Work Life Research Articles

The Archival Silence of Hill’s Ferry, California

Purpose: The town of Hill’s Ferry was once a thriving Central California town during the mid-to- late 1800s. But this once-vibrant town has all but disappeared from the memory of California history. There is now only a historic marker, covered in weeds, near broken concrete from a torn-down bridge. The marker, installed in 1964 by the Boy Scouts youth organization, reads: “July 18, 1964, historic landmark, Hills Ferry, founded 1849 by Judge O. D. Dickerson, named for Jesse Hill, operator of the ferry boat that landed just upstream under the present bridge.” Hill’s Ferry is worth remembering. Originating during the California Gold Rush, it was at one time the largest town in its county of Stanislaus and was part of a thriving international wheat industry. Alternately it had a notorious reputation and was known throughout California as “Hell’s Fury” due to its reputation for lawlessness and the ferocity of its work life and social life. There were powerful and affluent members of this community whose history has been well documented, and this study does not endeavor to undermine the accomplishments associated with any individual or enterprise related to the development of Hill’s Ferry. Instead, I will focus on enclaves whose histories I argue have been silenced and forgotten, everyday people of Hill’s Ferry whose history, like the town itself, has been abandoned. This is despite the fact that the numbers of these identified groups comprised a significant percentage of the population of Hill’s Ferry. At the center of the identified marginalized groups is a Chinese woman known as Ah Gun (born circa 1850s; died 1928 in the nearby town of Newman), who was trafficked into the United States from China, and eventually brought to Hill’s Ferry as a young woman in the early 1870s. Methodology: This study will discuss marginalized communities and individuals crucial to Hill’s Ferry’s development and the character of this town, focusing particularly on the individual named Ah Gun, and contextualizing the Hill’s Ferry community in which she lived part of her life. This includes the vibrant Chinese enclave, and two other groups categorized by their labor: laborers who harvested the lucrative wheat crops, and the workers who provided entertainment in the saloons and bordellos. I argue that these communities have been ignored or mischaracterized in existing histories, though they do have a strong presence in census data, archival photographs, and newspaper articles from the period. These communities undeniably were part of the fabric of a once vibrant, now disappeared, town. I ground my methodological approach in previous literature on archival silence and how this concept can be related to the historically marginalized subjects described above. Findings: This approach will both challenge and illuminate aspects of available sources, ultimately uncovering a more contextualized history of the town of Hill’s Ferry and its community, and especially one of its former residents known as Ah Gun. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: This approach furthermore can provide a framework for future investigations: Hill’s Ferry is not the only ghost town with its origins in the Gold Rush, and Ah Gun was one of thousands of individuals trafficked from China to the United States from the 1850s to 1870s. Thus, the methodological approach is one that may inform future investigations into the histories of marginalized individuals and disappeared towns that comprise the larger history of the American West and especially California during the mid-to-late 19th century.

Unemployment as a Consequence of the Liquidation of State Agricultural Farms in 1991-2003

State Agricultural Farms (SAF) were liquidated on the basis of an act adopted in 1991. During the work on the act, the focus was exclusively on issues related to ownership and economic transformations, while the social consequences were not taken into account. SAF employees, especially agricultural workers, constituted a specific, historically shaped socio-professional group characterized by relatively low education and narrow professional qualifications. The aim of article is to identify the genesis of social problems in post-statehood areas, especially unemployment and its regional variation. The source base of the study is mainly the Reports of the Agricultural Property Agency of the State Treasury and sociological research reports carried out in post-statehood areas. The main finding of the research is that policy decisions to abolish state farms were made without taking into account their specific characteristics and territorial distribution. Their mentality was shaped by the nature of work and everyday life, which was entirely connected with the workplace. The workplace organized most of the living and social matters for employees and their families. After the liquidation of the State Agricultural Farms, employees were unable to find their place on the –labour market. Large-area farms established on the basis of the former SAFs radically limited employment, and the lack of appropriate skills and limited demand for labour outside agriculture worsened the situation of blue collar workers in particular. Regional differences were of particular importance for the scale of unemployment – where SAFs dominated, the unemployment problem persists even three decades after their liquidation, although it no longer concerns only former SAF employees, but all residents of former SAF areas.

