General Labour Research Articles

Functional Characteristics of Young Men Who Regularly Experience Feasible Physical Activity

In the modern world, college-age youth often have various somatic dysfunctions and pathologies. This places an additional burden on hospitals and further increases costs in the health care system. Moreover, this situation threatens to weaken the intellectual and general labor potential of the society. The emerging circumstance may negatively affect the state of the economy. Low functional characteristics of modern youth are directly related to their low physical activity. This leads to a weakening of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems in young people, greatly reduces the general functionality and forms the risk of developing pathology. Improvement of widely applicable schemes of dosed physical activity among young people, aimed at mass health improvement and increase in general working capacity, is becoming very urgent. The appointment of the scheme of systematic physical training developed by the authors with the use of simulators that activate the muscles of the trunk and extremities showed its greater efficiency in young men in terms of stimulating the functions of the heart and respiratory system. Against the background of regular trainings according to the tested scheme, the boys' physical performance increased and their functional reserves increased. The developed training technique made it possible to optimize hemodynamics, significantly increase resistance to hypoxia, heart and lung reserves, and also increase overall physical activity in young men studying at the university.

General Labour History of Africa. Workers, Employers and Governments, 20th–21st Centuries. Ed. by Stefano Bellucci and Andreas Eckert. Boydell & Brewer, Woodbridge 2019. xx, 761 pp. Maps. £95.00. (Paper: £30.00.)

General Labour History of Africa. Workers, Employers and Governments, 20th–21st Centuries. Ed. by Stefano Bellucci and Andreas Eckert. Boydell & Brewer, Woodbridge 2019. xx, 761 pp. Maps. £95.00. (Paper: £30.00.) - Volume 67 Issue 1

Capturing and analysing the working conditions of employees with disabilities in German social firms using focus groups

BackgroundSocial firms – a type of social enterprise – provide job opportunities to people with mental or intellectual, sensory, physical or multiple disabilities who are disadvantaged on the general labour market. Given the limited number of studies on working conditions of employees in inclusive workplaces, the aim of this study was to explore job demands and resources experienced by employees with disabilities in German social firms.MethodsThree focus groups were conducted between September and October 2020 with 14 employees with disabilities from social firms in the catering and cleaning sector in Germany. The Job Demands-Resources model was used as a theoretical basis for developing the semi-structured interview guide. Audiotaped data were transcribed verbatim, analysed deductively and inductively using the qualitative content analysis according to Mayring.ResultsThe results show that employees of social firms experience specific job demands and resources regarding work content, work organisation, social relations and work environment. Job demands were mainly reported with respect to work organisation, e.g. high workload, time pressure or challenges in collaboration, whereas social relationships with colleagues and supervisors were most frequently mentioned as important resources at the workplace.ConclusionFirst exploratory study results on the working conditions of employees in social firms in Germany were obtained. Given the pivotal importance of employment for people with disabilities, the identified job demands and resources of this study highlight the relevance of a healthy workplace, especially for employees in social firms. Future interventional research is needed regarding the development, implementation and evaluation of workplace health promotion measures in social firms.

Balancing social and economic factors - explorative qualitative analysis of working conditions of supervisors in German social firms

BackgroundSocial firms are companies on the general labour market which provide employment to people with severe disabilities. In this setting different job resources are offered for its employees, including social support or flexibility in terms of working hours, tasks or pace of work. However, to date, only limited evidence exists on the work and health situation of supervisors in social firms. Therefore, the study aims to explore job demands and resources of supervisors in social firms to increase knowledge in a little researched field and to develop recommendations for action on workplace health promotion.MethodsSixteen semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with supervisors of social firms in the North of Germany within July and November 2020. Different sectors such as gastronomy or cleaning services as well as employment opportunities for people with different types of disabilities were included. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed following the qualitative content analysis according to Mayring (deductive-inductive approach).ResultsOverall, a heterogeneous composition was aimed for in terms of age and gender distribution (68.75% were male and between 32 and 60 years old). Supervisors reported various job demands in social firms, including for instance emotional demands, conflicts between social and economic objectives, conflict management, exposure to heat, heavy lifting or constant standing. In contrast, a high meaning of work, possibilities in shaping the structure of the social firm, social support of colleagues or the management and the provision of an ergonomic work environment were highlighted as job resources. Further person-related demands (e.g. own expectations) and resources (e.g. patience) were underlined as well.ConclusionFirst exploratory insights were provided with reference to job demands and resources for supervisors in social firms. The overview on working conditions underlines the significance of a supportive work environment taking structural and behavioural-related implications into account to reduce demands and strengthen resources. Further interventional research is needed regarding the development, testing and evaluation of workplace health promotion interventions in social firms.

