Work Life Research Articles

The Effects of Unethical Practices on the Burnout Level of Accounting Professionals and an Implementation in Bursa Province

Burnout, which hinders individuals from performing their professions by complicating both work and social life, is also common in the accounting profession due to factors such as the large number of communication parties, intense work pace, and the mentally demanding nature of the job. Given that burnout experienced by accountants is a significant issue affecting many parties, it is essential to evaluate the factors contributing to this condition. Among these factors are unethical practices encountered in the profession. Accountants frequently face ethical dilemmas due to their responsibilities to various stakeholders. This study, designed to determine the impact of unethical practices on accountants' burnout levels, gathered insights from CPAs via surveys and analyzed them using statistical methods. The analysis revealed that accountants experience a significant decline in personal accomplishment and, to a lesser extent, emotional exhaustion, but do not become desensitized to the profession.

Empowering work-life balance: Exploring the nexus of flexible work arrangements, job satisfaction, and women's well-being in SMEs

The aim of this study is to evaluate flexible working arrangements, work-life balance, and job satisfaction among women who work in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of flexible working arrangements, particularly for women juggling work and family responsibilities. The study evaluates the extent to which flexible working arrangements enable women to maintain a balance between work and family life in order to achieve work-related satisfaction. One hundred and thirty questionnaires were collected from the respondents for analysis. The analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between flexible working arrangements and work-life balance/job satisfaction among women working in SMEs. Importantly, work-life balance is an explicit factor that influences job satisfaction and mediates the relationship between flexible working arrangements and job satisfaction. These findings emphasize the need for organizations to seriously consider implementing flexible working arrangements and work-life balance policies in return for enhanced satisfaction of their workforce, especially women in SMEs in Malaysia. Research in this area is scarce; however, these findings offer valuable insights for SMEs in improving employee satisfaction and striving for growth and sustainability in the long run.

Center-based childcare during infancy: The relations with functional brain networks and self-regulation in young children

Given the substantial increase in children attending center-based childcare over the past decades, the consequences of center-based childcare for children’s development have gained more attention in developmental research. However, the relation between center-based childcare and children’s neurocognitive development remains relatively underexplored. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the relations between quantity of center-based childcare during infancy and the neurocognitive development (both functional brain networks and self-regulation) of 584 Dutch children. Small-world brain networks and children’s self-regulation were assessed during infancy (around 10 months of age) and the preschool period (2–6 years of age). The findings revealed that the quantity of center-based childcare during infancy was unrelated to individual differences in children’s functional brain networks. However, spending more hours per week in center-based childcare was positively related to the development of self-regulation in preschool age children, regardless of children’s sex or the levels of exposure to risk and maternal support in the home environment. More insight into the positive effects of center-based childcare on children’s development from infancy to toddlerhood can help to increase our insight into a better work–life balance and labor force participation of parents with young children. Moreover, this study highlights that Dutch center-based childcare offers opportunities to invest in positive child outcomes in children, including self-regulation.

Exploring the job (dis)satisfaction indicators of online food delivery employees: insights from employees' online reviews

PurposeThe present study sought to determine the main themes employees discussed in online reviews associated with satisfaction (pros) and dissatisfaction (cons).Design/methodology/approachThis study used qualitative content analysis to examine employee reviews working in India's largest food delivery company.FindingsThe analyses revealed the existence of seven themes: company environment, employees, salary, work–life balance, company culture and values, flexibility and favoritism. Negative themes were associated with the “work-life balance” and “favoritism” themes. The results provided valuable insights into online food delivery platform employees' overall experiences based on social media information and aided in identifying key themes associated with various satisfaction levels.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by uniquely utilizing user-generated content from an employment search engine as a novel data source to investigate the factors influencing satisfaction and dissatisfaction among online food delivery employees. This approach represents a significant departure from traditional survey-based methods, filling a gap in the literature by offering insights directly from employees' unfiltered perspectives. By leveraging this innovative methodology, our research provides a fresh and nuanced understanding of the experiences and concerns of online food delivery workers, thereby adding substantial value to the fields of organizational behavior and human resource management.