Can the internet based intervention ‘strategies for empowering activities in everyday life’ support people with cognitive difficulties to self-manage digital work and everyday life?

Background Digital work can be cognitively challenging especially for people with cognitive difficulties. New occupational therapy interventions are needed to empower these persons to self-manage challenges in digital work and everyday life. To address this need, the internet-based intervention ‘Strategies for Empowering Activities in Everyday Life’ (SEE 2.0) was tested. Aim To explore and describe how SEE can support the development of self-management in people with cognitive difficulties who engage in digital work and other occupations in everyday life. Material and methods A qualitative, descriptive case study included four participants with cognitive difficulties due to neurological disorders who participated in SEE. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, self-reports and assessments then analysed using pattern matching. Results Three cases were formed. Two cases (three people) adhered to SEE’s intervention process, resulting in increased work hours, improved occupational balance, and greater engagement in valued occupations. One case (one person) could not fully adhere to the process and struggled to adopt changes. Conclusions SEE shows potential in supporting self-management, promoting sustainable digital work and everyday life. Significance SEE can add to existing vocational rehabilitation programs by empowering persons to utilise their own resources to manage challenges in everyday life.

When work never ends: How after-hours electronic communication expectations affect job satisfaction through work interference with family and emotional exhaustion

In today’s interconnected and fast-paced work environment, technological advancements have blurred the boundaries between work and personal life. Consequently, employees often find themselves expected to remain available for electronic communication outside regular work hours. While some studies suggest that this aids employees in transitioning between work and home life, it may also hinder their ability to maintain a balance between work and personal life. Thus, drawing on boundary theory and conservation of resources theory, this study examines the impact of after-hours electronic communication expectations (AECE) on job satisfaction through work interference with family and emotional exhaustion. The results of data collected from 300 participants in the textile industry of Pakistan reveal a direct negative impact of AECE on job satisfaction. The results also indicate an indirect effect, wherein AECE influences job satisfaction through a sequential mediation process involving work interference with family, emotional exhaustion, and ultimately, negatively impacts job satisfaction, indicating a cascading effect. The study’s implications for theory and practice, as well as its limitations, are also addressed and discussed.

The Hierarchy of Factors Important for Work Engagement in Different Types of Remote Working

The growing popularity of remote and hybrid work has changed the dynamics of how teams function and accomplish work tasks, creating opportunities to align work practices with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Remote work not only promotes labor market inclusion by eliminating barriers such as those of transportation but also reduces the carbon footprint associated with daily commuting. However, despite the advantages of remote work, researchers and practitioners point to the problem of unstable engagement among remote workers. This study examines the key factors influencing work engagement in remote and hybrid work models, looking at how these factors vary depending on the degree of remote work and the nature of the work. Based on a systematic review, 14 critical factors influencing engagement were identified, followed by the development of a questionnaire and the analysis of responses from 181 employees representing various remote work models. The results obtained in the survey indicate the universal importance that work–life balance, open access to organizational knowledge, and a personalized work environment have for building work engagement. At the same time, the extent of remote work, the form of employment, and team integration methods influence the importance of other factors, revealing differences between fully remote and hybrid employees. The findings underline that building effective strategies to foster engagement should be based on adapting the actions taken to specific work conditions.

