Employment Programs Research Articles

Compassion Fatigue and Coping Mechanisms of Laboratory Animal Professionals from Europe, China, and Japan.

Laboratory animal professionals (LAP) may experience situations that contribute to compassion fatigue (CF). The goal of this research was to better understand CF in LAP in and across employment categories. Surveys were distributed through LAP organizational listservs in the European Union (EU), China, and Japan, and results were analyzed to identify CF prevalence, personal and work-related factors, coping mechanisms, and beneficial work-support programs. Independent χ²-tests compared personal and work-related factors and feelings of CF. Feelings of CF and coping mechanisms were compared with personality scores using independent sample t tests. There were 302 respondents from the EU, 39 from China, and 77 from Japan. Over half of respondents from the EU (52%) and China (56%) reported experiencing CF (52%), with fewer (32%) reporting CF in Japan. No major differences were found based on employer type. Personality scores were significantly related to feelings of CF and preferred coping mechanisms. Work-related factors that contributed to feelings of CF in over half of respondents included staffing levels, workplace relationships, and availability of programs geared to address CF. Across regions, talking to someone, physical activity, getting away from work, and self-care were effective coping mechanisms in over 50% of respondents. Fewer than 30% of respondents indicated that their place of employment had CF support programs, and even fewer (8% to 28%) indicated that these programs were helpful. The study results suggest that to be effective, employer CF programs for LAP should consider providing quiet places at work and programs for self-care, promoting physical and mental health and social support systems, and establishing opportunities to memorialize animals.

Exploring the design of a sport for employability program: A case study.

Rates of young people who are neither in employment, education, or training (NEET) are fairly high in the European Union. Correspondingly, there has been a growing tendency to regard sport as a suitable tool to develop soft skills and raise NEETs' level of employability. However, if and how such sport for employability (SfE) programs are able to realize these major claims has been called into question. The purpose of the present study was, therefore, to explore how an actual SfE initiative constructs and delivers its program. In addition, the article assessed whether the investigated program operates in line with researchers' recent calls for theory-based approaches. Guided by a case study approach set up within an initiative located in Flanders, data were gathered through 12 semi-structured interviews with 8 program providers. Results, analyzed using thematic analysis, indicated that the program was characterized by an absence of well-defined desired outcomes, imprecision as to how the program should contribute to these outcomes, and consequently minimal attention to the follow-up of participants' progress. As such, these findings and the accompanying challenges point to the absence of a theory-based approach. Several possible sources for the lack of a systematic approach are discussed.

Service and demographic factors, health, trauma exposure, and participation are associated with adjustment for former Australian Defense Force members

ABSTRACT Approximately 50% of transitioning service members report difficulty adjusting to civilian life. However, there is limited research exploring factors that influence adjustment for former Australian Defence Force (ADF) members. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of demographic and service-related characteristics, trauma exposure, health, and participation in meaningful occupations on adjustment for former ADF members. One hundred and ninety-eight former ADF members completed a voluntary, online survey containing validated self-report measures for adjustment, health, and exposure to combat and military sexual trauma. Participation in meaningful occupations was assessed using open-ended questions and a rating scale for frequency of participation. A more difficult adjustment was reported by participants who had completed operational service, reported exposure to combat and/or military sexual trauma, had poor physical health and were discharged for medical reasons. Other characteristics associated with a difficult adjustment included emotional distress, involuntary discharge, age category 30–49 years, final rank of Senior Noncommissioned Officer/Warrant Officer or below, and discharge 6–8 years previously. Employment, voluntary work and care, and social and community interaction were associated with an easier adjustment. Screening tools that consider health, age, deployment type, final rank, type of discharge and exposure to combat or military sexual trauma may be helpful to identify and refer high risk individuals to employment, rehabilitation or transition support programs.

The Development and Evaluation of a Cross-Context Employment Program for Autistic Adolescents.