Impact of AI on Work Life Balance of Working Women in Hotel Industry

Artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about significant advancements as well as challenges for the hotel industry. AI enhances efficiency by automating routine tasks, allowing employees to focus on personalized services . Tools like chatbots ease workloads, benefiting women employees. However, AI also raises concerns about job security due to potential role replacement. According to a report by the Hotel Association of India, in 2020, the percentage of women employees in the Indian hospitality industry stood at around 35%. This study aims to explore the impact of AI on the work life balance of women employees in the hotel industry in Delhi, focusing on hotel employees and including positive and negative aspects of AI-driven advancements. To explore these impacts, a quantitative study method is used via Google Forms. The study uses both primary and secondary data. Primary data are collected through questionnaires and interviews of women employees in the hotel industry in Delhi, while secondary data are gathered from industry reports and academic literature. The findings aim to provide insight into how AI influences the work-life balance of women employees, throwing light on issues like job security and employee productivity of women in the hotel industry. This study can be helpful to the hotel industry in guiding the adoption of AI to improve women's work-life balance while addressing job security and productivity concerns. Key Words: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Hotel Industry, Work-Life Balance, Women, Job Security, Employee Productivity

Mass exodus? Police officer turnover intention and organizational commitment in New York City

PurposeThis study assesses the relationship between job satisfaction, perceived organizational support and workplace factors on officer turnover intention within an urban, municipal police organization.Design/methodology/approachUsing data from an online survey of New York City Police Officers (n = 1,823), both bivariate analysis and logistic regression models were utilized to assess the salience of police officer job satisfaction, perceived organizational support and perception of six workplace domains, including financial compensation, environmental factors, professional fulfillment, work/quality of life balance, treatment from management and occupational risk, on predicting turnover intention.FindingsThe cross-sectional study finds that job satisfaction, financial factors (salary, benefits and retirement benefits) and fulfillment predict lower levels of turnover intention (i.e. higher levels of organizational commitment). Work–life balance and environmental factors (cleanliness of work environment and condition of equipment) predict higher levels of turnover intention. Both perceptions of organizational support and occupational risk, while significant in the bivariate models, were not significantly associated after accounting for other factors. There is no evidence that officer perception of public support or the risk of being injured/killed at work were related to officer turnover intention.Research limitations/implicationsThe current study is limited by its focus on only one police department and its use of cross-sectional data, which may limit the generalizability of the results to agencies that differ in size and type and do not allow for assessment of causality.Practical implicationsOfficer turnover intention may be reduced by increasing financial compensation, improving the work environment and promoting a healthy work–life balance.Originality/valueThe study contributes to a growing body of research on police officer voluntary turnover by evaluating established predictors along with workplace factors in an urban police department: the setting where officer turnover intention is hypothesized to be the greatest.

Work-related factors affecting mental well-being of young construction workers in South Australia

PurposeMany work-related factors particularly affect the mental well-being of young construction workers and subsequently affect their productivity at work. Young construction workers in South Australia are more vulnerable than other workers because they consider the distress arising from work-related factors to be part of adapting to a new work life. Therefore, this study seeks to draw out the work-related factors that affect the mental well-being of young construction workers.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a sequential mixed method approach including a preliminary qualitative case study and a quantitative survey. Around 20 interviews across two organisations were conducted in the initial case study and content analysis was used to contextualise the factors and identify new factors. Then, the outcome of the case study was fed into a questionnaire survey for further analysis. The survey received 43 valid responses. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on the survey outcome to assess and categorise the work-related factors.FindingsThe findings indicate ten prominent work-related factors contributing to poor mental well-being of young construction workers related to three main categories of factors, namely “nature of work”, “task-related stress” and “unsupportive behaviour”. The work-related factors that have the greatest impact on mental well-being are the machoism culture of industry, work overload and workplace bullying.Originality/valueThe outcome from this study enhances the understanding of key work-related factors affecting the mental well-being of young construction workers. Research findings would also help inform the development of clear, industry-informed initiatives tailored to protect and support young construction workers.

“Give me some flexibility and I will perform better”: longitudinal lessons on the antecedents of job performance

