Government Employees Research Articles

Exploration of interpersonal relationship and job satisfaction towards the employees of the Sulu provincial government

Interpersonal relationships form the foundation for effective communication, teamwork, and collaboration, which are critical for achieving organizational goals. When employees maintain healthy relationships with their colleagues and supervisors, they are more likely to experience a sense of belonging, mutual respect, and support, which enhances their job satisfaction and overall well-being. This paper analyzed the quality of interpersonal relationship and job satisfaction of the local government employees in Sulu, Philippines. Employees (n=200) were conveniently sampled from 10 local government units (LGUs) in the province. Likert-scale was used to describe the interpersonal relationship and job satisfaction of the employees, as well as the challenges they experienced relevant to these aspects. Descriptive analysis indicated that the LGUs were very satisfactory in maintaining positive working environment. The employees also had high level of job satisfaction following effective communication, cooperation and collaboration measures, salary, and administrative support. Despite these, they were still expressed concerns about difference of family culture and practices, unequal distribution of workload, lack of incentives/awards, having little participation in policy-making activities, among other subtle challenges in work dynamics. This paper opens an opportunity to have inclusive and equitable environment—where cultural differences are acknowledged, workload distribution is fair, and employees feel recognized and involved in decision-making processes—the quality of the work environment can be further developed. Implementing policies that offer incentives and encourage more employee engagement in governance can help deepen job satisfaction and organizational loyalty.

Between gendered selfhood and patriarchal family: young women’s non-metropolitan education mobilities in urban north India

ABSTRACT The expansion and massification of higher education in India have enabled an increasingly diverse group of students to access these institutions. Tier-2 cities in urban north India have become major centres for young people’s including large number of young women’s educational aspirations and localised mobilities. The study found that families are deeply implicated in these women’s educational and aspirational desires. It also challenges existing studies that propose non-professional college degrees principally as improving women’s prospects in the marriage market. I show that for women students, non-professional undergraduate degrees are oriented toward government employment, not only the marriage market. This article shows the ambivalent nature of family in the lives of young women students in a tier-2 city of north India, which is enabling as well as restrictive. I show that women’s educational mobilities enable gendered autonomy to an extent, but at the same time keep them under the authority of the patriarchal family. I argue that in a context where the patriarchal family was instrumental in enabling mobility, young women students were negotiating with their families and patriarchal power structures to obtain some small measure of freedom in their futures. Based on ethnographic fieldwork with undergraduate women students in Prayagraj city, Uttar Pradesh, this article analyses the complex and contradictory social structures and the young women’s bargains with patriarchal family that shape their lives and educational aspirations.

Serving the Greater Good With Less: Survey Experiment on How Public Service Motivation Shapes Perception of Staff Shortages

Personnel shortages are presenting significant challenges for many municipalities, as well-qualified civil servants in smaller cities and non-urban areas leave their positions. Given this dynamic, understanding how local government employees perceive staff shortages is key to designing effective strategies for promoting staff well-being and productivity. This article analyzes the influence of public service motivation (PSM) on shaping the perceptions of job demand and resources in local governments, through an experimental design ( n = 120) and a survey of local government employees ( n = 414), and further interprets the findings through semi-structured interviews. The experiment results show evidence of bi-directional effects—activating PSM heightened the perceived severity of staff burnout, while simultaneously lowering the perceived need for increased manpower. These findings suggest that PSM may raise an individual’s expectations of their job, which is possibly associated with feelings of frustration with current demands in local government. Conversely, the reduced perception of the need for additional manpower may show an increased sense of responsibility toward the job and willingness to overstretch for the local communities they serve. The employee survey results show that perceptions of the causes and solutions of staff shortages vary depending on their managerial rank, years of experience, and marital status.

