Public Administration Employees Research Articles

Job satisfaction of the public administration employees based on example local government unit

Job satisfaction of the public administration employees based on example local government unit

German language support in Austria: feasibility, effectiveness and legitimacy from the perspective of public administration

Education systems around the world have been grappling with the task of including multilingual students. To achieve this objective, multilingual students in Austria have been receiving parallel instruction in segregated classrooms since the 2018/19 school year. These measures have been the subject of criticism, particularly in terms of their practical feasibility due to limited space and staff resources, as well as their effectiveness in terms of students’ academic, linguistic, and socio-emotional development and their fundamental normative value (i.e. legitimacy). To add a new perspective, this study employs qualitative data to clarify public administration employees’ stances on the perceived feasibility, effectiveness, and legitimacy of German language support measures. The results of a reflexive thematic analysis reveal that most participants hold negative perceptions of perceived feasibility, particularly concerning spatial and personnel resources as well as class composition. Findings also indicate that participants convey a critical outlook on the effectiveness of the German language support measures in terms of students’ general academic progress and socio-emotional development. Interestingly, the findings suggest that, despite clear negative assessments, there exist conflicting and indecisive views pertaining to perceived legitimacy. The results presented in this study hold significant implications for research efforts that prioritize language and diversity considerations.

Prospects for Development of Forensic Methods for Investigation of Criminal Offenses Related to Raiding

Formation and development of economic security of the State requires taking effective measures to counteract and minimize negative impact of criminal offenses that encroach on economic and social relations, legal activities of economic entities, rights of public administration employees, etc. Among the latter, those that demonstrate signs of raiding deserve close attention, i.e., related to the illegal takeover and seizure of property, assets of enterprises, institutions, organizations, corporate rights to them and other resources, encroachment on the rights of owners or authorized persons of entities management of various forms of ownership, etc. In this regard, the article purpose is defined as outlining prospects for construction of forensic methods of investigation of criminal offenses in which signs of raiding can be detected. In order to achieve the specified goal, a complex of general scientific, philosophical and special research methods was applied. According to performed research results, it was determined that in modern sense, a separate forensic investigation method (in a broad sense) should be understood as an integrated product of scientific knowledge in the field of law, formed on the basis of a generalization of investigative and judicial practice, which in its essence is a set of forensic recommendations, proven tactics methods of conducting investigative (search) and covert investigative (search) actions, methods and techniques of optimal and effective use of forensic techniques during pre-trial investigation developed in accordance with procedural requirements in order to optimize the model of conducting pre-trial investigation of a separate criminal offense, their groups, etc. Based on the generalization of certain elements of the criminal law and forensic characteristics of criminal offenses related to raiding, varieties of individual forensic methods of investigation have been determined, including interspecies, special, subspecies, species, etc.

Strategie przeciwdziałania wypaleniu zawodowemu na poziomie organizacyjnym i indywidualnym oraz etyka zawodowa jako istotne czynniki w pracy administracji publicznej

Aim: The main objective of the paper was to show important factors in the work of public administration officials, namely the strategy of counteracting professional burnout at the organizational and individual level and professional ethics. Methods: Research methods such as observation and analysis were used in the presented paper. Results: The analysis presented in the text shows that, firstly, it is necessary to take care of strategies for counteracting professional burnout at the organizational and individual level. This requires a high level of awareness of the organization itself, as well as the attentiveness of the officials themselves and continuous work and improvement. Secondly, taking care of the lack of professional burnout will have a positive impact on maintaining professional ethics among public administration staff. Next, it should also be remembered that the phenomenon of burnout can be cyclical, so it can occur many times throughout the entire working life. On the other hand, the culmination of the entire process of professional burnout may be a sense of complete inadequacy and a belief in the lack of self-worth, affecting not only the feeling of individual ineffectiveness, but also affecting the effectiveness of the entire organization, including professional ethics. Conclusion: Burnout syndrome is, according to experts on the subject, one of the most important contemporary threats for all professionally active people. It also applies to public administration employees. And although the phenomenon itself in this professional group has not been comprehensively studied, there is no doubt that it is present among employees of today's public administration. Despite the many, as it turns out, factors contributing to the burnout of civil servants in public administration, it is not an inevitable process that cannot be stopped in any way. There are a number of actions presented in the paper which, if taken early enough and implemented in a consistent and systemic manner, can effectively counteract the professional burnout of civil servants. Without a doubt, this effort is worth the price, as it guarantees long-term employee satisfaction, also determining the effectiveness and efficiency of the entire organization. Unfortunately, there is no effective remedy that protects against the occurrence of the syndrome, nor is there one that is able to effectively immunize against it. Strategies for counteracting professional burnout should be introduced already at the organizational level in order to minimize the causes of professional burnout, which may lead to a gradual spiral of discouragement among officials, growing in them a feeling of fatigue with work to the point of complete exhaustion, negatively affecting not only professional relations, but also the entire sphere of private contacts. Originality: What should be emphasized, which deserves special attention, is that it is also extremely important, recommended by many experts on the subject, mindfulness, listening to oneself and the signals sent by one's own body, as well as constant work on oneself. These actions should be treated as prevention, which will prevent the first symptoms of burnout or, if they do appear, will allow you to successfully emerge from the initial phase of burnout while maintaining professional ethics. Key word: professional ethics, organization, strategy, burnout, public administration, official, responsibility