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the longitudinal relationships between the intensity of remote work (IRW) and job performance (JP) with the mediation effect of work–life balance (WLB) and moderation by work overload (WO).Design/methodology/approachA three-wave longitudinal survey, covering pre-pandemic period, the pandemic itself and the post-pandemic period, was conducted among 291 employees. The authors applied linear regression analysis with a moderated mediation effect and the cross-lagged structural equation model with longitudinal mediation using Mplus 8.FindingsThe results show that relationships between IRW and WLB and WLB and JP are negative in the short term; yet over time, employees are able to adapt and benefit from the flexibility offered by remote work (RW). WLB can contribute to better JP in the long run. Furthermore, WLB plays a moderating role in the long-term relationship between RW and JP. There is the second-stage negative moderation effect on this relationship by WO.Practical implicationsThis study recommends a proactive approach toward flexible solutions for employees. It explains that the positive effects of IRW for WLB and JP appear in the longer perspective. Support from organizations to mitigate negative short-term effects is required. Organizations can leverage the mediating role of WLB between IRW and JP in the long term by providing resources and support to help employees achieve WLB in RW settings.Originality/valueThis study extends the research on the antecedents of JP of employees and enriches the extant literature that shows inconsistent findings in terms of the relationships among RW, WLB and JP. It also focuses on the rarely explored intensity of RW. It fills the gap in previous research using a longitudinal research approach. The longitudinal data provide unique and innovative insights into the antecedents of JP of employees and explain complex relationships between them in both the short and long term.

An Analysis Through to Congruence Between Real and Self-Perceived Body Mass Index in Nursing Students.

Overweight and obesity are growing concerns that also affect nursing staff, healthcare professionals that play a critical role in public health awareness and intervention. This study aimed to define the health parameters associated with body weight, analyze if there is an erroneous self-perception of overweight/obesity through the distortion of body weight perception, and determine the predictive factors of body weight distortion. A cross-sectional study of 224 nursing students gathered anthropometric and demographic data. Self-perceived body weight was assessed using Stunkard and Stellar's scale. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression identified significant predictors of weight distortion. The analysis found that men reported greater weight discrepancies than women. Specifically, 57% of the men (28 of 49 participants) underestimated their real BMI, while only 23% of the women (40 of 175 participants) did so. Age, sex, and weight classification emerged as significant explanatory variables for the distortion of body weight perception. The findings indicate a significant vulnerability among nursing students to the misperception of their own body weight status, highlighting the need for targeted training strategies. These strategies should focus on correcting misperceptions of obesity among health professionals throughout their working life to improve future obesity prevention efforts for society.

Musculoskeletal, Pulmonary, and Cardiovascular COVID-19 Sequelae in the Context of Firefighter Occupational Health: A Narrative Review.

For most individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2, the acute illness resolves completely. However, for millions of people, symptoms or sequelae from COVID-19 recur or persist for months to years after infection. Post-COVID-19 sequelae are wide-ranging, often affecting the musculoskeletal, pulmonary, and cardiovascular systems. All who experience post-COVID-19 sequelae face significant challenges navigating home and work life. Occupations such as firefighting, however, are of particular concern given the strenuous nature of a job that relies on a healthy musculoskeletal, pulmonary, and cardiovascular system. Research has documented significant musculoskeletal impairment (including muscle weakness, pain, and fatigue), respiratory dysfunction (including reduced lung function, interstitial disease, and diffusion abnormalities), cardiovascular conditions (including cardiac events, ischemic disease, dysrhythmias, and infectious diseases), and diminished cardiorespiratory fitness that continues for months to years in some individuals. These persistent post-COVID-19 conditions may affect a firefighter's ability to return to work, function at full capacity while at work, and potentially compromise firefighter health and public safety. This review, therefore, explores musculoskeletal, pulmonary, and cardiovascular sequelae post-COVID-19 and the impact of these sequelae on firefighter health and occupational readiness.

A faith in science: Gardner Murphy and parapsychology

Historians have noted that many 19th-century founders and members of psychic societies were clergy, or had fathers who were clergy, seeking evidence for the survivalist hypothesis. One such member, psychologist Gardner Murphy, was influenced in childhood both by the Episcopalian faith of his father and the Transcendentalism of his mother's hometown, Concord, Massachusetts. We propose that these religious and philosophical influences, as well as his childhood experiences informed his life's work. They also prompted Gardner Murphy to focus on the survivalist hypothesis and commit to discovering a scientific approach that might yield evidence of paranormal phenomena. Murphy was highly respected for his biosocial theory of personality and his contributions to the discipline of psychology, even while he persisted in studying parapsychology, an area of contention in the relatively new science of psychology. He drew on the potential synergy of world religions and philosophical traditions as a means of understanding human behavior – in each case revealing him as the polymath and ethical humanist for which he is remembered. Like William James, he viewed reported psychic experiences as simply another human phenomenon to be examined using the scientific method. His ability to entwine these interests seems motivated by his religious upbringing and academic training in the sciences.