Job Quality Gaps Between Migrant and Native Platform Workers: Evidence From Poland

ABSTRACTThe platform economy has grown worldwide, opening labour markets but raising concerns about precariousness. Using a tailored, quantitative survey in Poland, this article studies taxi and delivery platform drivers' working conditions and job quality, focusing on the gaps between natives and migrants. Migrants' job quality is noticeably lower regarding contractual terms of employment, working hours, work–life balance, multidimensional deprivation and job satisfaction. Migrants who started a platform job immediately after arriving in Poland are particularly deprived. They also cluster on taxi platforms, which offer inferior working conditions compared to delivery platforms. The platform economy can be an arrival infrastructure for migrants. However, in New Immigration Destinations such as Poland, where the ethnic economy is underdeveloped and institutional support for migrants is weak, poor working conditions on platforms can exacerbate migrants' labour market vulnerabilities and hinder mobility to better jobs, as platforms often provide limited opportunities for skill development.

Coming to critical technology consciousness: a phenomenological study of educators

ABSTRACT Educators need critical perspectives toward technology to navigate the rapid pace of technological change in schools, but little is known about how educators develop critical perspectives. In this phenomenological study, we explore the experiences of 30 educators (across a range of educational settings) who self-identified as holding critical perspectives about technology. They described their critical perspectives through four overlapping orientations: question the technology, question the narratives, put the technology in its sociopolitical context, and engage in reflective practice. Our participants often began with enthusiastic or uncritical views toward technology but gained critical perspectives through change agent experiences in work, school, and/or everyday life. We interpret these findings through the lens of raising critical consciousness, comparing our participants’ experiences with those outlined by theories of sociopolitical critical consciousness formation. Our findings offer insights for educators who seek to integrate more critical technology curriculum, especially in K-12 and undergraduate settings.

How glass ceiling perceptions affect job performance: finding the missing link through career satisfaction and work–life balance support

PurposeDrawing from gendered organization theory (GOT) and career construction theory (CCT), this study seeks to explore the relationship between the glass ceiling (GS), career satisfaction (CS) and job performance among female employees in Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector. Additionally, we aim to investigate CS as the explanatory variable and organizational support for work–life balance (WLB) as the boundary condition.Design/methodology/approachData from 178 females working in the aviation industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were used to analyze the proposed model. Structure equation modeling (SEM) and PROCESS Macro were used as the analysis technique.FindingsResults reveal significant negative direct and indirect impacts of GC perceptions on job performance. This relationship is significantly mediated by CS and is moderated by work–life balance support (WLBS) from the organization.Practical implicationsThe present study highlights the importance of organizational support for work–life balance in alleviating the adverse effects of the GC on the CS and job performance of women. Given Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on women’s empowerment through its “Vision 2030” companies operating in the country should prioritize the development of robust WLBS mechanisms. Additionally, it is recommended that career support be extended to women to enhance their CS.Originality/valueThis study contributes significantly to the existing literature by exploring the link between GC perception in females and their job performance in the context of an important emerging market, Saudi Arabia, that strongly focuses on women’s empowerment in its “Vision 2030”. Using GOT and CCT, CS is proposed as a mediating factor that explains how the perception of the GC’s negative impact can be translated into affecting the job performance of females and the role of WLBS from the organization in mitigating this negative impact.

Analyzing the Effect of Factors on Individuals’ Subjective Well-Being with Quantile Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling Approach

This study investigates factors influencing individuals’ levels of subjective well-being by examining fundamental variables, called life domains, such as satisfaction with health, education, marriage, housing district, work life, social life, relationships, and public services. The aim is to understand how these domains affect various quantile values of subjective well-being. To achieve this, the Life Satisfaction Survey dataset for 2020, obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute, was utilized, and Bayesian Quantile Structural Equation Modeling and Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling methods were applied. The empirical study indicates that all life domains were found to have a positive impact on subjective well-being, except for housing-district satisfaction and education satisfaction. In particular, for individuals with low subjective well-being, satisfaction with work life, relationships, and public services has a stronger effect on subjective well-being compared to those in higher quantiles. Conversely, marriage satisfaction has a stronger effect on subjective well-being among individuals in the higher quantiles. This study’s unique contribution is that examining subjective well-being according to quantile values provides detailed information on how the factors influencing individuals’ subjective well-being vary across different levels.