What Effects Could Global Value Chain and Digital Infrastructure Development Policies Have on Poverty and Inequality after COVID-19?

It is clear that in the transition out of the COVID-19 crisis in Colombia there will be great need for formal job creation. One source that has been widely discussed in policy circles is strengthening linkages of Colombian firms with Global Value Chains (GVCs). Another source that has received recent attention, and deservedly so, is digital infrastructure development (DID)—which can boost telework and virtual human capital accumulation. Reduction in poverty and inequality through more and better formal employment is an important aspect of a jobs and economic transformation (JET) agenda. In this paper, we explore—through a computable general equilibrium model (CGE) and a microsimulation framework—to what extent reforms of the type envisioned in the JET agenda and which could generate GVC linkages, as well as through DID, for Colombia, and we project their impact on poverty and inequality up to 2030. Our findings show limited impact of the three types of policy changes considered for GVCs—namely (i) fall in barriers for seamless business logistics, (ii) reductions in tariffs, and (iii) lower barriers to foreign direct investment (FDI). The impact of DID on inequality is also moot. There is however a modest impact on poverty reduction in the combined policy of digital infrastructure with a boost in skilled labor. This finding can be linked to different factors. First, there are relatively few direct jobs created to benefit households with low levels of human capital. Second, there might be indirect job creation through backward linkages to local suppliers by firms linked to GVCs, but this effect would be a general equilibrium effect that our CGE model with a partial equilibrium microsimulation distributional module does not fully capture. Third, the positioning of Colombian firms to latch onto GVCs, and also generate demand for local intermediate inputs and services, is not optimal. Fourth, DID may generate more general labor market opportunities through telework and virtual learning expansions but could also induce larger wage gaps as the skill premium rises so that the net effect on inequality is ambiguous.

Workplace Health Promotion in German Social Firms-Offers, Needs and Challenges from the Perspectives of Employees, Supervisors and Experts.

On the general labor market, social firms provide 30–50% of people with different types of disabilities the opportunity to gain employment. However, the topic of workplace health promotion (WHP), needs for improvement and accompanied challenges are neglected in the current research and were the focus of the present study. Therefore, data triangulation was used between July and December 2020 by combining three focus groups with employees (n = 14 employees) with 16 interviews with supervisors from several social firms in Northern Germany (e.g., from catering, cleaning or bicycle repair sectors). 17 semi-structured telephone interviews with experts in the field of WHP or social firms were added. All approaches were audio-taped, transcribed and anonymized. To analyze the data, Mayring’s qualitative content analysis was used. The results indicated that several offers for WHP, including sport, nutrition and relaxation, were offered, as well as those on smoking cessation, cooperation with external organizations or training and education offers. Needs for improvement were stated referring to additional sport offers, support for implementing a healthy diet, offers for relaxation, financial incentives or collaborations with external organizations. A low take-up of offers; a lack of resources, structures or management support; compatibility of offers with work time and organization; challenges with available trainings or the consideration of individual needs and capacities were highlighted as challenges. Overall, there is a need for further interventional and longitudinal research on WHP in social firms.

Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia: A Case-based Approach

Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia: A Case-based Approach

КОМСОМОЛ В РАЗВИТИИ ЭКОНОМИКИ СТРАНЫ

The purpose of the article is to analyze the role of Komsomol in the implementation of economic transformations in the USSR in the second half of the 20th century. In the sixties, the economic reforms were begun. They were aimed at using economic management methods. The reforms were reasonable practical measures to stimulate the development of industry and agriculture in Sovi-et society. They implied changes in the man-agement structure, in the planning system, introduced new economic incentives. As a result of the research, the author draws the conclusion that the results of this process in the end, the producer's interest in both general and individual labor results, the emergence of mutual financial responsibility between economic entities, the development of inter-economic relations, and planning systems should have appeared.