Burnout and Quality of Work Life on Job Performance: Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction Among Financial Services Employees

The ability of company management to sustain employee job performance in the pursuit of organizational objectives is critical due to the intense competition among financial service companies. This study investigates the relationship between burnout, work life quality, job satisfaction, and job performance, examining how job satisfaction mediates the relationship between these factors. The study was conducted to 200 employees of financial services companies in Indonesia. Data was obtained by distributing questionnaires. The method employed is quantitative analysis utilizing SEM PLS analysis. The research findings indicated that: (1) Burnout has a negative and significant impact on employees job performance; (2) Quality of Work Life has a positive and significant impact on employees job performance; (3) Job satisfaction has a positive and significant impact on employees job performance; (4) There is a significant indirect impact of Burnout on Job Performance with Job Satisfaction; (5) There is a significant indirect impact of Quality of Work Life on Job Performance with Job Satisfaction.

Can we do this together? Exploring the transformative potential of care for academic work, labor, and life

Through a reflective account of our own experiences as early career academics, we explore the nuanced ways in which care materializes and is embodied in the micro-relations and mundane practices that constitute academic life. By emphasizing the affective dimension of an ethic of care, we bring the destabilizing and unsettling promise of affect to bear on our understanding of care and, in turn, highlight care’s transformative potential. We show how care, when mobilized by affect, manifests in ambiguous and at times contradictory ways, which leaves us asking whether care can be a straightforward and unproblematic antidote to feelings of dissatisfaction with neoliberal institutions. Yet, at the same time, we speculate that care holds rich potential to problematize the structural norms and demands that organize our academic (work) lives, and to offer new and different ways of living instead.

Various Dimensions of Personal and Professional Work Life Balance of Employees in Power Industry in India

In today’s organized sector, work- life balance assumes a critical importance as this facilitates the development of a productive work culture and minimization of tensions between work and other aspects of people lives. There are three key components that are needed to achieve a healthy lifestyle, namely paid work, unpaid work and personal time. Bringing a balance between all these there is the optimum one can accomplish. Power is among the most critical components of infrastructure, crucial for the economic growth and welfare of nations. The existence and development of adequate power infrastructure is essential for sustained growth of the Indian economy. The fundamental principle of India power industry has been to provide universal access to affordable power in a sustainable way. The purpose of this study is to highlight the necessity of adopting work-life balance in a power sector. The paper examines different elements of work-life balance especially with reference to employees working in power sectors.

Psychometric Quality of the Work Content Questionnaire Applied to Nursing Staff to Identify Job Stress

Objective: To demonstrate the reliability and construct validity of Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), which measures psychological demands, job control and social support, in nursing personnel. Theoretical Framework: In Mexico, the Federal Labor Law specifies that psychosocial risks must be kept at low or zero levels to prevent work-related stress in nursing staff. Method: The Job Content Questionnaire was applied to a sample of 181 nursing professionals from a population of 200 people. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was examined using the Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient, the construct validity of the questionnaire was identified through the fit indices of the confirmatory factor analysis, using the maximum likelihood method. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed [synthesize the main results of the research]. In the discussion section, these results are contextualized in light of the theoretical framework, highlighting the implications and relationships identified. Possible discrepancies and limitations of the study are also considered in this section. Research Implications: The Job Content Questionnaire presented adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha=.80) and construct validity in the sample; the structural equation model presented an adequate fit: GFI=.73, RMSEA=.066, NNFI= .93, CFI=.94, PNFI=.78. These findings affirm that the Job Content Questionnaire is valid and reliable to evaluate psychosocial factors among workers who perform nursing activities in Mexico. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the reliability and validity of the Job Content Questionnaire in nursing in Mexico. Its effectiveness is confirmed to evaluate psychological demands, work control and social support, critical aspects to mitigate stress and improve the quality of work life. The results can influence labor policies and institutional practices, promoting healthier work environments, reducing stress and improving the quality of care in the health sector, which benefits both workers and patients.

Motherhood enrichment in leadership: exploring top female executives in Spain

PurposeExisting research suggests motherhood hinders women’s advancement to top management roles, but its specific influence on women who have achieved senior leadership is unexplored.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a qualitative approach based on 34 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Spanish female executives who hold board positions or have the potential to become board members in male-dominated industries.FindingsThis study identifies motherhood as a key driver in career growth, countering the view of it as a barrier. Narratives from female leaders revealed that motherhood did not impede their careers, challenging the “motherhood penalty” notion. We introduce the concept of “motherhood enrichment,” highlighting its positive impact on leadership skills and career progression in top executive roles.Practical implicationsThese findings can challenge prejudices about the negative impact of motherhood on women’s careers and support policies promoting work–life balance and family-friendly cultures in organizations.Originality/valueThis study suggests the “motherhood-work enrichment” (MWE) concept in leadership, recognizing motherhood as a catalyst for leadership qualities and offering a preliminary theoretical model to explain MWE in the context of concurrent mother-top manager roles.

