Public Employees Research Articles

Exploring work engagement of public sector employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, Namibia

Orientation: In Namibia, the public sector employs a majority of employees which contributes to significant economic growth and development of the country.Research purpose: This study investigated the association among job satisfaction, burnout and work engagement. This study explored if work engagement is experienced differently based on the biographical variables.Motivation for the study: Namibia aims to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs), Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP) and National Development Goals. The state-owned enterprises are required to provide quality services to the nation through their employees. The health and well-being of these employees facilitate the productivity of these state-owned enterprises (SDGs 1, 2, 3, 8, 11 and 16).Research approach/design and method: A total of n = 130 public sector employees were randomly selected and responded to a questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic questions, the Job Satisfaction Survey, the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Data analysis was performed through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software to test the hypotheses of the study.Main findings: Positive relationships were found between job satisfaction, burnout and work engagement. Work engagement reported a positive relationship with burnout. Work engagement is experienced the same in relation to the biographical variables.Practical/managerial implications: The study suggests a constant evaluation of job attitudes, implementation of effective performance management systems, team building activities and implementation of workplace wellness programmes.Contribution/value-add: This study adds to the understanding of job satisfaction, burnout and work engagement within state-owned enterprises in Namibia.

Unlocking mental well-being: The role of workplace social support and organisational justice in the public service

Research purpose: This study sought to determine the relationship between public service employee’s mental health accounting for the role of organisational justice and workplace social support.Motivation for the study: Calls exist to understand issues of mental health within the confines of the organisation.Research approach/design and method: A survey approach utilising a convenience sample of 289 public service employees as respondents was utilised. The location of the study was the Eastern Cape province, South Africa.Main findings: The findings show that workplace social support has a direct and positive relationship with employee mental health. Organisational justice has no significant relationship with employee mental health. Workplace social support was found to fully mediate the relationship between organisational justice and employee mental health.Practical/managerial implications: Strategies can be put in place that inform the promotion of mental health with the public service. These include the need for support services to promote mental health to address organisational issues that impede the pathway of such interventions.Contribution/value-add: The findings proffer useful precursors to interventions that address the challenge of mental health.

U.S. against the world: Authoritarianism among American public servants

AbstractWhat is the prevalence of authoritarianism among public servants in the United States, and what are its resulting consequences? Several underlying psychological traits are associated with both authoritarianism and a desire to work in the public sector, such as an aversion to ambiguity and a preference for order and security. Scholarship also suggests that those with high authoritarian attributes may see the world through an ‘us versus them’ prism; in this case, the ‘them’ may be represented by other countries. Therefore, it is hypothesised that those with higher authoritarian attributes are more likely to work in the public sector and that public servants with higher authoritarian attributes are more likely to be sensitive to potential threats to the country. Using six surveys that cover a 20‐year period from the American National Elections Study, both hypotheses are supported. Authoritarian attributes are associated with an increased likelihood of government employment. Additionally, authoritarian public servants tend to support government wiretapping and express greater concern about terrorism. The presence of authoritarianism among public sector employees has implications for a range of governance issues, which makes it important to understand where and to what degree it is prevalent.Points for practitioners More attention should be devoted to the division and prevalence of authoritarian attributes within public servants . Checks and oversight mechanisms should be implemented for public sector employees in sensitive areas to help counterbalance potential authoritarian impulses. Organisational cultures that value openness, evidence‐based policymaking, and tolerance for dissenting viewpoints should be fostered as a counterweight to authoritarian preferences for conformity.

Introduction “street‐level bureaucracy, populism, and democratic backsliding”

AbstractThis special issue investigates the impact of populism and democratic backsliding on street‐level bureaucracy (SLB) across various countries and contexts. The cooccurrence of populism and democratic erosion significantly alters public administration, particularly affecting public sector employees responsible for policy implementation. This issue explores how populist strategies differ in their application to SLBs as compared to the Civil Service, the distinctive challenges SLBs encounter due to populism and democratic backsliding, and the pressures exacerbated during crises. By examining studies from Brazil, Mexico, Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Switzerland, and the United States, the papers highlight the interplay between political pressures and frontline service delivery. The findings underscore the necessity of understanding the relationship between democratic backsliding, populism, and SLBs, proposing a research agenda to further explore these dynamics and their implications for public administration and policy implementation.