The Impact of Work Enviroment, Information Technology, and Work Autonomy on Telework Adjusment of National Institute of Public Administration Employees During A Pandemic

This research aims to determine the impact of Work Environment, Information Technology, and Work Autonomy on Telework Adjustment of National Institute of Public Administration Employees During a Pandemic. The population of this research used the Slovin sampling technique in which the population were 120 people. This research uses primary data with data collection method through questionnaires distributed to 120 respondents. The analysis technique uses multiple linear regression and uses the Static Product and Service Solution (SPSS) program with the 26.0 version. Based on the results of the partial research, it was discovered that Work Environment has been a positive and significant impact on Telework Adjustment. Information Technology has a positive and significant impact on Telework Adjustment. Work Autonomy has a positive and significant impact on Telework Adjustment.

The role of training in motivating employees in public administration

Purpose: The subject of this article is training and its impact on the motivation of public administration employees in tax offices. Design/methodology/approach: both secondary and primary research were conducted. Secondary research includes literature on the subjects of motivation, motivating, human resources management and employee training. However, the primary study includes a survey conducted in tax offices; in this case, the method was a survey, the technique was an online survey, and the research tool was a survey questionnaire. Findings: respondents almost unanimously answered that they mainly participate in training because the acquired knowledge will allow them to improve the performance of their duties. Training also motivates them to continue their professional development. The answer regarding job change is noteworthy: respondents do not connect the knowledge acquired during training with the possibility of changing jobs. The research shows that the most important form of motivation is material motivation. Next are the atmosphere and satisfaction with the duties performed. Originality/value: indicating how important it is to align employees' personal goals with the goals of the organization. In such a case, the system should take into account the individual needs of employees, but employees should also recognize the opportunities for their own development and the benefits that may accrue to the institution. In this way, professional goals can also become personal goals. The author drew attention to an important issue - respondents are aware of their needs, and employers should notice and meet their expectations. This will undoubtedly improve the functioning of many offices. In the era of artificial intelligence, employees' soft skills should be particularly valued because interpersonal skills, flexibility, the ability to cooperate, and creativity are becoming the key factors that distinguish people in the context of technological progress. Keywords: administration, motivation, motivating, training. Category of paper: Research paper.

Employees’ professional situation and the abuse of sick leave absence in Poland

The propensity to abuse sickness leave is a complex issue conditioned by various individual and contextual factors. The aim of the article is to assess the effect of various work-related factors on the abuse of sick leave in Poland. Three categories of sick leave abuse were distinguished: compulsion, escape and recreation. The data were gathered using the CAWI survey. Statistical analyzes incorporated multivariable linear regression and structural equation modelling. The research sample consisted of 1067 respondents (full-time employees). Some work-related factors have a significant impact on the abuse of sick leave. These factors are: (1) motivational working conditions, (2) social working conditions, (3) qualifications and (4) form of ownership. The main conclusion is that the assessment of specific aspects of working conditions has a different impact on the declared abuse of sickness absence. A high assessment of the 'social’ (interpersonal) aspect is associated with a low tendency to engage in unethical behavior, whereas a high assessment of the 'motivational’ aspect is associated with a high tendency in this respect. Moreover, it was found that a low tendency to abuse is also expressed by people who highly assess their professional qualifications. Finally, abuses are committed relatively often by public administration employees.