Comparing the Employability of Public and Private Employees: The Role of PSM and Red Tape in Linking Employability and Work Engagement

Although the employability of employees has increasingly become an issue for both public and private employers, the employability in especially public organizations is under pressure due to its relatively aging workforce compared to the private sector. Moreover, scholars argue that employability outcomes such as work engagement are particularly under pressure among public-sector employees relative to private-sector employees because public-sector employees have to deal with red tape and experience possible hindrance of their public service motivation (PSM). At the same time, these propositions are understudied, and scholars call for more contextualized research comparing the public and private sectors. This study therefore compares the moderating effects of PSM and red tape in the relationships between perceived employability and work engagement across the public and private sectors. Based on comparative structural equation modeling on samples of Dutch government employees ( N = 9,427) and private-sector employees ( N = 2,057), it is concluded that PSM undermines the relation between perceived internal and external employability and work engagement of both public- and private-sector employees, respectively. Moreover, red tape is less undermining for public-sector employees in the relationships between respectively perceived internal and external employability and work engagement than for private-sector employees. Based on the results, contributions are discussed.

Assessing Tax Literacy in Punjab: An Empirical Analysis of Government and Non-Government Employees

Assessing Tax Literacy in Punjab: An Empirical Analysis of Government and Non-Government Employees

Looking Pro-Environmental behaviors From Government Employees in Indonesia: The Role of Green Work Climate as a Mediating Variable

Research Aims: This study aims to analyse the effect of ethical leadership (EL) on pro-enviromental behaviour (PEB). In addition, this study also examines the mediating role of organisational commitment and green work climate (GWC) in determining this relationship. This research was conducted on permanent employees in Batu City Government Design/methodology/approach: The collected data were analysed using PLS analysis. EL positively and significantly influences PEB. In addition, organisational commitment plays a role in mediating the relationship between EL and PEB. Similarly, the analysis shows that GWC mediates the relationship between EL and PEB. This study is novel in that it analyses public service workers, whereas previous studies have focused on manufacturing companies or other institutions. Research Findings/Contribution: Leaders who have ethical values are likely to optimise employees to adopt PEB. Institutions should focus on maintaining organisational commitment and a GWC that supports sustainability so that it can be key in facilitating the influence of EL on PEB.

Linking workplace digitalization to work engagement: evidence from China public sector organizations

PurposeThe construction of “Digital Government” has greatly facilitated the workplace digitalization in the public sectors of China. Workplace digitalization has become a pervasive phenomenon in modern organizations, including the public sector. Existing research on the impact of workplace digitalization on individual behavior has yielded conflicting results, making the impact of workplace digitalization on employee work engagement remains a subject of debate and investigation. Based on the transactional theory of stress, this article aims to examine how workplace digitalization influences government employees’ work engagement through different appraisals (i.e., challenge and threat) and the moderating role of a personal trait (i.e., digital literacy).MethodsStructured questionnaires and a three-wave research design were used to collect data. A total of 290 employees from public organizations in Guangdong Province, in China, participated in the study. SPSS and MPLUS were used to analyze the data using the latest bootstrapping and process macro techniques.ResultsThe results show that workplace digitalization can produce both beneficial and detrimental impacts on work engagement of government employees via challenge and threat appraisals, respectively. The digital literacy of government employees was confirmed to moderate the impacts of perceived workplace digitalization on stress appraisals (i.e., challenge and threat).ConclusionOur study proposes a theoretical framework that explain the mixed impacts of workplace digitalization on government employees’ work engagement via challenge and threat appraisals. It also offers practical suggestions to public sector and managers on how to balance the challenge and threat aspects of digitalization in the workplace.

Competency Gaps Among Governmental Public Health Employees With and Without a Formal Public Health Degree: Where Are We Now?