Vocational programs typically focus on building the skills of autistic youth. However, there is growing recognition that the supportive environment (or ecosystem) around an individual plays an important role in finding and maintaining work. Programs at the ecosystem-level can be established by coordinating support before high school ends. Cocreation of a vocational program by support providers can facilitate an integrated effort to prepare autistic youth for employment. In this study, we describe and evaluate the Job-Train Program (JTP), a vocational program for autistic high school students codesigned with educators and a community-based social services agency. A school board, community-based social services agency, and academics partnered to cocreate JTP. JTP combined skill teaching and paid supported employment on a university campus. This pilot study evaluated JTP using qualitative and quantitative data. Twelve autistic youth were recruited, aged 15-18 years (10 males, 2 females) with an average intelligence quotient of 101.9 (standard deviation = 14.4), from the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence-2. Youth and parents completed self-report measures (pre-post), including the primary outcome, Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Post-JTP, interviews, focus groups, and surveys collected additional information from youth (n = 11), parents (n = 10), job coaches (n = 5), and employers (n = 8). Youth COPM scores indicated significant improvements in self-perceived ratings of skill performance (z = -2.5, p = 0.01) and satisfaction (z = -2.6, p = 0.01). Qualitative data corroborated COPM results noting youth skill improvements in self-esteem, independence, communication, and understanding work. Findings demonstrated a promising vocational training model for autistic high school students informing the development of integrated service pathways to support preparation for employment.

Understanding the Needs and Programmatic Interests of Incarcerated Parents: Findings from a Prison Needs Assessment

ABSTRACT Incarcerated people – including those who are parents – have a diverse set of criminogenic needs and responsivity issues, raising questions about how best to support them in prison. Using a sample of 2,120 adults in state prison, this study examined self-reported needs and programs of interest, assessed how these varied by parenting status and between mothers and fathers, and considered predictors of individuals’ interest in parenting services. Participants most frequently reported needs related to negative peer influences, substance use, and housing; meanwhile employment and education programs received the most interest. Parents were more likely than non-parents to express needs regarding family relationships; mothers self-identified substance use and mental health treatment, whereas fathers more often called for employment programming. Being younger, a mother, or a parent of color, as well as having younger children and contact during prison, were associated with increased odds of expressing interest in parenting programs. These findings inform decisions around prison programming that better fits individuals’ self-identified needs.

Subjective Well-Being and Future Orientation of NEETs: Evidence from the Italian Sample of the European Social Survey

The acronym ‘NEET’ includes adolescents and young people aged 15–34 years not engaged in education, employment or training programs. According to recent studies, NEET represents a high-risk category to suffer from lower well-being and mental health problems. Following a life course approach, this study examined the self-reported subjective well-being and the future orientation of NEETs. To do this, the study used the latest European Social Survey data (Round 9—2018), limiting our analysis to Italian respondents aged 15–34 years. The final sample included 695 participants. Descriptive analysis and Student’s t-test were performed to compare the subjective well-being and the future orientation of NEETs with those of non-NEET young adults. We hypothesize lower subjective well-beings in the NEET group and more difficulties in future planning than in the non-NEET group. Then, a mediation path model was carried out to study the relationship between employment condition (non-NEET/NEET) and subjective well-being through future orientation. The path model showed the mediator role of future orientation. Results indicated that future orientation plays a role in mitigating the effect of the unemployment condition on well-being. Starting from these findings, practical implications regarding career guidance interventions are discussed.

Understanding Perspectives of Job Coaches of Supported Employment Programs Working with Adults with Autism

ABSTRACT Semi-structured interviews were conducted to examine the perspectives of 11 job coaches who worked with employees with autism in supported employment programs. Responses were qualitatively analysed using thematic analysis, and three top-level themes emerged: a) facilitating factors and b) barriers from their experiences working with employees with autism and c) additional resources that job coaches wished to have. Some characteristics of autism and cooperative working relationships among job coaches were facilitating factors of job coaches’ work, while employers’ and co-workers’ lack of knowledge and understanding about autism, inevitable changes in routine, and social communication difficulties of employees with autism were identified as barriers. Job coaches also mentioned that increasing autism awareness in the workplace and more practical training for job coaches would help them provide better support to employees with autism. These findings call for more structural support for all stakeholders to collaborate on making positive changes rather than put the full burden on job coaches. The need for the provision of evidence-based training programs for job coaches is highlighted.

Intergenerational contact during and beyond COVID-19.

Intergenerational contact is crucial for promoting intergenerational harmony and reducing ageism. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted and changed the nature and frequency of intergenerational contact. In addition, research suggests that both ageism towards older adults and intergenerational threat regarding succession and consumption, have increased. Through the lens of the Temporally Integrated Model of Intergroup Contact and Threat (TIMICAT; Abrams & Eller, 2016), we explore the implications of these changing dynamics on ageism towards older adults during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Our review reveals that research into intergenerational contact needs to articulate both the time course and salience of contact and threats before making predictions about their impacts on prejudice. The implications of understanding how contact and threat combine to affect ageism for policy and practice are discussed in relation to employment, education, and intergenerational contact programs. We highlight that policy makers play a key role in promoting intergenerational harmony through the reduction of narratives that inflame intergenerational tensions and threat.

