived benefit of laparoscopic simulation among basic and intermediate trainees, while feedback on procedural skills was felt most useful among advanced trainees. ConclusionA regional approach to laparoscopic simulation training is both achievable and acceptable. Trainee perceptions of usefulness are altered by seniority and experience. This should be accounted for in the development of laparoscopic simulation programs.

Development and experimental study of a small-scale adsorption cold storage prototype with stable and tunable output for off-grid cooling

Comfort cooling is a growing demand in summer outdoor activities and work. Adsorption cold storage (ACS) can achieve long-term cold storage without insulation measures and release cold without requiring electricity input. However, the challenges, including unstable cooling output and huge volume, hinder its wide applications. In this study, a small-scale silica gel-water ACS prototype for off-grid cooling is developed and experimentally investigated under typical summer conditions. The heat pipe structure is employed in the adsorption bed for heat transfer enhancement and volume reduction. Valve opening control is utilized for cooling output stabilization and adjustment. The experimental results show that the prototype achieves 6.36 h of cooling output with the outlet air temperature of 25 °C and the average cooling power of 107.67 W under the environment conditions of 35 °C and 40 % RH, indicating an effective cold storage capacity of 685 Wh and an operating efficiency of 0.30. Furthermore, the stable output air temperature can be flexibly adjusted from 19 °C to 27 °C while maintaining the inlet air temperature at 35 °C during the discharging process. Notably, the charging environment temperature shows a minimal influence on the cooling output performance. The prototype's design is novel and applicable for portable cooling in outdoor off-grid scenarios.

Occupational tasks associated with shoulder pain and upper extremity disability: a cross-sectional study in the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project

BackgroundShoulder pain is a leading cause of disability. Occupations requiring high upper extremity demands may put workers at greater risk of shoulder injury and resulting pain. We examined associations of occupation with shoulder pain and upper extremity disability in the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project.MethodsWork industry and occupational tasks for the longest job held were collected from participants. At follow-up ranging from 4–10 years later, participants were asked about shoulder symptoms (pain, aching, or stiffness occurring most days of 1 month in the last year) and given a 9-item, modified Disabilities Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire to categorize disability from 0–4 (none-worst). Logistic regression and cumulative logit regression models were used to estimate associations with prevalent shoulder symptoms and with worse disability category, respectively. Models were adjusted for cohort, age, sex, race, education and time to follow-up. Sex- and race-stratified associations were evaluated.ResultsAmong 1560 included participants, mean age was 62 years (standard deviation ± 9 years); 32% were men, and 31% were Black. Compared to the managerial/professional industry, higher odds of both shoulder symptoms and worse upper extremity disability were seen for most industrial groups with physically demanding jobs, particularly the service industry. Work that often or always required lifting/moving > 10 lbs. was associated with higher odds of shoulder symptoms. Work that sometimes or always required heavy work while standing was associated with higher odds of shoulder symptoms, and this association was stronger among men and White workers.ConclusionPhysically demanding occupations were associated with increased occurrence of shoulder pain and disability. Mitigating specific physical work demands may reduce shoulder-related disability.

Age‐related differences in the use of boundary management tactics when teleworking: Implications for productivity and work‐life balance

AbstractThe rise of home‐based teleworking and the ageing of the workforce constitute two major trends impacting the future of work. Managing these trends well requires a good understanding of how worker age and telework intersect and which mechanisms link age and telework outcomes. We integrated perspectives of boundary theory and the lifespan model of selection, optimization, and compensation and investigated in two studies the relationship between employee age and two telework outcomes (work–life balance and unfinished tasks) as mediated by boundary management tactics aimed at segmenting work and nonwork roles. Across Study 1 (a two‐wave study with 172 teleworkers) and Study 2 (a three‐wave study with 282 teleworkers), we found positive associations between age and use of segmenting boundary management tactics during telework. We further identified indirect effects of age on higher productivity in terms of fewer unfinished tasks (both studies) and better work–life balance (Study 2) through boundary management tactics use. Robustness checks indicated that age effects remain significant after controlling for a number of demographic characteristics, work and home demands, motivational factors, and self‐regulatory skills. Findings suggest that older workers effectively navigate the blurred work‐nonwork boundaries in home‐based telework using self‐regulatory behaviour that supports positive telework outcomes.

Impact of individual and work factors on the heat-related consequences among power plant workers in a hot region

ABSTRACT Prolonged exposure to hot environments increases the probability of heat load that may cause occupational heat strain to workers. This study investigates the impact of individual and work-related factors on the heat-related consequences among power plant workers in a hot region. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020. The collecting data tool was a validated self-reported 26 item questionnaire and completed in 534 individuals. We used logistic regression, Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and maximum likelihood evaluations for data analysis. The findings indicated that age, work environment, physical work demands and drinking fluids during work hours are significant with heat exposure perception, heat-related symptoms, and work performance (P-value<0.05). Further, the male workers aged 40-49 are more prone to heat-related symptoms (AOR 1.34, 95% CI 1.18-2.13). The importance of addressing heat stress in occupational settings is necessary and informing strategies to help workers adapt to heat in hot workplaces.

Gender differences in remote work: a study on the boundary management tactics of women and men

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify potential differences in experiences and their causes from a gender-based perspective.Design/methodology/approachWe use secondary data, and we conduct a thematic analysis, to identify whether and how women and men negotiate differently.FindingsDespite remote work being considered as creating a level-playing field for both genders, women are still vulnerable to work and life demands, and pre-existing stereotypes become exacerbated. In addition, we show how technology might be used to manage physical and temporal boundaries, through integration or segmentation tactics.Originality/valueThere is a growing body of literature that focuses on work-life conflict among teleworkers. Yet, there is limited research that explores such conflicts from a gender perspective, specifically whether and how different genders manage boundaries between work and life differently.