The purpose of this study is to examine whether differences in self-reported core competency skill gaps among U.S. governmental public health workers with and without a formal degree in public health have changed since the last assessment in 2017. This cross-sectional study utilizes data from the 2021 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS). Bivariate relationships were analyzed by conducting chi-square tests of respondents' supervisory level and reported skill gaps. Multivariate logistic regressions of reported skill gaps were performed holding gender, age, race/ethnicity, public health certificate attainment, role type, current employer, and tenure in public health practice constant. A nationally representative sample of U.S. government public health employees. 36,752U.S. governmental public health employees across local and state health agencies representing 47 states. Self-reported competency skills gaps. In 2021, among both nonsupervisors and supervisors, having a formal public health degree (bachelors, masters, or doctorate) was significantly associated with reduced odds of reporting a skill gap across more than half of the competency skills assessed (14 of 23 skills and 17 of 24 skills, respectively). Nonsupervisors and supervisors with a formal public health degree had fewer skill gaps in 2021 than in 2017. Furthermore, whereas in 2017, when having a public health degree had no effect on executives reporting a skill gap, in 2021, having a public health degree was significantly associated with reduced odds of reporting 2 skill gaps. Overall, across all position levels (ie, nonsupervisory, supervisor, executive), public health workers with a public health degree experienced fewer competency skill gaps in 2021 than in 2017. These findings from PHWINS 2021 illustrate that formal public health education generally decreases competency gaps across numerous competency domains. However, the variability in reported gaps across supervisory levels shows the need for ongoing evaluation and adaptation of formal public health degree programs.

The Role of Public Expenditure and Employment Opportunity to Stimulate the Development of an Economy: Reference from PMG-ARDL Model

The study investigates the influence of public expenditure and employment opportunity in the presence of two control variables [namely foreign direct investment (FDI) and industrialization] in the economy of 23 developed and 38 developing countries across the world during the period 2000–2021. Pooled data of 61 countries is also taken into consideration. The study employs the panel autoregressive distributed lag model for the empirical results. The long-run estimation result implies that government spending adversely influences the economic expansion of entire and developing countries, but the impact is insignificant for the developed countries. This outcome does not validate the view of Wagner and Keynes on the importance of public spending for economic progress. The variable employment opportunity flourishes the economic expansion in the long run for all three types of data sets. Apart from these exogenous variables, impact of foreign investment and industrialization is positive in the long term. Panel causality test documents bidirectional causal relationship of economic development with the government expenditure (GE) and employment opportunity in all types of sample sets. Therefore, effective and liberal policies concerning industrialization and foreign investment are necessary, which will also create employment opportunities and assist in attaining the targets of sustainable development goals.

The Influence of E-Banking Service Quality Dimensions and E-Trust on E-Satisfaction and Its Impact on E-Customer Loyalty through E-Customer Satisfaction as an Intervening Variable in the Bank Jago Application in Indonesia

Over the course of the past year, the electronic banking sector in Indonesia has encountered significant expansion. However, a paradox arises: despite numerous grievances over the quality of e-services, it does not impair electronic trust or satisfaction. The research. examines how various factors impact certain elements of Electronic-service Quality and E-Trust on E-Customer Loyalty, either directly or indirectly through E-Customer Satisfaction variable, specifically focused on the Bank Jago application. A purposive sample method was used to pick a total of 230 respondents who use the Bank Jago app in Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek). Survey participants evaluated their views using a five-point scale across a total of 44 items. Analysis of data was conducted using PLS-SEM methods with SmartPLS ver 4. The outcomes of this study imply that E-Customer Satisfaction is not considerably affected by Site Organization, Reliability, Efficiency, and User Friendliness. However, Personal Needs, Responsiveness, and E-Trust have a major impact. The correlation on E-Trust and E-Customer Satisfaction and E-Customer Loyalty is favorable. This paper proposes methodology to augment loyalty within the expanding digital banking sector. This study's generalizability is limited to the digital banking industry, particularly focusing on Bank Jago. Furthermore, other significant determinants of E-Customer Loyalty, which were not explored in this study, warrant further examination. Subsequent research study suggested to test the Research approach within various industries or companies to expand the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, incorporating additional factors as independent variables impacting E-Customer Satisfaction would enhance understanding and broaden the model's applicability. Lastly, the study predominantly involved respondents from the private sector, suggesting future research should include a more diverse range of occupational backgrounds, such as students, government employees, or professionals, to provide a more comprehensive perspective on customer satisfaction.