Good Thoughts Lead to Good Deeds: How Frontline Public Employee’s Social Mindfulness Affects Service-Oriented Organizational Citizenship Behavior

In the context of rising pressures on services without linked resources, service-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (SOCB) has been recognized as a contributor to public sector success. Using the theory of empathy-induced altruistic motivation, we investigated how frontline public employees’ social mindfulness affects SOCB through PSM, as well as the moderating effects of perceptions of citizen mistreatment (PCM) and perceptions of gratitude on the relationship between PSM and SOCB. Online survey data from 409 Chinese frontline public employees from diverse sectors were analyzed. The results showed a positive and significant association between social mindfulness and SOCB, mediated through PSM. This link between PSM and SOCB remains non-significantly affected by PCM but is significantly strengthened by perception of gratitude, as consistently observed across the entire moderated mediator model. The public sector should consider social mindfulness when allocating and training frontline employees and create conditions for healthy interactions between them and citizens.

Time to rediscover task-oriented leadership? A multi-source, time-lagged study on leadership and well-being in public service jobs

ABSTRACT Although leaders have a considerable impact on the well-being of public employees, this relationship has not yet been fully disentangled in both conceptual and empirical terms. We develop a framework of how task- and relations-oriented leadership affect well-being (i.e. hedonic, eudaimonic, social dimensions). A multi-source, time-lagged study from a large Danish municipality shows that task-oriented leadership yields positive associations with both social and eudaimonic dimensions of well-being, while for relations-oriented leadership, we only find a positive association with hedonic well-being. The findings suggest rediscovering task-oriented leadership as an important but often overlooked quality of effective leaders.

Prohibition of public employees from practicing commercial activities in the legislation of the United Arab Emirates and the French Republic: A comparative study

Practicing commercial activities as a public employee is a major negative phenomenon that affects the public interest, institutions, and employers, and affects economic development. Both the economy and society as a whole have significant effects on countries throughout all sectors. The study aimed to identify legislation restricting commercial activity by public sector workers in the United Arab Emirates and France. This research was based on the comparative descriptive approach between UAE legislation and French comparative legislation in the field of prohibiting public servants from engaging in business activities. The research concluded with a variety of findings, the most notable of which is the fact that the UAE legislature was flexible in dealing with this issue, making it simpler for employees to conduct businesses by reducing the load of life troubles on public employees. The study recommended the Establishing procedures, systems and rules for reporting to the competent authorities by public employees about acts of practicing commercial activities, when these acts come to their knowledge during the performance of their duties.

Mental Well-Being and the Quality of Life Among Retired Public and Private Sector Employees: A Comparative Study From Kerala, India

Mental Well-Being and the Quality of Life Among Retired Public and Private Sector Employees: A Comparative Study From Kerala, India

Relational Job Crafting and Task Performance: The Mediating Role of Work Engagement

This study investigates the mediating role of work engagement on the effect of relational job crafting on task performance among employees in the public sector of Ghana. Relational job crafting involves offers significant benefits to public sector employees by enhancing their performance through collaborative engagement. Thus, when employees actively adjust their social work environment, they can reduce (increase) work-related stress (sense of purpose) through fostering stronger relationships, which also improve well-being and performance. The research employed a closed-ended questionnaire and conducted a cross-sectional online survey. The study’s target population consists of 17,163 public sector employees in Cape Coast Metropolis, out of which 456 were randomly selected to complete the survey. The sample size was estimated using the Adam, (2020) approach for selecting samples in a quantitative study. Data collection took place from January to June 2023, and the analysis was conducted utilising the R version of partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The study revealed an average yet statistically significant influence of relational job crafting on both work engagement and task performance. Thus, relational job crafting had a significant positive effect on work engagement (β = 0.502, p < 0.01) and task performance (β = 0.293, p < 0.01), with work engagement further affecting task performance significantly (β = 0.475, p < 0.01). The significant positive relationship shows that the increase in both relational job crafting and work engagement among Ghanaian public sector employees further improves their performance in the various tasks assigned to them. Also, despite the direct relationship between work engagement and relational job crafting and task performance, it was further revealed that the latter further mediate the relationship among the former and task performance. Thus, it was found that work engagement serves as a complementary partial mediator in the relationship between relational job crafting and task performance (β = 0.238, SE = 0.034, 95% CI = 0.177, 0.309). These findings support the initial hypotheses established for the study. In terms of policy recommendations, this study emphasises the importance of fostering both work engagement and relational crafting to enhance task performance in the Ghanaian public sector. It suggests that employers, including government bodies, directors, and chief executive officers of public institutions, as well as policymakers, including labour unions, should implement measures across various sectors of public services to strengthen employee relations and increase engagement, ultimately enhancing task performance