Public administration managers' and employees' perceptions of adaptability to change under “the future of work” paradigm

The future is uncertain and brings with it changes and challenges. Public employees' tasks are changing with the rise of digital transformation. It is crucial to improve the skills of public administration employees and anticipate what new skills they will need to prepare them for the future of work. This study explores the effects of digital, communication, intrapreneurial, and fundraising competencies on public employees' readiness for the future of work. A conceptual model was designed based on the theory of future-ready skills and the theory of skill-biased technological change. PLS-SEM was then used to test nine research hypotheses. Digital competencies and intrapreneurial competencies were found to have a significant impact on employee readiness for the future of work. Communication competencies and digital competencies were observed to be correlated with intrapreneurial competencies. Besides its contribution to the literature on skills for the future of work, this paper offers valuable suggestions for public administration decision makers and public employees, as well as higher education institutions and other places of learning.

Implementation of a Working Time Recording System as a Digital Management Tool in Public Administration

This theoretical scientific study explores using a working time recording system as a digital management tool in public administration. It explains why such a system is necessary in public administration and lays out the report’s goals. The main goal is to identify the possibilities of using modern technology, such as the system of recording the working time of public administration employees, to improve its efficiency and pro-client orientation. Recording the working time management ensures that most government and public administration duties are organised and arranged promptly for easier retrieval and allocation of tasks to different departments. A thorough assessment of the literature also looks at the current studies on working time tracking systems, particularly in the context of public administration and their possible effects on effectiveness, accountability, and transparency. Employee privacy-related legal and moral issues are also covered. The Materials and Methods section describes the system’s implementation in detail, covering system selection, employee training, data collection methods, and technological considerations. As a result, the use of time recording systems in public administration has been found to have various benefits, including better work–life balance, fairness and transparency. These solutions improve accountability and trust by streamlining workforce management and ensuring compliance with labour laws. The main result of our research is the design of a theoretical model applicable in public administration for monitoring an employee’s working time.

Automation in public sector jobs and services: a framework to analyze public digital transformation’s impact in a data-constrained environment

PurposeThis study aims to estimate the value of the impact from digital transformation (DX) focusing on its automation effect, looking at the time and cost savings coming from the substitution effect with an adoption of digital technologies. For example, cloud and artificial intelligence technologies such as ChatGPT have the potential to change ways of working, substituting and replacing several of the tasks that are currently carried out by public administration (PA) employees and labor processes underpinning PA services.Design/methodology/approachThe paper outlines a new framework to estimate the potential impact of DX on the public sector. The authors apply this framework to estimate the value of the impact of DX on the Italian PA, defining the latter by the collection of the value of its labor (i.e. PA workforce salaries) and by the collection of the value of its outputs (i.e. public services’ costs).FindingsThis study ultimately maps out the magnitude and trends of how likely the PA occupations and services could be substituted in a wider process of DX. To do this, the authors apply their framework to the Italian PA, and they triangulate secondary data collection, from official accounts of the Italian Ministry of Economics and the National Statistical Institute, with methodological antecedents from the UK Office for National Statistics and experts’ insights. Results provide a snapshot on the type and magnitude of PA jobs and services projected to be affected by automation over the next 10 years.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper provides for the first time an approach to estimate the value of the impact of DX on the public sector in a data-constrained environment – or in the lack of the required primary data. Once applied to the Italian PA, this approach provides a granular map of the automatability of each of the PA occupations and of the PA services. Finally, this paper mentions preliminary insights on potential challenges related to equity in public sector jobs and implications on recruitment processes.

Positive work environment in public administration

Based on the knowledge on motivation in software development teams, who have used agile methods for several years, this research determines the relationships between motivators, individuals’ characteristics, personality traits and job outcomes in two age groups of public servants in Poland. This study aims to identify motivators that significantly contribute to creating a positive work environment in which public servants feel satisfied with their work and feel connected to their organisation.The Motivators, Outcomes, Characteristics and Context (MOCC) model, developed by Sharp et al. (2009) to investigate motivation in software engineering, is used to understand the complex topic of motivation in public administration. The analysis of the relationships between the motivators and job outcomes, taking into account achievement-orientation and innovativeness, as well as personality traits, is based on mediation models. The source of the data for the model estimations is a questionnaire survey carried out among public administration employees aged 25–45 with higher education.The findings show that public servants respond best to three motivators, namely development opportunities, respect and teamwork. Younger public servants need a clear development path, while older public servants want respect from their superiors. Achievement-orientation in younger public servants and innovativeness in older employees, combined with openness and agreeableness, translate into better job outcomes provided that the employees are satisfied with the teamwork.