Supplemental Material for Influence of Multi-Aspect Job Preference Matching on Job Tenure for People With Mental Disorders in Supported Employment Programs in Japan

Supplemental Material for Influence of Multi-Aspect Job Preference Matching on Job Tenure for People With Mental Disorders in Supported Employment Programs in Japan

YESS: A feasibility study of a supported employment program for youths with mental health disorders.

ObjectiveIn Canada, employment/education support is rarely embedded as a component of mental health service delivery. This study describes a supported education/employment program (SEP) that integrates both clinical and community mental health services. The main objectives were to estimate the feasibility of a 5-week SEP among youths aged 17–24 with mental illness and to estimate the extent to which participation in this program improved employment and mental health outcomes.MethodsThis was a single cohort study. Feasibility outcomes assessed were demand, acceptability, practicality, integration, adaptation, and effectiveness. These were assessed through recruitment and retention rates, recording patterns of missing data, and examining differences between completers and non-completers. Appropriateness of the outcome measures was assessed through the strength of the association between the outcome measures at baseline. Effectiveness of the program was assessed through employment and as measured using MyLifetracker (MLT), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the Canadian Personal Recovery Outcome Measure (CPROM).ResultsA total of 110 youths with a mean age of 20.6 (SD: 2.2) were recruited. At 5 weeks, 82 (74.5%) of participants remained in the program. Of the people who completed the program, 56.1% were women, 76.6% were in stable housing and 64.1% had depression. Approximately 60% of non-completers used two or more services and were in at-risk housing. More than 25% of participants improved on the patient-reported outcomes. Scores on these measures were moderately to highly correlated with each other. Employment rates varied and corresponded to the waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.ConclusionResults showed that this program was feasible and there was high demand for SEP during the COVID-19 pandemic but gaining employment remained difficult. Educational or employment outcomes, measured over a short period, may not be adequate. Instead, individualized and patient-reported outcome measures may be more appropriate for SEP programs.

Impact of Covid-19 Restrictions on Individual Placement and Support Service Delivery in Northern Norway

Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is an evidence-based supported employment program that helps people with severe mental illness to achieve steady, meaningful employment in competitive mainstream jobs. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on IPS service delivery in Northern Norway between March and October 2020. In Norway, IPS is in the early stages of full-scale implementation and is therefore potentially sensitive to external stressors such as the Covid-19 pandemic. In October 2020 we conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional survey with IPS employment specialists in Northern Norway (n = 25). The purpose was to collect information about how Covid-19 restrictions between March and October 2020 impacted their ability to deliver IPS services. As a result of Covid-19 restrictions, more than half the employment specialists were reassigned to other roles or non-IPS related work tasks. They also reported less collaborative engagement with clinical teams and employers. 69 (20.4%) of IPS users supported by employment specialists gained employment after the Covid-19 restrictions were introduced and 82.8% of unemployed IPS users continued to seek competitive employment despite Covid-19 restrictions. Covid-19 restrictions appear to have created obstacles for IPS service delivery in Northern Norway and have negatively impacted the employment specialists' collaborative engagement with clinical teams. However, IPS employment specialists have shown strong capabilities in overcoming these challenges and services users have remained motivated to seek employment during the pandemic.

Developing a Meaningful Student Employment Experience for Students’ Success on Campus

Student employees are essential to academic libraries on college and university campuses. The employment programme at this mid-sized university library intentionally seeks to engage students in work that not only benefits the library, but also provides students the opportunity to learn and hone skills that can contribute to academic and professional success. The pandemic had a significant impact on the student employment programme. The pivot to remote and hybrid services changed how library supervisors worked with student employees. In order to continue to offer students meaningful work, library staff conducted an evaluation of the programme, using a survey and focus groups. The evaluation team implemented programme changes and improvements based on student feedback in regard to scheduling and career preparation, with more plans to follow. This article describes how academic library staff can work with student workers on developing a meaningful employment programme, beneficial to both students and library services.