“We’re all in the same storm, but not all of us are in the same boat”: qualitative exploration of UK response-focused civil servants experiences of working from home during COVID-19

IntroductionThe experiences of UK Government response-focused employees, who were considered frontline workers during the coronavirus response, are missing from current literature. Meeting the demands of being on the frontline, whilst also adjusting from a normal and practiced way of working to having to work from within one’s home, may bring a plethora of new barriers and facilitators associated with providing an effective pandemic response.MethodThis interview study collected and analysed data from 30 UK Civil servants who worked on the COVID-19 pandemic response from their own homes. Interviews aimed to: (1) explore UK Government employee’s experiences of working from home whilst contributing to the pandemic response; and, (2) establish what support and guidance employees were offered, and what they would recommend for future public health emergencies requiring homeworking.ResultsSeven themes were extracted from the data: overall experience of working from home; preparedness for working from home; experience of contributing to the response effort; work life balance; relationships with colleagues; space and equipment; and, inclusivity. Findings suggested that during the pandemic, participants reported feeling a strong sense of purpose and achievement for contributing to the response. But, the work was demanding, particularly for those who had to rapidly, and unexpectedly, transition from office or lab work to home working. More generally, the nature of their homeworking experience depended on a range of practical (e.g., space in the home), organisational (e.g., relationships with managers) and personal factors (e.g., caring responsibilities). Many participants were underprepared to work from home, but participants provided a plethora of information relating to what support offers they would find useful during future work on the frontline from their own homes.ConclusionThe results of this study demonstrate that frontline UK Civil servants may need more tailored and flexible multilevel support (i.e., from peers, managers, organisations) during future public health emergencies when they are required to work from home. A series of data-informed recommendations are created and discussed.

Testing an integrated approach for managing roof rats in citrus orchards.

Roof rats (Rattus rattus) are a substantial pest throughout citrus crops, yet little is known about efficacious, cost-effective strategies to manage this rodent. Therefore, we developed two integrated pest management (IPM) programs that incorporated elevated bait stations containing diphacinone-treated oats and trapping, and we compared those programs to a bait-station only approach to determine which strategies were most practical for the management of roof rats in citrus orchards. Bait applications substantially reduced rat activity within orchards. However, our initial IPM approach that used a combination of baiting, snap trapping and Goodnature® A24 traps were not successful at keeping rats from rapidly repopulating. A second IPM strategy that relied on baiting and more extensive snap trapping was effective at reducing rat activity up to, and likely beyond, a 6-month treatment period. Although baiting by itself was less expensive than IPM plots, the difference in cost between baiting and the IPM approach that used only baiting and snap trapping should be minimal during long-term management programs. The high efficacy of a management program that incorporates an initial bait application, followed by a long-term snap-trapping program, should yield effective management of roof rats in citrus orchards. © 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

A Study on National Pension Scheme for Government Employees and Challenges

A Study on National Pension Scheme for Government Employees and Challenges

The Challenges Faced by Trade Unions in Improving Employee Welfare and Strategies to Address Them: A Case of the Tanzania Union of Government and Health Employees (TUGHE) at the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF)

This study explored the challenges trade unions face in improving employee welfare and strategies to curb them drawing from the functions of the Tanzania Union of Government and Health Employees (TUGHE) in the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). The study used the Scarcity Consciousness Theory which advocates that individuals' or groups’ perception of the insufficiency of resources influences their decision making. The study employed a case study design and specifically the qualitative approach. The targeted population was the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) employees at Dodoma Municipality, whose estimated number was two hundred and sixteen (216). A sample of one hundred and twenty (120) TUGHE participants was selected using probability and non-probability sampling techniques. Data was collected using a questionnaire and interview. In data analysis specifically, content analysis coupled with simple descriptive statistics was applied. The findings indicated that in improving employees' welfare at NHIF, TUGHE officers face high expectations from employees, pressure from members, misunderstanding, high deduction fees, and lack of office space. As the strategies to overcome these challenges, the trade union provides education, engages in negotiations, ensures transparency, and organizes meetings and discussions. The study concludes that TUGHE should maintain transparency in its decision-making processes, should strengthen financial management, and communication among members. The study recommends the enhancement of communication channels, advocacy for legal protections, and regular meetings as ways to overcome the challenges and improve the employees’ welfare in the workplace.