Measuring the Impact of General Allocation Funds, Labor and Government Expenditures on Economic Growth

This study aims to analyze the effect of General Allocation Funds, Labor and Government Expenditures on Economic Growth in East Kotawaringin Regency. The research method used in this research is a descriptive-quantitative research approach. The analytical tool used in his study is multiple linear regression with the t test, F test, and the coefficient of determination test. The results of this study indicate that partially the variables of the General Allocation Fund and Government Expenditures have a significant effect on Economic Growth in East Kotawaringin Regency. While the Labor variable does not have a significant effect on Economic Growth in East Kotawaringin Regency. Simultaneously, the variables of the General Allocation Fund, Labor, and Government Expenditures together have an effect on the Economic Growth variable. The implications of this research include, among others, to encourage the economy of East Kotawaringin Regency, the general allocation fund should be increased for the advancement and improvement of economic growth as well as improving the quality of the Laborforce in the East Kotawaringin area.Keywords: Economic Growth; General Allocation Fund; Government Expenditure; Labor

“Nosotros, los de la CGT”: apuntes de la relación política entre Eva Perón y la central obrera

Eva Perón built her political power on very precise institutional pillars: the Feminine Peronist Party and the Eva Perón Foundation. Added to this was the symbiotic relationship with the General Labor Confederation. From the beginning, it stimulated the construction of her political power with clear benefits for both sides. At the same time, the labor union and its role in creating a political religion based on the use of a Christian vocabulary to define the political role of Evita. This article aims to reconstruct and analyze the influence of the CGT on the political leadership of Evita; the political competition with Perón and with other members of the Peronism.

Servants of Production: The Politics of Domestic Workers’ Labor Rights

AbstractPaid domestic workers are commonly excluded from general labor laws across the globe. This article unpacks the ideological structure underlying the legitimation of this widespread exclusion and how it is shifting. I examine transcripts of official debates in the International Labour Organization 1919–2014 and in Spain 1978–2018 that deal with how paid domestic work is treated in general labor regulations. I show that justifications for limiting domestic workers’ labor rights have shifted from using the separate spheres framework to leveraging notions of racialized hierarchies of skill that perpetuate the devaluation of domestic work despite offering greater recognition of labor rights.

THE ROLE OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AT THE LEVEL OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

Nowadays, the role of the majority of professional engineering communities, unfortunately, is devalued in Russia. It does not lead to the required development of engineering activities due to the disunity of individual specialists the lack of motivation to coordinated decision of professional issues, the lack of participation in the general professional labor market, the impossibility of direct communication with leaders in a particular field of knowledge, etc. The number of members in professional society with significant work experience is constantly decreasing. Professional communities that have not been able to build the structure of their work and become interesting for specialists usually disappear or have a formal status. The paper describes the successful world experience of the professional communities existence, considers the basic principles of the activities of such communities as: ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) and BGA (British Geotechnical Association). The success of these communities is evidenced by the fact that ASCE has unified a global community of engineers since 1852, with more than 150,000 members. The BGA has functioned since 1949 with over 60 collective members representing the UK's proponent geotechnical agencies. The advantages of membership in these societies for both professional engineers and students are given, including: rapid career growth supported by the community; active participation in the life of society, based on individual and social benefits; establishing personal contacts and obtaining first-hand information on topics of interest; great benefits or free membership for students; a large amount of events held under the auspices of ASCE and BGA , etc.

