Improve Workplace Productivity Research Articles

PRS61 - Can Improved Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis Improve Workplace Productivity? The Role of Intranasal Formulation of Azelastine Hydrochloride and Fluticasone Propionate (Dymista)

PRS61 - Can Improved Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis Improve Workplace Productivity? The Role of Intranasal Formulation of Azelastine Hydrochloride and Fluticasone Propionate (Dymista)

Decision support model for introduction of gamification solution using AHP.

Gamification means the use of various elements of game design in nongame contexts including workplace collaboration, marketing, education, military, and medical services. Gamification is effective for both improving workplace productivity and motivating employees. However, introduction of gamification is not easy because the planning and implementation processes of gamification are very complicated and it needs interdisciplinary knowledge such as information systems, organization behavior, and human psychology. Providing a systematic decision making method for gamification process is the purpose of this paper. This paper suggests the decision criteria for selection of gamification platform to support a systematic decision making process for managements. The criteria are derived from previous works on gamification, introduction of information systems, and analytic hierarchy process. The weights of decision criteria are calculated through a survey by the professionals on game, information systems, and business administration. The analytic hierarchy process is used to derive the weights. The decision criteria and weights provided in this paper could support the managements to make a systematic decision for selection of gamification platform.

OP0107 Improvements in Work and Household Productivity after 24 Weeks of Certolizumab Pegol in Treatment of Axial Spondyloarthritis Patients, Including Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: Results of Rapid-Axspa Study

BackgroundAxial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) includes both ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and axSpA with no definitive sacroiliitis on X-ray (non-radiographic axSpA, nr-axSpA). AS significantly affects patients’ (pts) work productivity.1 The impact of the...

Study Case: Yellow Tag vs Quality Management

5S is a common tool for improving workplace productivity, quality, throughput and safety. Many companies implementing Lean Manufacturing start with a series of 5S events to remove the workplace and improve workflows between processes. Predominantly used in the manufacturing sector, they can now be found deployed in diverse industries such as banking, mining, construction and many other industries. The S pillars are available in order to improve because waste must be made visible. When it is visible, we must learn to see. Part of a Lean Manufacturing organization is to expose waste and then to systematically attack it. 5S is used to manage the work area more effectively and should not be confused with other programs such as TPM (total productive maintenance) that are more machine and equipment focused, even though the concepts are similar.

Yoga for reducing perceived stress and back pain at work

Stress and back pain are two key factors leading to sickness absence at work. Recent research indicates that yoga can be effective for reducing perceived stress, alleviating back pain, and improving psychological well-being. To determine the effectiveness of a yoga-based intervention for reducing perceived stress and back pain at work. Participants were recruited from a British local government authority and randomized into a yoga group who received one 50 min Dru Yoga session each week for 8 weeks and a 20 min DVD for home practice and a control group who received no intervention. Baseline and end-programme measurements of self-reported stress, back pain and psychological well-being were assessed with the Perceived Stress Scale, Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale. There were 37 participants in each group. Analysis of variance and multiple linear regression showed that in comparison to the control group, the yoga group reported significant reductions in perceived stress and back pain, and a substantial improvement in psychological well-being. When compared with the control group at the end of the programme, the yoga group scores were significantly lower for perceived stress, back pain, sadness and hostility, and substantially higher for feeling self-assured, attentive and serene. The results indicate that a workplace yoga intervention can reduce perceived stress and back pain and improve psychological well-being. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the broader efficacy of yoga for improving workplace productivity and reducing sickness absence.

Predictors and economic burden of serious workplace falls in health care

To examine the demographic and workplace risk factors of serious falls and associated economic burden in Canadian health care workers. Fall injury data during 2005-2008 from a workplace health and safety surveillance system were linked with workers' compensation claims and payroll records. The costs for treatment and wage loss and days lost for accepted time-loss claims were calculated. Demographic and work-related factors were identified to distinguish the risk for more serious falls from less serious falls. Nine hundred and thirty-eight fall injury claims were captured among 48 519 full-time equivalent workers. Workers >60 years, part time or employed in the long-term care sector sustained a higher proportion of serious falls (>70%). Over 75% of falls were serious for care aides, facility support service workers and community health workers. In the multivariate analysis, the risk of serious falls remained higher for workers in the long-term care sector [odds ratio (OR) 1.71; P < 0.05] compared with those in acute care and for care aides (OR 1.72; P < 0.05), facility support service workers (OR 2.58; P < 0.01) and community health workers (OR 3.61; P < 0.001) compared with registered nurses (RNs). The median number of days lost was higher for females, long-term care workers, licensed practical nurses and care aides. Females, long-term care workers, RNs, licensed practical nurses, care aides and maintenance workers had the most costly falls. Reducing work-related serious fall injuries would be expected to bring about significant benefits in terms of reduced pain and suffering, improved workplace productivity, reduced absenteeism and reduced compensation costs.

