Job Conditions Research Articles

“Who am I?” Exploring Temporary workers' Integration in Multi‐Employment‐Type Organizations From the Identity Threat Perspective

ABSTRACTThis study aims to advance current understanding concerning situational cues that trigger identity threat at the workplace among temporary workers and associated effects on their integration outcomes in the flexible employment scenario. We used the social identity threat theory to empirically investigate the impact of the extent to which regular employees' job conditions are superior to those of temporary workers on these workers' outcomes, through the identity threat. In addition, we examined the moderating role of organizations' social integration practices. We conducted two empirical studies involving technical temporary workers in Chinese companies, in which we used polynomial regression analyses and response surface modeling. In Study 1, using a two‐wave time‐lagged design, we analyzed data from 480 temporary workers, and in Study 2, using a three‐wave time‐lagged multi‐source dyadic design, we analyzed matching data from 371 temporary workers and 64 supervisors. Our findings indicate that the extent to which regular employees' job conditions surpass those of temporary workers is positively associated with identity threat among the latter, increasing their turnover intention and undermining their job performance. Moreover, temporary workers' perceptions of their organizations' social integration practices weaken the effects of the extent to which regular employees' job conditions surpass those of temporary workers. Thus, this study contributes to related literature on social identity threat and temporary workers, and to practice, by offering offers insightful implications for managers to effectively manage this threat.

Why do we still feel drained even in meaningful work? unveiling the negative impact of job insecurity among Korean counselors

ABSTRACT The issue of psychological burnout in most workplaces is a significant concern. Despite organizational psychology efforts to alleviate burnout by emphasizing high-quality job conditions such as meaning and calling, discussions often overlook the impact of job insecurity. Given recent approaches’ tendency to neglect fundamental lower-level needs, this study aimed to explore the negative effects of psychological burnout on workers, focusing on subjective job insecurity. Counselors, who have been recognized for experiencing high psychological burnout, comprised our study with 420 finalized responses out of 450 collected. Data analysis encompassed the utilization of SPSS 29.0, Amos 29.0, and SmartPLS 4.0, with a specific focus on exploring mediating and moderating effects of variables. The findings unveiled that job insecurity weakened the previously observed negative indirect impact of work meaning on psychological burnout through living a calling. This observation suggests that as job insecurity intensifies, the alleviating effect of living a calling on burnout diminishes. This study reaffirms the link between work meaning and psychological burnout, emphasizing the mediating role of living a calling among South Korean counsellors. The results underscore the necessity of organizational interventions to promote meaningful work, facilitate personal calling, and ensure job security, thereby preventing or mitigating burnout.

How do working conditions change for in-person versus digital work? The case of schoolteachers

Abstract Background Telework has significantly increased in Europe and internationally in the aftermath of COVID-19 lockdowns, with estimates of 22% of Europeans now doing some form of telework. However, it is unclear how working conditions for the same job differ when work is conducted in-person versus digitally, and if occupational health risks can be considered as equal across formats. Our study addressed the profession of school teaching to examine online working conditions versus those for in-person teaching. Methods To allow for close consideration of employment contexts, a qualitative study was conducted. Focus groups and interviews took place in 2023-24 with 45 teachers and tutors who teach from kindergarten to secondary grades across Canada. Results We found that online teaching added to emotional labour of teaching work and involved new occupational exposures. These included challenges with engaging students via cameras and microphones, digital surveillance of teachers by parents and students, unwanted exposure to students’ intimate home lives, and technostress. Conclusions The work of being an online teacher was very different than teaching in-person, yet there has been slow recognition of working condition differences for understanding of OHS exposures and for collective agreements. Key messages • In the context of a significant expansion of telework, assumptions cannot be made that the job conditions and exposures are the same job when performed in-person or at-home. • These differences will need to be recognized in job agreements and occupational risk assessments.