Episodes of contention, bonds of trust: the UGTT and ‘new’ trade union activism in post-Ben Ali Tunisia

ABSTRACT While labour unions in many places have been weakened by neoliberal policies and declining memberships, the continued importance of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) after the 2010–11 uprising is striking. Applying a strategic interactionist approach, this paper examines the UGTT's evolving role within this expanded political space, exploring how it has leveraged political openings and social crises to broaden its influence, and how Tunisia's new political landscape, marked by a surge in collective mobilization, has changed the goals and strategies of union leadership and activists. The executive branch has made the UGTT central to national governance, pressuring governments unresponsive to its demands, and positioning itself as an ever-present political actor fundamentally different from any the political parties. Meanwhile, militant unionists have enhanced horizontal cooperation, strengthened strategic interactions and engaged in joint collective action with other movements, adopting a more militant identity in support of their specific objectives.

What Makes Our Medical Laboratory Workforce Unique?

Abstract Introduction/Objective A career in the medical laboratory requires advanced education and technical training. To assist both employers and employees, several government organizations conduct demographic, education, and wage surveys for the general U.S. labor market. Through its workforce surveys, the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) does the same for the medical laboratory professions. Our aim was to compare the findings of these surveys and identify similarities and dissimilarities between the general labor pool and the medical laboratory workforce. Methods/Case Report Since the 2021 ASCP Wage survey is currently open, we reviewed the findings described in ASCP’s 2019 Wage Survey of Medical Laboratories in the United States (Am J Clin Pathol 2021;155:649-673) with the publicly available information (for 2019) on demographics, educational attainment, and average hourly earnings available on the websites of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) as well as United States Census (www.census.gov). Results (if a Case Study enter NA) In 2019, the male: female ratio was 52.9:47.1 in general labor pool and 19.1:80.9 in the medical laboratory workforce. The average age of a worker in the general labor pool was 41.9 years and was 42 years in the medical laboratory workforce. The average hourly earnings were $27.99/hour in the general labor pool and ranged from $16.64/hour (phlebotomists) to $53.95/hour (pathologists assistants) in the medical laboratory workforce, with the MLS/MT/CLS earning $30.02/hour to $52.53/hour. While 33.1% adults in the U.S. have attained a bachelor’s degree or above, 73.79% have attained this in the medical laboratory workforce. Conclusion Compared to the general labor pool, the medical laboratory workforce is a highly educated workforce and has a higher participation by women. The average worker age and average hourly wage are comparable. We encourage laboratorians to participate in ASCP surveys since such surveys reveal data that can drive better prospects for the medical laboratory workforce.

The Effect of Psychological Capital and Emotional Labor on Job Performance: A Study on Five Star Hotel Enterprises in Antalya

Service quality and customer satisfaction, which are basic goals of hotel enterprises, can be achieved by the high job performance of qualified staff. The focal point of this study was the key role that psychological capital and emotional labor play in high job performance. In this study, which aimed to determine the effect of psychological capital and emotional labor on job performance, the sample group consisted of 400 personnel employed by 16 five-star hotel enterprises operating in the centre of Antalya, specifically in the districts of Kemer and Alanya. The data collected by questionnaire technique were analysed by statistical techniques, such as frequency and percentage distribution, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, Pearson’s correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, independent samples t-test, and one-way analysis of variance. What is more, a factor analysis was administered for validity and reliability, and Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients were calculated. Obtained data suggested that the psychological capital levels of employees were positive above the medium level. The general emotional labor performance of employees was at the medium level. The job performance levels perceived by employees were high. As a result of the correlation analysis performed in the study, positive correlations were identified between psychological capital and emotional labor at r=0.529, psychological capital and job performance at r=0.717, and emotional labor and job performance at r=0.595. The regression analysis showed that one unit of change in the psychological capital caused an increase of 0.543 on the job performance, and a change of one unit in the psychological capital resulted in an increase of 0.712 on the job performance. In addition, according to the t-test and variance analysis results, while psychological capital, emotional labor, and job performance did not differ significantly according to gender, marital status, age, or education level, psychological capital levels of the hotel employees differed significantly according to their departments, and emotional labor performance differed significantly in line with their departments and working durations.

BENEFITS OF USING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN AN ACTIVITIES OF SPORTS TEACHERS

In this article highlighted effective methods of teaching foreign languages in the field of physical culture and sport. Apart from that, it was written that the major responsibility for each of them is to carry out the human-forming function, when the lesson atmosphere is one of general labor, relaxation, and favorable conditions for the assimilation of new physical exercises.