Title VII and Religious Accommodations in the Workplace After Groff v. Dejoy (2023)

The United States Supreme Court in Groff v. DeJoy rejected a 50-year precedent regarding the application of Title VII of the United States Civil Rights to requests by private and public employees for Title VII workplace religious accommodations. The article evaluates the impact of 73 U.S. District Court and U.S. Court of Appeals decisions decided after Groff to determine whether Groff has had an impact on how lower federal courts have evaluated requests for Title VII workplace religious accommodations. The article also evaluates the role of U.S. District Courts as gatekeepers for Title VII workplace religious accommodation lawsuits. Finally, the article discusses the impact of Groff on the most common types of workplace religious accommodation requests. The article argues that employers will have greater difficulty persuading U.S. District Court to grant motions to dismiss or motions for summary judgment to end Title religious accommodation lawsuits.

You’ll never seek alone: The impact of active labour market policies on finding a job

Using the administrative records of the Spanish Public Employment Service for the period 2018–2019, we analysed the impact of participation in job search assistance and training programmes on the chances of unemployed jobseekers finding employment, as well as the quality of the job obtained. Propensity score matching techniques were used to evaluate the effectiveness of these programmes. We found that participation exerted a positive and significant differential effect on the probability of transition from unemployment to employment and on the probability of finding a job of intermediate quality compared to non-participation. This positive impact was largely due to the effect of training programmes, the magnitude of which persisted even as the period elapsed between participation and exit towards employment increased, whereas job search assistance was less effective over time. The positive influence of participation appeared to be more intense for specific socioeconomic groups.

Integrated environmental and social assessment of alum-contaminated water in An Giang province

ABSTRACT This study investigates alum-contaminated water in An Giang province within the Mekong Delta, emphasizing methodological approaches to assess its distribution and impacts. The research conducted from March to May 2021 involved surveys of residents, public sector employees, and provincial managers, complemented by expert interviews and extensive fieldwork. Surface water samples were collected during both rainy and dry seasons across three districts, with parameters such as turbidity, pH, and temperature measured onsite, and aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu) concentrations analyzed in the laboratory using atomic absorption spectrometry. The data were further processed using QGIS software to create comprehensive maps illustrating seasonal variations in water quality. The findings revealed significant spatial and temporal variations in water quality, with pH levels fluctuating markedly between the dry and rainy seasons. Household surveys indicated a lack of awareness regarding effective water treatment methods, with most respondents relying on local authorities for solutions. The study highlights the need for community education and participation in addressing alum contamination, offering insights into the environmental and public health implications of water quality in the region. This research contributes valuable knowledge to the ongoing efforts in environmental conservation and water quality management in the Mekong Delta.