Mental health support for healthcare workers: what is it about governance and policy implementation

Abstract Background We adopt a health system and governance perspective to address the mental health needs of healthcare workers, considering the nature of interventions and the levels and actors involved in governance. The aim is to move the debate forward by identifying governance gaps hampering the implementation of health workforce policies and exploring strategies to effectively increase mental health support. Methods A qualitative comparative methodology is applied based on a case study design utilising a multi-level intersectoral governance matrix. The assessment matrix comprises four key categories: health policy and data, social policy and psycho-social conditions, organisation of work, and job and professional conditions. We conducted a rapid assessment of healthcare workforce developments in the European context, drawing on secondary sources and country experts. The country sample comprises Germany, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Results Awareness of mental health threats among healthcare workers increased, but policy discourse is driven by service delivery and labour market demands. The attention to healthcare workers’ needs is stronger on the international level especially supported by WHO action, and weakest at national/regional levels. Although organisations and professions demonstrate varying degrees of activity, their efforts are scattered and lack sustainability. Similar challenges were identified across healthcare systems, including limited action, disconnected actors, missing coordination, and a lack of attention to governance gaps and system weaknesses. Conclusions There are similar problems across countries. Mental health policy is driven by labour market needs and ignores research evidence and the individual needs. Successful mental health policy implementation needs multi-level governance and coherent coordination mechanisms, and generally greater attention to the ‘human side’ of the healthcare workforce. Speakers/Panelists Sara Alidina Central Administration of the Health System, Lisbon, Portugal Tomas Zapata WHO/Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark

Analysis of Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention According to the Characteristics of Forest Industry Workers

The forest industry is a key sector in South Korea, significantly contributing to the national economy. Despite the growth of the forest industry, workers often face physically demanding tasks, high job stress, and factors reducing job satisfaction, such as remote locations and limited career opportunities. This study analyzes differences in job satisfaction and turnover intentions among forest industry workers based on socio-demographic and job characteristics. A survey of 654 workers across various sectors—including production, processing, retail, transportation, leisure, and services—was conducted. The data were analyzed using t-tests and ANOVA. The results indicate that job satisfaction and turnover intentions significantly vary with age, education, income, employment type, workplace location, and working days. The workers with graduate degrees reported lower job satisfaction and higher turnover intentions. The non-regular employees and field workers exhibited lower job satisfaction and higher turnover intentions. The findings suggest that improving job conditions, creating quality positions for highly educated workers, and providing stable employment could enhance job satisfaction and reduce turnover intentions in the forest industry, aiding workforce retention and sustainability.

Issues of efficiency of financing the agricultural sector

In many economically developed countries, state support, financial investments in the agricultural industry, increasing productivity and profitability, ensuring the availability of food are the main factors of economic growth, first of all, employment of the population. Purpose - the main problems of financing the agro-industrial complex of the republic and scientific approaches to their solution are considered. Methods - comparative analysis, synthesis, monographic, logical evaluation to determine the mechanisms affecting the effectiveness of state aid and investment. Results - the article analyzes the sources of budgetary allocation of the agrarian sector. The significance of the implementation of targeted programs aimed at improving the quality of life of rural residents through price, tax, leasing mechanisms, soft loans and subsidies is shown. The study presents information for 2018-2022, supplemented by the data of the National Project on the development of agro-industrial complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2021-2025, including the total volume of agro-industrial production and the size of capital investments. The study notes the need to increase the volume of domestic processing industry, allowing agricultural producers to expand the market for products, create conditions for new jobs, attract investment, and contribute to economic and social stability. Conclusions - specialization of rural areas, development of technical map and related organization of production in promising villages and district centers, increase in exports, distribution of online services are strategic directions of development of food complex, economic activity of agroformations. The use of external resources gives an opportunity to improve financial results, and farms - to increase income from core activities. When planning large investments in agricultural projects, one of the key criteria is the choice of capital structure to support the investment process.