Impact of Atopic Dermatitis on Adolescents and Families: A Mixed-Method Systematic Review.

To summarise the evidence regarding the impact of atopic dermatitis on adolescents and their families as well as their healthcare needs and to propose a nursing care plan based on the findings. Mixed-method systematic review. Twenty-four studies were included, of which 19 were quantitative and 5 were qualitative. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool. The synthesis method used was data-driven convergent synthesis design. A systematic search was carried out in CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycInfo and Web of Science without language restrictions from 1 January 2013 to 30 April 2023. The quality of life of adolescents with atopic dermatitis and their families are impaired. The more the severity of the condition, the greater the impact for them and their families. Atopic dermatitis impacts adolescents' sleep (due to itching), behaviour, mental well-being, social and school life. Likewise, parents' sleep, free time, interpersonal relationships and work life are affected by caring for their adolescents. Adolescents and their families encounter numerous challenges managing and living with atopic dermatitis on a daily basis. The condition has a widespread impact on adolescents and parents' quality of life across home, work and school settings. In the family, there was also an alteration in the functioning and relationships between its members. This review reveals the burden of atopic dermatitis for adolescents and families and the need for comprehensive support. Greater awareness among healthcare professionals of the impacts may help promote an evidence-based approach that supports the whole family. Based on these findings, we propose a nursing care plan based on the NANDA taxonomy to promote better healthcare provision for adolescents and families. This review adheres to PRISMA guidelines. No patient or public contribution. CRD42023435352.

Challenges of modern work environments and means of overcoming them in the context of psychosocial risk assessments

BackgroundModern work environments constitute an underrepresented part of psychosocial risk assessments at work. Little is known about whether there is an increased stress load at all and what possible improvements could be made in such a case.MethodsModern work environments were assessed in an online questionnaire in 33 companies across a period of more than 4 years. A total of 3431 employees participated in the study. Both quantitative and qualitative data was applied to obtain a differentiated picture.ResultsIncreased stress caused by modern work environments was an issue for around a third of the sample. 31.6% of the participants at least sometimes struggled to balance work and private life. Quite a few of the participants (36.3%) worked sometimes or more outside regular working hours. For 32.4% of participants, the workload has increased due to new technologies, but for 30.4% it has not. The majority (81.4%) feel they can work productively in home offices. The data from 178 completed free text fields on improving modern work environments from the employees’ perspective was analysed. Many named suggestions relate to improvements in time management.ConclusionThis study provides both detailed insights into various aspects of modern work environments and offers solutions to counteract possible negative consequences. Assessing modern work environments in psychosocial risk assessments would be a valuable addition to its completeness.

PENGARUH KUALITAS SUMBER DAYA MANUSIA, PROFESIONALISME KERJA DAN WORK LIFE BALANCE TERHADAP KINERJA KARYAWAN PERUMDA AIR MINUM TIRTA HITA BULELENG

Human resources are still a concern for organizational companies to survive. Having quality resources when we are able to be given responsibility and exercise authority, however,a number of problems were found related to the quality of HumanResources Quality,Professionalismof Work, Work Life Balance, Employee’s.Performance atPerumda Air MinumTirta Hita Buleleng, sothe examiner was interested inexamining the effect of Human ResourcesQuality, Professionalism ofWork and Work Life Balance,onemployee’s performance at PerumdaAir Minum Tirta Hita Buleleng. This test has an achievement to find outhow the influence of Human Resources Quality, Professionalism of Work, along with worklifebalance on the performanceof Perumda Air Minum TirtaHita Bulelengemployees. Thedata collection technique usedin this test is aquestionnaire to analyze the data quantitatively using,coefficient ofdetermination, multiple linear regressionanalysis, f-test analysis, t hypothesis test.The sample in this test is the central employees of Perumda Air Minum Tirta Hita Buleleng with a total of 136 respondents. Thedata analysis used inthis study is multiplelinear regressionanalysis, classical assumptiontest, f-test analysis and hypothesis t analysis. Based onthe results in this test, it can beconcluded thatthe quality of humanresources, workprofessionalism, andwork lifebalance have a significantpositive effect onemployee’sperformance.