Exploring the Impact of E-Governance on Public Sector Efficiency and Accountability in Local Governments: A Case of Kinondoni and Ubungo Municipalities in Tanzania

This study explores the impact of e-governance in enhancing service delivery efficiency and transparency in decision-making within local governments, specifically in Kinondoni and Ubungo municipalities in Tanzania. The theoretical foundation of this study was built upon two key frameworks: Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT) and Principal-Agent Theory. This study used a descriptive research design and a quantitative approach. A stratified random sample of 300 participants (government employees and citizens) completed structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis with SPSS software. Secondary data from government reports and policy documents supplemented the primary data to provide additional context. The findings indicate that e-governance significantly improved service delivery and transparency by reducing paper-based processes, speeding up services, and minimizing errors. Regression coefficients of 0.762 for efficiency and 0.735 for transparency were statistically significant (p < .001), with baseline constants of 1.173 and 1.249, respectively, prior to e-governance implementation. The respondents also reported that digital platforms have enhanced citizen engagement and made government operations more accessible. The study concludes that e-governance is a key factor in improving the efficiency of public services and the transparency of decision-making processes in local governments. Recommendations include further expansion of digital platforms, increased digital literacy, and stronger data security measures to maximize the benefits of e-governance.

Implementation of Government Employees with Employment Agreements Policy in Teacher Functional Positions in the Gorontalo Province

This study aims to determine and analyze the level of compliance, smoothness of routine functions, performance and desired impacts on the Implementation of the study assignment policy for ASN in the Gorontalo Provincial Government. This study uses a qualitative research method and for data collection the researcher combines interviews, documentation and observation. To analyze the data, the researcher uses the opinion of Miles and Huberman, namely data collection, data reduction, data display and conclusions. The results of the study show (1) The implementation of the PPPK teacher procurement policy in Gorontalo shows positive compliance from the implementer, although it still faces obstacles such as limited resources, slow verification, and applicant administrative errors, so that increased coordination and awareness of the rules are needed; (2) The implementation of the PPPK teacher procurement policy in Gorontalo is running positively by involving BKD and ASN, although it faces challenges such as errors in proposing needs and inappropriate placements, so improvements are needed to achieve optimal equity and quality of education; (3) The success of the implementation of the PPPK teacher policy in Gorontalo was assessed as good in terms of the performance of the implementers, such as the transparency of the BKD in the selection, but the impact was not optimal due to inaccurate data on teacher needs, so an evaluation was needed to improve the equality and quality of education.

Salivary Caries-Related Microorganisms and Demographics of a Group of Children

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the association between caries related microorganisms in children’s saliva, such as Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli, and their demographic factors. Methods: This study involved a sample of 135, both sexes with an age range between 3 and 10 years. Unstimulated saliva was obtained and diluted in normal saline. Saliva was then placed in selective media. Salivaris agar was used for mutans streptococci while Rogosa agar for lactobacilli. After incubation, Streptococcus mutans counting of CFU (colony forming units) with morphology characterization and numbers of CFU per milliliter of saliva for lactobacilli. Demographic factors information was collected using a questionnaire. Results: Both studied salivary microorganisms increased with age. Streptococcus mutans was higher in boys, and associated with breastfeeding, overweight, and not brushing their teeth. Lactobacilli were higher in girls, and associated with mothers who were government employee, mother occupation, children who during sleep were not nursed, and with normal weight. Conclusion: The present study found an association between salivary Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli and various demographic variables in a group of children.