POLICY ANALYSIS OF HUMAN FACTORS AND SOCIAL INNOVATION IN EU EASI PROGRAMME REPORTS (2015-2022)

Purpose. The Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI), launched by the EU (European Union), represents a financial instrument with the objective of addressing a range of policy analysis areas, as follows: (I) social protection and innovation; (II) social exclusion and social policies; (III) living and working conditions; and (IV) employment, job conditions, mobility, and social entrepreneurship settings under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). Objectives. Therefore, the current research aims to structure and analyse in a comparative framework a wide range of EU policies and governance applied to the EaSI reports launched in the period 2015-2022, considering the policy context, key actors, policy content, legal instruments, implementation and governance structures and impact assessment of societal challenges, the role of human factors and the need for social innovation. Methodology. The analysis utilises both quantitative and qualitative methods, building on the comparative legal analysis and developing a triple evaluation: social, economic and political. In order to monitor and review the policy outcomes contained in the EaSI reports, the current study will use the Text-Based Diagramming of the programme Mermaid v10.9.0 Live Editor. Results and findings. The results of the analysis will evaluate and measure the extent to which the three EaSI reports launched in the period 2015-2022 have met the requirements of social innovation by assessing the policy and governance implementation mechanisms and tracking the relevance of two determinants: EU societal challenges and human factors. Conclusion. The framework of the EaSI reports provides the evaluation findings on multi-level policy and strategy approaches and summarises the findings and broader perspectives of the three reports on the effectiveness of social innovation governance. The research findings highlight the societal challenges in the EU, the interdisciplinary circumstances and the evidence-based interplay between the policy framework and the adaptability of multi-level governance.

The U.S. Low-Wage Structure: A McWage Comparison

Abstract Thanks to standardized work protocol and technology of McDonald's restaurants, the hourly wage of McDonald's Basic Crew enables wage comparisons under near-identical skill inputs and hedonic job conditions. McWages capture labor costs in entry-level jobs, while the Big Macs (earned) Per Hour (BMPH) index measures corresponding purchasing power of wages. We document large and growing geographical wage differences in standardized jobs using data covering most U.S. counties during 2016-2023. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, there was no BMPH growth where minimum wages stayed constant, but the pandemic wage increase, which diminished the importance of minimum wages, was stronger in these areas.

Association of Gender and Personal Choices with Salaries of New Emergency Medicine Graduates.

The medical literature has demonstrated disparities and variability in physician salaries and, specifically, emergency physician (EP) salaries. We sought to investigate individual physician characteristics, including sex and educational background, together with individual preferences of graduating EPs, and their association with the salary of their first job. The American College of Emergency Physicians and the George Washington University Mullan Institute surveyed 2019 graduating EPs. The survey included respondents' demographic and educational background, post-training job characteristics and location, hospital characteristics, importance of different personal priorities, and starting salaries. We performed a multivariable regression analysis to determine how salaries were associated with job types and individuals' characteristics. We sent surveys to 2,192 graduating residents in 2019. Of these, 487 (22.2%) responded, and 270 (55.4%) accepted first-time clinical jobs and included salary data (12.3% of all surveys sent). Male sex, osteopathic training, and full-time work were significantly associated with higher salary. Men and women prioritized different factors in their job search. Women were more likely to consider such factors as parental leave policy, proximity to family, desired practice setting, type of hospital, and desired location as important. Salary/compensation was considered very important by 51.8% of men and 29.6% of women. Men's median salary was $30,000 more than women's (p = 0.01, 95% CI +$6,929 -+$53,071), a significant pay differential. Salaries of graduating emergency medicine residents are associated with the resident's sex and degree type: doctor of osteopathic medicine or doctor of allopathic medicine. Multiple factors may contribute to men having higher salaries than women, and some of this difference reflects different priorities in their job search. Women were more likely to consider job conditions and setting to be more important, while men considered salary and compensation more important.