Requirements for a Basic Student Course in Robotics and Human–Robot Interaction—A User-Centered Approach

Due to an increasing number of robots in the working world, the interaction between humans and robots will become more and more frequent. Hence, the research field of human–robot collaboration is becoming progressively relevant and should therefore be included in students’ education as early as possible. This paper deals with the requirements of a basic course for university students of interdisciplinary studies like Engineering Psychology or Human Factors. The goal of the course is to provide an adequate training for the students in order to gain a technical basis to design human–robot collaboration in a user-centered way in their future working life. Following a user-centered approach a narrative description and analysis of the context of use with contextual interviews were conducted. Overall, 12 subjects of the identified user groups (1) students studying Engineering Psychology, (2) students with knowledge in robotics and (3) graduates of the Engineering Psychology program participated in the contextual interviews. With these interviews, 47 user and stakeholder needs and 39 user requirements were derived. Based on the results, relevant content of a basic student course was defined, structured and prioritized. The requirements and demands are summarized in a recommendation for action and further steps are presented.

Pengaruh Fleksibilitas Jam Kerja dan Work Life Balance terhadap Peningkatan Produktivitas Karyawan Gen Z

Generation Z, with unique characteristics such as technological savvy, preference for work flexibility, and need for work life balance, brings a new paradigm in human resource management. Their dominance in the workforce creates challenges as well as opportunities for companies to create a work environment that supports employee productivity and well-being. This study aims to analyze the effect of flexible working hours and work life balance on the productivity of Gen Z employees through a literature study approach. The results show that flexible working hours allow employees to work more efficiently according to their convenient time and place, while work life balance helps reduce stress, increase motivation, and drive productivity. Generation Z highly values ​​this balance, which not only improves their mental and physical well-being but also contributes to the success of the company.

The Moderating Role of Emotional Intelligence on the Relationship Between Nurses’ Preparedness to Care for COVID-19 Patients and Their Quality of Work Life

Emotional intelligence (EI) is increasingly recognized as a key factor in healthcare, where managing emotions is vital for job satisfaction, productivity, and interpersonal relationships. For nurses, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, EI plays a pivotal role in navigating emotional challenges and improving their quality of work life (QoWL). This study examined how EI moderates the relationship between nurses’ preparedness to care for COVID-19 patients and their QoWL. A cross-sectional, correlational design was used, involving 267 nurses from various healthcare settings. Data were collected through the Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Quality of Nursing Work Life survey, and demographic questionnaires. The sample was predominantly female (94.4%), with a mean age of 37.47 years (SD = 8.09) and an average of 8.43 years of experience (SD = 6.33). Most nurses (87.3%) attended COVID-19-related workshops, with 76.4% feeling prepared to care for COVID-19 patients. Emotional intelligence levels were high, with 93.6% of nurses reporting good personal competence and 85.4% reporting good social competence. Descriptive results showed that 71% of nurses perceived their QoWL as good, while 29% rated it as fair. Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between both personal competence (r = 0.33, p < 0.001) and social competence (r = 0.34, p < 0.001) with QoWL, but preparedness to care for COVID-19 patients did not correlate significantly with either EI or QoWL. Hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated that, although nurses’ preparedness alone did not predict QoWL (β = 0.034, p = 0.57), including emotional intelligence as a moderator explains 41% of the variance in QoWL. Both personal (β = 0.578, p < 0.001) and social competence (β = 0.665, p < 0.001) components of EI had significant buffering effects on the relationship between preparedness and QoWL. These findings suggest that fostering EI in nurses can enhance their resilience and improve their work life quality, particularly in high-stress healthcare environments like those experienced during the pandemic.