Rethinking Management Information Systems for Scaling up Employment Outcomes

People with intellectual disability, autism, and other developmental disabilities have successfully demonstrated their ability to work in the general labor market. Yet, their employment rate remains substantially lower compared with the general population without disabilities. Scaling up the employment outcomes of this population requires improving the effectiveness and efficiency of employment support systems. To this end, this article recommends supporting employment providers rethink how they use their management information systems (MIS): from primary tools that automate billing and compliance to tools that track metrics for continuous quality improvement. As federal and state funding policies are the main factors shaping how MIS are currently used, this article recommends that federal and state policy guidelines be issued that enable employment providers to leverage their MIS to improve effectiveness and efficiency, and thus scale up employment outcomes of job seekers.

National Evaluation of the Association Between Resident Labor Union Participation and Surgical Resident Well-being

Labor unions are purported to improve working conditions; however, little evidence exists regarding the effect of resident physician unions. To evaluate the association of resident unions with well-being, educational environment, salary, and benefits among surgical residents in the US. This national cross-sectional survey study was based on a survey administered in January 2019 after the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE). Clinically active residents at all nonmilitary US general surgery residency programs accredited by the American Council of Graduate Medical Education who completed the 2019 ABSITE were eligible for participation. Data were analyzed from December 5, 2020, to March 16, 2021. Presence of a general surgery resident labor union. Rates of labor union coverage among non-health care employees within a region were used as an instrumental variable (IV) for the presence of a labor union at a residency program. The primary outcome was burnout, which was assessed using a modified version of the abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory and was defined as experiencing any symptom of depersonalization or emotional exhaustion at least weekly. Secondary outcomes included suicidality, measures of job satisfaction, duty hour violations, mistreatment, educational environment, salary, and benefits. A total of 5701 residents at 285 programs completed the pertinent survey questions (response rate, 85.6%), of whom 3219 (56.5%) were male, 3779 (66.3%) were White individuals, 449 (7.9%) were of Hispanic ethnicity, 4239 (74.4%) were married or in a relationship, and 1304 (22.9%) had or were expecting children. Among respondents, 690 residents were from 30 unionized programs (10.5% of programs). There was no difference in burnout for residents at unionized vs nonunionized programs (297 [43.0%] vs 2175 [43.4%]; odds ratio [OR], 0.92 [95% CI, 0.75-1.13]; IV difference in probability, 0.15 [95% CI, -0.11 to 0.42]). There were no significant differences in suicidality, job satisfaction, duty hour violations, mistreatment, educational environment, salary, or benefits except that unionized programs more frequently offered 4 weeks instead of 2 to 3 weeks of vacation (27 [93.1%] vs 52 [30.6%]; OR, 19.18 [95% CI, 3.92-93.81]; IV difference in probability, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.09-1.45]) and more frequently offered housing stipends (10 [38.5%] vs 9 [16.1%]; OR, 2.15 [95% CI, 0.58-7.95]; IV difference in probability, 0.62 [95% CI 0.04-1.20]). In this evaluation of surgical residency programs in the US, unionized programs offered improved vacation and housing stipend benefits, but resident unions were not associated with improved burnout, suicidality, job satisfaction, duty hour violations, mistreatment, educational environment, or salary.

General Labour History of Africa: Workers, Employers and Governments, 20th–21st Century

General Labour History of Africa: Workers, Employers and Governments, 20th–21st Century

(In)capacité au travail ? Organisation et fonctionnement des ateliers pour personnes en situation de handicap en Allemagne

The article elaborates on the emergence of a new social category: the “worker incapable of working”, which has not yet been recognized in the scientific literature. In Germany, people excluded from the labour market are increasingly employed in workshops for people with disabilities due to what is defined as a total incapacity to work. In addition to the objective of labour market participation of people with disabilities, these workshops assume the aim of (re)establishing their performance and monitoring their reintegration into the general labour market. Changes in the profiles of people working in the workshops and their recent expansion are described, as well as the transformation of working processes and conditions, especially through digitalisation. The consequences of these transformations are studied within the framework of “activating” policies.