Beyond the Bite: Exploring Mental Health of Dental Faculty in Pakistan– a multi-institutional study

IntroductionMental health issues are being reported increasingly amongst healthcare staff and students globally. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of common mental health issues amongst dental faculty members at multiple institutions in Pakistan.MethodsFollowing approval from the institutional ethics review board, dental faculty members at 14 dental institutions were invited to participate in an online survey based on globally validated scales for mental health problems including the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Two open-ended questions were included in the survey to identify perceived factors contributing to poor mental health and recommendations for improving institutional support.ResultsA total of 200 faculty members out of provided their responses to the survey questionnaire but complete responses were provided by 183 participants which included 120 (65.57%) females, and 63 (34.43%) males. The total number of faculty members at the participating institutions was 426 and 183 responses translated into an overall response rate of 43%. Most participants were in the 31–40 years age-group (n = 81, 44.26%) followed by 25–30 year (n = 51, 22.87%) and 41–50 years (n = 40, 21.86%). The mean score on PHQ-9 was 6.51 (SD ± 5.4) while the mean DASS-21 score was 13.04 (SD ± 10.95). PHQ-9 Depression, and DASS-21 Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scores were all significantly positively correlated for the whole sample, and within each subgroup of each demographic factor. Job-related workload, lack of institutional support, financial limitations, and poor work life balance were identified as the main factors contributing adversely to the mental health of the participants.DiscussionThis study provides useful insights into the scale of mental health status amongst dental faculty members at 14 institutions in Pakistan. Underlying factors affecting the mental health of faculty members adversely were identified and recommendations are provided to address these challenges.

Meaning of Work Participation After Spinal Cord Injury in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study in a Low- and Middle-Income Country Context.

This study aimed to explore the meaning of work participation for people with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Bangladesh. Narrative inquiry methodological framework was used to explore the meaning of work participation after SCI. Face-to-face interviews with twenty adults with SCI, who were either living in the community or in-patients at a rehabilitation center. The Worker Role Interview questionnaire was used as an interview guide. Participants were descriptively analyzed in two groups, rehabilitation participants and community participants. Their transcripts were analyzed using individual narrative analysis to understand the meaning of their experience at an individual level and then the findings from the individual narrative analyses were summarized using thematic analysis to identify themes that collectively represented the meaning of work after SCI in Bangladesh. Five themes were identified from the interviews: "work life before injury"; "current life in relation to work"; "framing future prospects of work participation"; "motives for working"; and "enablers of work participation." The meaning of work is subjective and is influenced by the participants' pre-existing experiences and other factors related to their work life, such as work preferences, habits, and daily routines. Therefore, creating opportunities to better understand the meaning of work for each individual and incorporating these factors into rehabilitation are keys to sustainable rehabilitation outcomes.

Risk factors associated with consumption of alcohol among Turkish older men and women

ABSTRACT Objectives This study aims to examine the factors associated with alcohol use among individuals aged 60 and above in Türkiye. Methods The microdata obtained from the Türkiye Health Survey conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TSI) in 2019 and 2022 were used in this study. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to identify variables associated with alcohol use in older adults. Results The analysis revealed that gender, age, education level, employment status, marital status, health condition, lung disease, history of heart attack, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease, difficulty in carrying or holding items, and tobacco use significantly influence alcohol use among older individuals. Conclusion The study concludes that older males are at a higher risk of alcohol use. It is recommended to develop preventive health programs tailored to address the specific reasons for alcohol initiation and use among men. Aging is a period characterized by reduced activity in both work and social life due to retirement, leading some older individuals to turn to alcohol consumption as a coping mechanism. To promote active aging, it is suggested that the number of senior clubs and elderly solidarity centers affiliated with municipalities should be increased.

The Impact of Quality of Work Life on Employee Performance of PT. Tunas Dwipa Matra Lampung

The Impact of Quality of Work Life on Employee Performance of PT. Tunas Dwipa Matra Lampung