The Role of Techno-Stress and Psychological Detachment in the Relationship between Workload and Well-Being in a Sample of Italian Smart Workers: A Moderated Mediated Model

Well-being conditions at work are determined by the balance between the demands from the organizational context and the perception of people to possess resources concerning the ability to cope with such requests. The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has changed working conditions, and employees have had to adapt to smart working (SW) by bringing new resources into play to meet new demands. Many organizations are questioning how to implement SW after the pandemic. According to the JD-R model, the present study considered workload during smart working and Techno-stress (the perceived stress concerning the use of technologies) as new requests (i.e., demands) coming from the organization and Psychological Detachment (the ability to create psychological distancing from work) as a personal resource. We investigated the moderator role of Psychological Detachment in the relationship between workload in SW and Well-being, mediated by Techno-stress (in its three dimensions: Techno-Overload, Techno-Invasion, and Techno-Complexity). The sample is made up of 622 Italian public administration employees who completed a questionnaire containing the following scales: Quantitative Workload Inventory, Well-being Index, Psychological Detachment, Techno-stress Creator Scale. Mediation and moderate-mediation models have been tested with PROCESS Macro. Findings showed that Techno-Invasion and Techno-Complexity fully mediate the relationship between workload in SW and well-being. Psychological detachment moderates the effect of the workload on Well-being, which in turn is mediated by Techno-Invasion. Furthermore, findings suggest the importance of identifying protective factors that can mitigate the workload effects on the employees’ well-being in SW.

Writing Administrative Textual Genres in Scholarly and Professional Contexts in Spain

Textual genres in the field of Administration can be difficult to write for both university students and public administration employees, since they call for specific linguistic characteristics, which vary according to the genre and the recipient. This article gathers the results of an empirical study examining the perception of writing administrative textual genres for the general public among two groups in the academic and professional fields. The participating groups were made up of students enrolled at a Spanish state university and the staff of a local administration of reference. Data were based on a quantitative analysis of two surveys carried out among over 2000 people. The analysis allowed researchers to identify that the genres most frequently requested and those with which writers struggled the most, in both academic and professional contexts, were: report (informe), requisition (requerimiento), resolution (resolución), agreement (contrato) and minute (acta). It also revealed that the biggest challenges faced by both sets of people when having to write those genres were: unawareness of the proper structure and lexical choice. These findings confirm that both students and administrative professionals face issues when writing the textual genres specific to their field. Likewise, they suggest that there is some correspondence between university curricula and professional practice in terms of writing administrative genres.

Digital Competence Development in Public Administration Higher Education

Today, citizens’ digital readiness and competence are competitive factors. While users with a high level of digital competence are usually associated with intensive and conscious use by consumers, those with a lower level of competence are characterized by passive consumer use and lagging in technology. It is essential to continuously develop and monitor competence levels because digital skills, the way digital tools are used, and the effects of use are interlinked. The importance of digital competence is also evident in public administration because its presence affects the quality of public services, which has an impact on the entire population. In this social aspect, digital competence is extremely important for public administration employees. In our study, we aim to investigate the input competence level of undergraduate (BA) students in public administration, and the output competence level reached after one semester in targeted training. We analyze the values in several dimensions and draw conclusions. When measuring digital competence, we relied on the EU reference material, the Citizen Digital Competence Framework, based on digital competence areas and proficiency levels such as information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, safety, and problem solving. The DigCompSat self-assessment questionnaire was used for the survey. The result of the study was an order of magnitude difference between the self-assessment and the real level of competence of the students. It can be useful for respondents to realize where they have gaps in their knowledge and competence. This is what is referred to as a ’change in attitude‘ in our study. There are factors related to gender, age, and prior training that influence the potential shifts between the segments. It was also found that the above factors applied differently in each range of competence. Concerning implementation of this research, it can be assumed that the larger amplitude movements may not necessarily be knowledge or skills, but rather ’changes in attitude’. Its practical importance might lie in the possibility to orient students.

Validation of a scale for the perception of competences and attitudes in the context of public administration

PurposeThis study aims at validating a scale for the perception of competences and attitudes of the Portuguese public administration employees. The sample of this study consists of 1,119 participants working in public administration and other labour sectors in Portugal. The psychometric qualities of this instrument were studied to assess its use in future studies.Design/methodology/approachAn initial exploratory factor analysis showed that the scale is composed of one factor, with a Kaiser–Meyer–Oklin value of 0.83. The subsequent confirmatory factor analysis performed in AMOS 27 confirmed the existence of a single factor.FindingsThe analysis of the psychometric qualities of the scale allows concluding that it can be applied in the context of the Portuguese public administration.Originality/valueGiven the universality of the competences and attitudes adopted, it can be extended to other work and cultural contexts.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF WORKING FROM HOME IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

The nature of work has changed significantly in recent years, influenced by digitalization, technological advances (e.g., robotics, automation, artificial intelligence), demographics and diversity. As a result, remote work has steadily increased over the last two decades. The article explores the advantages and disadvantages of working from home in public administration. In the empirical part, we wanted to determine whether employees working from home can coordinate their personal and professional lives and whether their employer has properly organized their work from home and provided them with adequate IT equipment. The research was conducted based on an anonymous questionnaire completed by public administration employees. The statistical analysis results showed that the employees see more advantages than disadvantages in working from home. Based on research and theory, we find that part of the public administration continues to work from home.