Workplace impact of social networking

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the impact of social networking in the workplace and to assess its use as an effective business tool.Design/methodology/approachThe paper examines positive and negative perceptions of social networking in the workplace and provides a critical review of literature in the area. The drivers of, and barriers to, change are explored, and whether the reasons for some organisations prohibiting or restricting social networking in the workplace are well‐founded or corporate suicide. The link between social networking and organisational culture is examined, looking at whether social networking tools are capable of revitalising and reshaping the culture and brand of an organisation, which in turn can lead to better ways of working and increased levels of employee productivity and satisfaction.FindingsThe findings indicate that the business advantages and benefits of social networking in the workplace are still very much underappreciated and undervalued. Although some organisations across the world have started to implement some of the facets of social networking technology and reap the business benefits, fear, resistance and risk are the opinions that still dominate many organisations.Originality/valueThe value of social networking technology in the workplace is yet to be determined. This paper addresses gaps in the current literature and demonstrates that the business benefits of social networking far outweigh the negative perceptions that are still predominant in the pre‐millennial generations. The paper highlights that social networking technology can facilitate improved workplace productivity by enhancing the communication and collaboration of employees which aids knowledge transfer and consequently makes organisations more agile. Moreover, social networking can provide enhanced levels of employee satisfaction by reducing the social isolation of teleworkers and making them feel part of organisational culture during long absences from the physical office.

Decision Latitude and Workload Demand: Implications for Full and Partial Absenteeism

This research examined the relative importance of two components of job stress--decision latitude and workload demand--on employee absenteeism. The analysis was based on confidential self-reported data from employees at two worksites, which were collected in three independent cross-sections beginning in 1995. The negative binomial technique was used to estimate the effects of decision latitude and workload demand on employee attendance, while controlling for employee demographics and other workplace characteristics. Estimation results show that high decision latitude was negatively and significantly related to number of full days absent from work (full absenteeism) and number of days arriving late to work or leaving work early (partial absenteeism). Conversely, the coefficient estimates for low decision latitude were positive in every model and significantly related to partial absenteeism. Low workload demand was negatively and significantly related to partial absenteeism, but not full days absent. The interaction effects of decision latitude and workload demand on absenteeism were not statistically significant. Several recent studies have estimated a significant relationship between decision latitude, workload demand, and medical problems such as cardiovascular disease. The current findings suggest that decision latitude and workload demand are also related to workplace attendance. Employers and occupational hygienists should consider decision latitude and workload demand as a means to improve workplace productivity and employee health.

Researchers Dissect the Tick and Tock of the Human Body's Master Clock

KNOWLEDGE about the body's biological clock may help both those who can't sleep and those who can't stay awake. It may permit travelers to avoid jet lag, improve workplace productivity, and reduce industrial and traffic mishaps caused by dips in alertness in the early morning hours. Clock research also may enable physicians to improve patient care by adding a new dimension—body time—to clinical decision making. Researchers recently reflected on what they know and where they're going. A 2-day symposium to mark the 25th anniversary of the discovery that the biological clock resides in a pair of islands of neurons within the hypothalamus, collectively called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) for its location just above the optic junction, drew 150 scientists and students to Harvard Medical School in August. Some 19 authors of key SCN papers agreed to discuss their work and recent advances in the field—every one of those invited to

Award Restructuring, Workplace Reform and the Changing Nature of Australian Industrial Relations

AbstractThis paper examines the changes taking place in Australian industrial relations. It takes as its starting point the policy objective of improving workplace productivity and examines the impact of reforms on this objective using Lewin’s framework for the analysis of change and a mining operation as a case study. The paper suggests that the reforms are only facilitative and this exposes a reliance on management for the achievement of the policy objective. The dominance of managerial perspective changes the fundamental nature of the industrial relations system and raises several important policy considerations, in particular issues relating to the recognition of trade unions.