Maintaining functional working memory through job activities: A study among patients with schizophrenia enrolled in a supported employment program

BACKGROUND: Employment is crucial in rehabilitation of patients with schizophrenia. It may have positive effects on cognitive function, including working memory. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to look for evidence to confirm continuous job activities could maintain functional working memory in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving patients with schizophrenia enrolled in supported employment (SE) program. Informed consent was obtained. Socio-demographic, employment, and clinical data were acquired from interview and clinical notes. Mini International Neuropsychiatric Inventory (M.I.N.I) was used to confirm the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Working memory was evaluated using Weschler Memory Scale Third Edition -Letter-Number Span and Spatial Span. RESULTS: 118 patients were recruited with a mean age of 43.76 years old (SD = 8.96). Most were male, Malays, Muslims, single, and received at least secondary education. There was a significant association between working memory and employment outcome (χ2 = 20.835, p < .001), and past work history (χ2 = 10.077, p = 0.002). Multiple logistic regression indicated that the employment outcome (adjusted OR: 12.50; 95% CI: 2.55–61.21; p = 0.002) and past work history (adjusted OR: 3.36; 95% CI: 1.05–10.70; p = 0.041) were significant predictors of working memory among patients with schizophrenia in SE program. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that continuous job activities could maintain functional working memory in patients with schizophrenia.

Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Partisipasi Masyarakat terhadap Minat Dalam Program Desa Sadar Jaminan Sosial Ketenagakerjaan pada Desa Amplas Kecamatan Percut Sei Tuan Kabupaten Deli Serdang


 .Employment social security is an innovative program that is given to the community in the village, integrating government programs. Cooperation with government officials through socialization and education to the working community in the village to better understand the benefits of the importance of social security. This study aims to determine the factors that influence the participation of the sandpaper village community towards interest in the employment social security awareness village program and the researchers took two factors, namely awareness and knowledge. The researcher wants to see the effect of awareness and knowledge on interest in the employment social security Desa Sadar program in Amplas Village, either partially or simultaneously. The method used in this research is quantitative. The population of this study was 2,625 people, so by using the Slovin formula the author got the number 96 which will be the sample in this study. Using primary data by distributing questionnaires and also distributing questionnaires directly to the Amplas Village community. Using multiple regression analysis method using hypothesis testing. The results of this study simultaneously from the variable awareness of knowledge and knowledge have a significant effect on interest in the social security awareness village program for employment. Then partially the awareness variable has no effect on interest and the knowledge variable itself has a significant effect on interest in the employment social security awareness village program.
 Keywords : Awareness, Interests, Knowledge and Desa Sadar Programs

Work and recovery from schizophrenia in India: a mixed methods study in Kerala

ABSTRACT Background According to the WHO, people diagnosed with schizophrenia in developing countries recover more fully than people with the same diagnosis in developed countries. At a time when international organizations are attempting to scale up biomedical psychiatric interventions in India and other low-income countries, it is important to understand why a place like India is doing better in recovery from serious psychosis. Method Interviews of 20 people diagnosed with schizophrenia in Kerala, India were conducted to determine level of functioning and quality of worklife. Quantitative assessments of the relations between these factors were undertaken along with qualitative, ethnographic analysis of narratives of interviewees. Results Analysis of interviews shows that quality of worklife is correlated with higher functioning among this group, and service user narratives claim that work enabled their recovery. Comparisons to other research further indicates that people in India with this diagnosis are more often employed than people with the same diagnosis in the United States and Europe. Discussion Employment and the quality of worklife appear to be positively related to recovery in terms of increasing functionality among people diagnosed with schizophrenia in this part of India. Certain employment programs and sociocultural factors likely contribute to differences in outcome.

Nonparametric tests for treatment effect heterogeneity in observational studies

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Experience of foreign countries in legal regulation of employment of graduates of educational institutions