APPLICATION OF MOTIVATION TECHNIQUES AND EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION MANAGEMENT IN THE FUNCTION OF IMPROVING EFFICIENCY IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION BODIES

Examining the application of motivational factors in public administration provides top management with an insight into the levels of satisfaction and insufficiencies in the application of the concept of leadership with the concrete direction of how to create a productive and favorable working environment in public administration bodies. The stability of the public service and an inadequate system of human resources management leads to “mechanical” or “sufficient” productivity, and the satisfaction of employees in public administration remains an enigma for the initiators of reform processes, innovative activities, but also stands as an obstacle to the improvement of organizational culture in public administration. The research problem is based on static nature of public administration, mainly caused by weaknesses in the application of motivational techniques, therefore the work is focused on the analysis of the effects of current satisfaction management and the possibility of introducing transformational leadership and its application through Public Administration Reform requests in the process of joining the European Union, but also in order to improve the efficiency of the organization and the quality of public service delivery. The goal of the research is to examine aspects of functionality related to the application of motivational techniques by top management regarding the perception of employees in public administration bodies with the aim of finding modalities for organizational growth and professional development. Due to representativeness and reliability, the research sample will include at least 10% of public administration bodies at each of the administrative levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The reality of applying the system of financial incentives in the development of administrative creativity among employees of Kumaran Company for Industry and Investment in Yemen

This study examines the impact of incentives on the development of administrative creativity among the employees of Kumaran Company for Industry and Investment in Yemen. The study sample consists of 186 public administration employees. The data was collected through a questionnaire, and 168 responses were analyzed using analytical descriptive methods. The study found that the company provides workers with financial incentives, with an average score of 4.16 and a high degree of agreement from the sample. The study also found a high level of agreement with the availability of administrative creative dimensions in the company, with an average score of 4.59. The study did not find any significant differences in responses based on demographic variables such as age, scientific qualification, job title, or years of service.

Distributional effects of COVID-19

Using Italian Labour Force Survey data for the period 2019Q1-2020Q4 and applying quantile regression model accounting for sample selection bias, the paper investigates the effects of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wage distribution of employees, exploiting differences across sectors and by working from home arrangement. The findings reveal that the pandemic seems to positively affect wages of the entire workforce. However, this short-term advantage might be temporary as potentially driven by occupational changes in employment composition, whereas teleworking arrangement entails a wage premium for all workers. Low paid workers, employed in hotel/restaurant sector and not teleworking during the outbreak, face a reduction in wages (− 13.7%), while employees of public administration and education sectors exhibit a wage premium. When considering the joint effect of COVID-19 and working from home arrangement, estimates show that, despite few exceptions, wages of teleworking employees have been not affected by the coronavirus. Finally, we also control for self-selection issue by implementing the inverse probability weighting estimator.

Relationships between perceived stress at work, occupational burnout and ego-resiliency in a group of public administration employees: testing the assumption about the moderating role of ego-resiliency (replication study in Poland)

Objectives. The job demands–resources (JD-R) theory assumes that job demands can be balanced by resources, which ultimately leads to the development of engagement and prevent burnout. Research shows that human resources weaken the relationship between job demands/stress and employee health. However, some reports do not confirm this. The overriding goal of the research was to empirically verify the theory of the buffering role of personal resources in the JD-R model with a sample of public administration employees in Poland. Methods. The participants were 144 administrative employees. The study was carried out in a correlation scheme. Correlations between the variables of perceived stress at work, burnout and ego-resiliency were established. It was also checked whether ego-resiliency moderates the relationship between perceived stress at work and burnout. Results. As expected, burnout significantly correlated with perceived stress at work (positively) and ego-resiliency (negatively). However, there was no statistically significant relationship between ego-resiliency and perceived stress at work. Ego-resiliency did not moderate the relationship between stress and burnout. Conclusion. More research is required to test the role of different personal resources in the relationships between job demands and burnout, as well as between organizational resources and work engagement.