A Phenomenological Study On The Social Isolation Experiences Of Elderly Living Alone In Korea

Background: The purpose of this study is to identify the social isolation process of seniors living alone. Methods: Data collection was conducted over a total of 8 days from July 8, 2024 to July 15, 2024. The participants in this study were elderly people living alone and aged 65 or older. 11 subjects participated in the final interview. All interviews were recorded with recorder and transcribed for analyzing by Van Kaam method of phenomenology. Results: Demographic characteristics (Sex, age, job, education, housing status, religion, and economic condition) were derived from the raw data, and these were grouped into 14 sub-themes and four categories: ‘economic deprivation,’ ‘physical difficulties,’ ‘social relationships,’ and ‘emotional withdrawal.’ Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is believed that counseling and program development are necessary to address the social isolation of elderly people living alone

A comparison of work characteristics and health status between Korean and US hospital nurses.

A rigorous examination of the occupational features across cultures helps draw policy recommendations for nurses' quality care practices and good health. This study aimed to explore the differences in work characteristics and health status between Korean and US hospital nurses. For this comparative secondary data analysis study, we constructed a dataset with 304 pairs of nurses from Korea and the United States, matched by age and gender. We used the data from the 2020 Korean Hospital Nurses Health Behaviors and Health Status study, collected from May to July 2020, and the Nurse Worklife and Wellness Study (NWWS), conducted between November 2020 and February 2021. Compared to nurses in the United States, Korean nurses rated their job-related conditions much lower, had lower intentions to stay in their current workplace and were less satisfied with their jobs. Korean nurses reported that organizational support and employee health resources were less prevalent and their levels of healthy behaviour practice and health status were lower than their US counterparts. Nurses in Korea require better practice environments and employee health support. Adequate workload and staffing levels are needed to improve job conditions for Korean nurses. Organizational support and employee health resources should always be accessible at nurses' workplaces.

The Influence of Resilience, Work Ethic, and Self-Awareness on the Performance of Employees of Private Universities in Bengkulu City

This study examines the impact of resilience, work ethic, and self-awareness on the performance of employees at private universities in Bengkulu City. The research addresses the need for higher education institutions to enhance job satisfaction and performance by focusing on various dimensions, including job conditions, professional commitment, and workplace dynamics. Despite the demands that often exceed capacity, employee resilience is crucial for fulfilling these responsibilities. The study fills a knowledge gap by exploring the relationships between these psychological factors and employee performance. A quantitative approach was employed, utilizing questionnaires distributed to 160 respondents. The sampling method was Non-Probability Sampling, with an 85% response rate. Data were analyzed using Multiple Linear Regression with SPSS for Windows. The results indicate a significant positive effect of resilience, work ethic, and self-awareness on employee performance, with an F-count of 74.551 and a p-value of 0.000 (p < 0.05). The findings suggest that private universities should invest in education and training to enhance employee skills and knowledge, thereby improving performance and loyalty. Future research should extend the study duration and improve researcher-respondent feedback to build on these insights.

Five years in the community dental service: clinicians' perspectives.

Introduction Community dentists in England treat patients classed as vulnerable. The services in which they operate have faced challenges, with these known to have affected clinicians. It is important to monitor and understand the workforce and the effect the healthcare landscape, and its changes, has on them and the service they provide.Aims To explore and describe the evolution of working conditions of community dental service (CDS) dentists in England.Materials and methods Data for a cohort of dentists working in the CDS in England between 2017 and 2022, collected via questionnaire, were statistically and thematically analysed and data compared.Results Motivation in clinicians working in the service has significantly fallen since 2017 and concerns were held over the service meeting patient need. CDS dentists have become increasingly satisfied with the care they provide, though workload and job stress increased. Satisfaction with job terms and conditions increased significantly, though job satisfaction, with high and low morale, decreased over the period of interest. Working conditions and motivation were described as deteriorating, alongside increasing satisfaction with job terms and conditions, and fewer dentists reporting low morale. Factors cited as contributing to lower job satisfaction and morale were staffing, workload and working conditions.Conclusions We suggest that despite the increased pressures on the CDS, little improvement has been made to working conditions. The working environment continues to erode for CDS dentists in England and patient service is being negatively affected. While dentists appear to have adapted to these conditions, it is imperative that attention is paid both to CDS dentists and the service and improvements made.