DNA methylation patterns are influenced by Pax3::Foxo1 expression and developmental lineage in rhabdomyosarcoma tumours forming in genetically engineered mouse models.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a family of phenotypically myogenic paediatric cancers consisting of two major subtypes: fusion-positive (FP) RMS, most commonly involving the PAX3::FOXO1 fusion gene, formed by the fusion of paired box 3 (PAX3) and forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) genes, and fusion-negative (FN) RMS, lacking these gene fusions. In humans, DNA methylation patterns distinguish these two subtypes as well as mutation-associated subsets within these subtypes. To investigate the biological factors responsible for these methylation differences, we profiled DNA methylation in RMS tumours derived from genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) in which various driver mutations were introduced into different myogenic lineages. Our unsupervised analyses of DNA methylation patterns in these GEMM tumours yielded two major clusters, corresponding to high and no/low expression of Pax3::Foxo1, which mirrored the results for human FP and FN RMS tumours. Two distinct methylation-defined subsets were found for GEMM RMS tumours with no/low Pax3::Foxo1 expression: one subset enriched in Pax7 lineage tumours and a second subset enriched in myogenic factor 5 (Myf5) lineage tumours. Integrative analysis of DNA methylation and transcriptomic data in mouse and human RMS revealed a common group of differentially methylated and differentially expressed genes, highlighting a conserved set of genes functioning in both human RMS models and GEMMs of RMS. In conclusion, these studies provide insight into the roles of oncogenic fusion proteins and developmental lineages in establishing DNA methylation patterns in FP and FN RMS respectively. © 2025 The Author(s). The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Laser scarecrows reduce avian corn-foraging propensity but not bout length in aviary trials.

Behavioral mechanisms underlying avian deterrence by lasers in sweet corn are not known, and we evaluated them in a rigorous aviary experiment. Eighteen flocks of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) foraged on sweet corn for several days in control and laser treated plots with ripe sweet corn while data were collected on where birds were distributed and how long birds foraged on corn. In 16 trials, fresh ears were presented on wooden sticks, and in two trials birds foraged on natural corn grown from seed. Birds were sexed and boldness scores were obtained. We predicted that (a) birds would avoid foraging on ears in laser plots and (b) if they did feed, lasers would reduce foraging bout duration. Laser treatments reduced the probability that birds would feed on sweet corn ears, and to a striking degree in Natural Trials. We did not detect direct effects of laser exposure on foraging bout duration, but when corn foliage was low, bolder birds foraged longer in laser plots. We provide the first quantification of bird foraging behavior in laser treated corn. The central mechanism underlying the effectiveness of laser scarecrows at reducing sweet corn damage is the prevention of settlement of depredating birds onto ripe ears. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Prevalence and impact of exploding head syndrome in a Japanese working population.

Exploding head syndrome (EHS) is a parasomnia characterized by the perception of loud noises, or explosions inside the head during the sleep-to-wake transition. The prevalence of EHS remains unclear. This survey aimed to elucidate the prevalence of and factors associated with EHS in this cohort. As part of the Night in Japan Home Sleep Monitoring Study (NinjaSleep study), a cross-sectional survey was conducted among government employees in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan, in 2022. Participants were queried regarding their experiences with EHS as defined in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 3rd Edition, including sudden loud noises or sensations of explosions, subsequent abrupt awakenings and feelings of fright. Various standardized instruments were employed to evaluate depression, anxiety, insomnia, quality of life, and fatigue. Of the 2081 employees invited to participate, 1878 completed the survey. After excluding respondents with epilepsy and incomplete responses, 1843 participants were deemed eligible for analysis. Among them, 46 (2.49%) reported experiencing sudden noises or sensations of explosions, with 23 (1.25%) meeting the diagnostic criteria for EHS. The EHS was significantly related to the scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Athens Insomnia Scale, and Chalder Fatigue Scale, even after adjusting for age, sex, BMI and categorized mean sleep duration. This study elucidates the prevalence of EHS among the Japanese population and underscores its potential association with insomnia symptoms and various psychological factors.