Enhancing organizational citizenship behavior using transformational leadership: Role of quality of work life

In today's dynamic landscape, organizations increasingly view organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) as a pivotal element in achieving their corporate objectives seamlessly. Effective leadership plays a critical role in shaping an organization's capacity as a learning entity, fostering enhanced adaptability to change and elevating OCB levels. This study aims to explore the direct and indirect impacts of transformational leadership (TL) on OCB, with a specific focus on the mediating role of quality of work life (QWL). The research involved a sample of 200 respondents from diverse industries across Central Java, Indonesia. Data collection was conducted through questionnaires, and the results were analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The findings reveal a significant and positive direct relationship between TL, QWL, and OCB. Additionally, the study's unique contribution lies in demonstrating that QWL serves as a partial mediator in the relationship between TL and OCB. The analysis underscores the importance of adopting transformational leadership approaches and introducing initiatives that enhance work-life balance to effectively boost OCB within organizations.

Life Satisfaction and Work–Life Balance: The Complexities of Gender Patterning

Conventionally, issues connected to work–life balance have been thought to concern women more than men – not least through the promotion of a strongly gendered discourse about the imperative to become a ‘balanced woman’. In this article, however, we draw on interview data from both men and women (in Australia, occupying broadly middle-class social positions) to show the complexities of gender patterning. Specifically, we demonstrate that the cultural imaginary of a ‘balanced life’ as route to life satisfaction was shared equally by the men and women in our sample. Moreover, men were as likely as women to point to the arrival of children as a key ‘fateful moment’ for re-evaluating their own work–life balance. However, gender disparities were evident in both the nature of change that was effected to achieve ‘balance’ and the associated expectations of partners. The article contributes to the gendered theorisation of work–life balance as a cultural norm in contemporary society.

Meaningful Work Through Craft: How workers in low-skilled roles engage in anomalous craft to gain autonomy and receive recognition

Meaningful work is work that offers a degree of autonomy and the opportunity to receive recognition from others. It is traditionally associated with highly skilled jobs whereas low-skilled jobs are often equated with meaningless work. Previous research assumes that workers in low-skilled roles have little access to the autonomy or recognition characteristic of highly skilled labour. Rather it suggests that in their efforts to make their working lives more tolerable, such workers are limited to either discursively reframing the significance of their roles or engaging in acts of resistance against the organization. In this paper, based on an eight-month ethnographic study of a mould-producing company in France, we identify three processes through which workers in low-skilled roles find temporal opportunities to engage in anomalous craft where latent or underused craft skills and attitudes are utilized to enable them to work more autonomously and earn recognition from peers and supervisors, rendering their work more meaningful. Our work offers insights into how workers can use craft to activate or re-establish meaning in contexts where work has been stripped of significance.

Introduction to NJWS 2024-4

Welcome to the fourth and final issue of Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies for 2024. This edition features four research articles authored by scholars from Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

Strategic Implementation of Social Support for Expatriate Management in Thailand’s Hospitality Sector

This study explores the strategic implementation of social support enablers to address expatriate turnover and the shortage of skilled labour in Thailand’s hospitality industry, particularly in the post-COVID-19 context. By integrating Social Support Theory, Cultural Intelligence Theory, and Social Capital Theory, this research identifies and prioritises key enablers essential for expatriate success. We employed a novel three-phase methodology, which included a literature review, a hybrid Best–Worst Method (BWM), Grey Relational Analysis (GRA), and semi-structured interviews with experts. The findings reveal a hierarchical framework of social support enablers, with health and psychological adjustment support, work–life balance initiatives, career development opportunities, and national support for the host country emerging as top priorities. Implementing these enablers effectively addresses expatriates’ adaptation challenges and significantly enhances their performance, well-being, and retention. This study contributes to the literature by providing the first empirically derived, prioritised approach to social support enablers implementation and practical guidance for developing holistic support systems in multicultural hospitality environments. Focusing on Thailand, the methodology and framework offer a robust foundation for future cross-cultural comparisons in expatriate management research.