Education and Career Advancement Opportunities in Polish and English Nursing-A Comparative Study of Intensive Care Unit Nurses.

The aim of this study was to comparatively investigate education, job, and professional development satisfaction among intensive care unit nurses in Poland and England. A total of 258 ICU nurses from both countries were interviewed (72 Polish nurses working in Poland and 186 of various national backgrounds in England, including 50 of Polish origin). We used an 11-item structured survey followed by an open-ended qualitative interview retrospectively coded for statistical analysis. Regardless of national origin, nurses in England report significantly higher education satisfaction, attributed to better theoretical knowledge gain but not to other dimensions (such as practical knowledge or personal satisfaction). They also express greater satisfaction with job conditions regarding professional development, a state-of-the-art work environment, teamwork, and finance. The UK system is also considered significantly superior in promotion opportunities and participation in post-graduation training. In conclusion, systemic factors play a crucial role in career satisfaction and advancement in nursing, with the British band system having a clear advantage over the Polish one.

Pre-COVID-19‑pandemic differentiation of employment and wages in county hospitals in Poland

The difficult current global situation in the aspect of Human Resources for Health was clearly seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The spending on healthcare is still increasing and the rate of increase outpaces the growth rate of GDP. Only part of these funds is dedicated to the training of new staff and current healthcare employees migrate in search for better job conditions and worklife balance. Personnel migration combined with the demographic structure in the high-income countries simultaneously leads to increasing demand for healthcare services and limits the supply of specialists who can provide such services. The confrontation between the demand for medical personnel and its supply will lead to a reduction in the quality of care and accessibility of services. In the study based on the large group of Polish county hospitals in 2015–2018, differences and similarities between the hospitals in terms of employment, measured in full-time equivalents (FTEs) and in terms of wages were analyzed. Similarity and dissimilarity analysis was conducted, based on distance measures and cluster analysis. Bigger differences between the hospitals were found for wages than employment levels. The hospitals with an ED and efficient units were less similar to one another than their counterparts in terms of employment (FTEs), except for 2016. When it comes to wages and both types of variables (wages and employment) considered simultaneously, the hospitals with an ED and high number of beds were characterized by lower similarity to one another than their counterparts during the whole period. Clustering all the 3 approaches (FTEs, wages, FTEs and wages) the results were the same. One of these groups was characterized by a rather low employment level per bed, while the other one – by high.

Evaluation of Complementary Cupping Therapy in the Management of Hypertension and Triglyceride Levels in Coastal Fishermen Communities

Background: Fishermen are community groups requiring special attention. The characteristics of a stressful job, unhealthy diet, and environmental and weather conditions are risk factors for hypertension and increased triglycerides. Wet cupping therapy is expected to improve imbalance in triglyceride levels, blood pressure, and pulse rate in fishermen living in coastal areas. Methods: Sixty people from fishing communities participated in this study through random sampling by creating a serial number list. The hypertensive group (n= 30) received cupping therapy combined with Al-Quran therapy, whereas the normotensive group (n= 30) only received cupping therapy. Blood pressure, pulse, and triglyceride levels were measured in both groups before and one week after cupping therapy. Results: In the hypertension group who were administered cupping therapy combined with Al-Quran therapy, there were changes in blood pressure, mean systolic blood pressure value (from 155.4 ± 21.8 to 141.3 ± 19.9), diastolic blood pressure (from 92.9 ± 10.6 to 85.3 ± 11.3), and triglyceride levels (from 259.4 ± 154.6 to 173 ± 74.5), which showed a statistically significant decrease in P value <0.05, while the normotensive group was statistically significant, but there was an increase within normal limits in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, as well as a decrease in triglyceride levels. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that wet cupping combined with Al-Quran therapy is a promising complementary therapy for controlling blood pressure and triglyceride levels in hypertensive patients. Therefore, it could be an alternative therapy for fishing communities in coastal areas.