The article examines the experience of foreign countries in the legal regulation of employment of graduates of educational institutions, as for the best settlement of relations on youth employment, it is advisable to pay attention to foreign experience in solving similar problems. The study briefly examines the experience of some European countries in solving youth employment problems at the national level, taking into account national specifics, economic and social situation. It is concluded that the experience of countries with developed market economies shows that the scale of state intervention in the system of the labor market is significant. A special place in the employment policy of these countries is occupied by measures to promote the employment of young people who have no practical training. States encourage employers to hire young people by providing them with special guarantees, subsidies, and tax breaks. Vocational training and retraining are important in regulating the world’s youth labor market, as the economic costs of providing these services far outweigh the costs of unemployment benefits. Currently, most Member States of the European Union are trying to facilitate the process of adaptation of young people to enter the labor market after graduation through a combination of so-called supply and demand strategies. Proposal strategies mainly include programs focused on vocational training of young people. Although each country takes into account its national, economic and social specificities when implementing youth employment programs, all youth employment programs have one thing in common - facilitating the entry of different categories of young people into the labor market by providing them with vocational training, qualifications and providing the first work experience. Mechanisms of close cooperation and interaction between the education system and the labor market play an important role in this process.

Employment Generation Challenges and Strategies for Pakistan: A Diagnostic Analysis

The employment challenges are getting more complex and worse because youth under the age of 30 constitute 64 percent of the total population. The gradual increase in labor force participation is adding more pressure to the labor market to generate employment opportunities. Hence, the growth in employment generation is essential to match the unprecedented number of young people entering working age in Pakistan. Moreover, the structural transition process involving labor movement from low-to-high productive activities has been much slower in Pakistan than in other Asian countries like China. This study identifies all major concerns regarding employment challenges in Pakistan and identifies various strategies and policies while adopting a diagnostic approach to employment policy. The reason for adopting the diagnostic approach/framework is to develop an understanding of the factors which are responsible for the slow growth of employment in formal sectors and significant constraints for generating more employment. It attempts to assess various elements that may find a place in developing strategies and policies. While designing effective policies for employment, policymakers must consider all aspects like population, demographics, types of unemployment, economic condition, social structure, and development stage of a country. Meanwhile, the role of entrepreneurial activities and the private sector, technological changes, development of labor-intensive industries and SMEs, improving skills and knowledge, youth employment programs, active labor market policies (ALMPs), and macroeconomic policies are core elements that should be considered to design effectual policies for employment generation.

No employment without participation: An evaluation of India's employment programme in eastern Uttar Pradesh

SummaryMotivationThe Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) provides 100 days of employment a year at the legal minimum wage to every rural household. At the national level, the programme has been highly successful in providing an income safety net to small peasant farmers and landless workers.PurposeAn analysis of bottlenecks in supply and demand in the implementation of NREGA in the poorer states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. This research aims to understand how public participation and local political economy factors attenuate the guarantee of public employment and equal wages for the most marginalized groups.Methods and approachEvidence from field research in the Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh was used to conduct an empirical analysis of the functioning of NREGA.FindingsOur research shows how awareness among programme beneficiaries of their legal entitlements and awareness at various levels of government about the programme determine the provision of NREGA employment in one of the poorest regions of the country.Policy implicationsOur findings suggest that patron–client exchanges between the local elite and NREGA beneficiaries determine the provision of public employment and generate rents for the local elite. There is, therefore, an urgent need to increase transparency in NREGA provision and create mechanisms to hold elected representatives and government functionaries accountable to NREGA beneficiaries.

Совершенствование организационной и финансовой моделей содействия занятости в России

The article discusses the basics of employment policy in Russia: the organizational model in terms of delineation of responsibilities between stakeholders, and the financial model in terms of the two basic directions of employment policy — passive, in the form of cash benefits to the unemployed, and active, in the form of programs of employment assistance. The authors show that the Russian model of unemployment benefits has lost its original intent: the benefits have become an analogue of social support, since they are virtually unrelated to previous earnings. The unemployment benefit is, in fact, counter-productive, since it contributes to the growth of registered unemployment (including the so-called “professional unemployment”, when the unemployed are not motivated to find a job). As a result, the resources of the Employment Service are wasted and the prospects of its modernization are put at risk. Regarding active employment programs, the authors highlight the following problem: while the implementation of active labor market programs is the responsibility of subnational governments, the mandatory list of such programs is set by the federal government, which constitutes an unfunded mandate imposed upon subnational government by the federal government. In fact, the measures needed to support employment may vary significantly from territory to territory, and the focus of most existing programs is to support the registered unemployed, while motivated job seekers could use job search support before registering. The authors recommend to reform the organizational and financial models of employment services in Russia, first of all by allowing the regions to design their own employment support policies that take into account the specifics of the local labor market. They also recommend to abolish the current noncontributory unemployment benefit in Russia and to replace it with a means-tested income support benefit for the poor.