Struggle, Exit, “Resilience”—or How Precarious Workers Cope with Late Neoliberalism. Individual and Collective Agency of Female Migrant Domestic Workers in Spain

Abstract This article inquires the individual and collective agency of female migrant domestic workers in Spain. I use fieldwork conducted between 2013 and 2023 to examine the interplay between the migrant workers’ individual coping strategies, the claims-making strategies of the domestic workers’ trade union Sindihogar, and the structures they operate within and attempt to challenge. Drawing on contemporary research about precarious workers’ movements, I aim to explore to what extent this social movement union has the potential to reduce the power of structural constraints and increase the power of agency. Implicit is a broader, more provocative question: To what extent is substantial change possible within the current political-economic order, here defined as late neoliberalism? I found that while the movement’s community-building approach may empower activists at an individual level, there are significant structural barriers to its potential to accomplish change in terms of better job conditions for this highly precarious workforce. In addition, I suggest that an increasing focus on precarious workers’ “resilience” risks undermining narratives of structural transformation.

Examining the impact of consumers’ showrooming behavior on sales staff job conditions: insights from the Indian apparel retail sector

PurposeThis research aims to investigate the showrooming phenomenon in the context of the evolving omnichannel shopping landscape, which seamlessly integrates both physical and online retail channels. Showrooming, wherein customers browse products in physical stores but ultimately purchase from online competitors, poses a potential threat to the job security and job satisfaction of sales staff in brick-and-mortar (B&M) stores. To address this issue, this study explores the relationship between showrooming, self-efficacy, sales performance, job insecurity and job satisfaction of sales staff, using the job demands-resources (JDR-R) model as a theoretical framework.Design/methodology/approachThis research employs quantitative research methods and gathers data from 219 sales staff working in Indian retail stores. Structural equation modeling is used to test the proposed hypotheses.FindingsThe results indicate that showrooming is associated with a decrease in the self-efficacy, sales performance and job satisfaction of sales staff. Furthermore, the result indicates that showrooming is positively associated with increased job insecurity among the sales staff.Originality/valueThis study offers valuable contributions to existing literature and offers insights for both retailers and salespeople regarding the potential repercussions of showrooming. It also suggests coping strategies to address the challenges posed by showrooming and the behavior of showroomers.

Work Environment's Impact on Student Self-Regulation in Learning

This study examines the self-regulation practices of accounting students at Muhammadiyah College of Sidoarjo who work while studying, focusing on their transition from online to offline learning. Using qualitative methods, including interviews, observations, and documentation, the research found that students with flexible work conditions manage their study time better and have stronger self-regulation skills. In contrast, those in inflexible work environments struggle with self-regulation, often handling study tasks spontaneously. These findings highlight the need for targeted support to enhance the self-regulation skills of working students, especially those in rigid job conditions. Highlight: Flexible jobs improve students' self-regulation and study management. Inflexible jobs result in poor self-regulation and spontaneous studying. Targeted support needed for students in rigid work conditions. Keyword: Self-regulation, working students, offline learning, online learning transition, qualitative study

Does self-employment provide a bridge to retirement?

Abstract Non-employment including early retirement among individuals of older working age is a considerable concern. As life expectancies across the developed world continue to increase, individuals’ retirement savings often turn out to be inadequate. In policy circles, given the increasing old-age dependency ratio, self-employment is often seen as a potential route to extend the working lives of older labour force participants. By studying labour market switches of wage workers of 50 years and older, we investigate to what extent self-employment serves as a bridge to retirement. Using a longitudinal data base in European countries over the period 2005–2015, our findings suggest that although self-employment does serve as a bridge to retirement, this is much less likely to be the case for precarious wage workers—especially those with poor job prospects—than for wage workers at the higher end of the labour market, including those who are in good health and who have good job prospects in their current wage job. We also find that wage workers with precarious job conditions are more likely to switch into non-employment rather than into self-employment. Policy implications are discussed.