Exploring workplace well-being strategies in Iranian public organizations: a mixed methods study

PurposeTo ensure effective national governance, it is essential to enhance employees' well-being in the workplace. Employees with good mental and physical health are more likely to demonstrate a high level of commitment and engagement in advancing public policy objectives, which serve as instruments of public will. A comprehensive understanding of the various effective strategies to improve workplace well-being is indispensable to formulating human resource management policies within the public sector. Therefore, this study aims to uncover and prioritize the key strategies, programs and actions that contribute to enhancing the workplace well-being of public employees in Iran, drawing from their perspectives and experiences.Design/methodology/approachWe conducted a mixed-method study incorporating both qualitative and quantitative phases to recognize and measure these strategies. In the first phase, a qualitative content analysis was carried out based on the perspectives of Iranian public sector employees. In the subsequent phase, a questionnaire derived from the qualitative findings was randomly distributed to 374 employees from 14 public organizations. FindingsWorkplace well-being strategies can be summarized according to the level of their importance as follows: employees' well-being through “inter-personal relationship,” “systems,” “technologies,” “structure,” “culture” and “environment” within the organization. These strategies as six themes divided into 13 categories and 60 subcategories of programs and actions to promote employee well-being in the work setting.Originality/valueThe importance of considering employees' perspectives on workplace well-being is highlighted as a crucial aspect, rather than depending exclusively on managerial viewpoints for the implementation of well-being initiatives. Adopting an integrated and holistic approach to workplace well-being through strategies, programs and actions is another significant contribution of this study.

Key Determinants of Visitor Satisfaction and Post- Visit Intentions at a Museum in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

Museums preserve and present valued historical artifacts, information, and displays to an information-hungry tourism market. As such, they play a crucial role in the tourism industry, serving as pertinent leisure attractions in many destinations. It is therefore important for management to identify the key determinants that lead to tourist satisfaction and to tourists’ intention to return in future. This knowledge could assist management in making the informed strategic decisions for sustaining such attractions. Very little research has been conducted on this aspect in terms of museums in South Africa, leaving numerous unanswered questions about tourists’ experiences, the perceived quality of sites and tourists’ satisfaction with sites, which ultimately impact their intention to return. A quantitative survey was conducted at the Stevenson-Hamilton Knowledge Resource Centre and Museum (Skukuza Museum) in the Kruger National Park, where a total of 164 responses were obtained. Eight hypotheses were formulated and tested by utilizing Spearman’s correlation, investigating visitor expectations, experience, perceived quality, satisfaction, pleasure, confirmation and visitor intent. The results confirm the hypothesis that when tourists’ expectations are met, they experience a positive service experience and perceive the high quality. When tourists derive pleasure and satisfaction from the visit, they usually commit to a follow-up visit. The results of this study provide a basis for museum management, public sector visitor attractions, employees and academia to further develop these museums as successful visitor attractions.

The Impact of Financial Literacy on Selected Nigerian Public Sector Employees Savings Culture and Investment

Financial literacy ensures that an individual is able to match his income with his expenditure, lives within his means and forestall going broke or bankrupt. Like general or health literacy, financial literacy could be conceptualized as having two dimensions: understanding (personal finance knowledge) and use (personal finance application). In this study, we reviewed how financial literacy is measured in the current literature and examine how well the existing studies addresses whether financial literacy improves employees savings culture and investment. We review the literature on alternative policies to improve financial outcomes and compare the evidence on whether financial literacy improves employees spending habits, savings, investments and standard of living. The sample size of this survey based study consists of 110 working men and women from non-financial public sector in Nigeria. Data was analyzed using simple percentage and frequency distribution. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used in the analysis of the data. The major challenge in financial education has been how to measure the impact of financial education on the recipient savings culture. Investment and standard of living. On the other hand what is the influence of financial literacy on employees’ savings and investment outcome. It can be observed that in some instances those who did not have formal financial education and those who are primary or secondary school dropout have risen to own successful business empire. However, some who have tertiary financial education are struggling to survive. A large proportion of the sampled employees are deficient in financial literacy notwithstanding their exposure to financial education. Contrary to popular perception this research shows that there is no significant relationship between financial literacy and education level, savings culture and investments, of Nigerian public sector employees. Finally, we discuss directions ........

The role of incivility aggression on decent work: A local government sector case

Background: The issue of workplace incivility is noted as being one of the factors that affect the work of public service employees. However, empirically, the problem needs to be sufficiently addressed in the South African local context. There are growing calls to ascertain how workplace incivility affects the experience and the outcome of work.Aim: This study investigates the effects of incivility aggression on decent work among local government employees in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.Methods: The study followed a quantitative research design. Primary data were collected with the help of 425 self-administered questionnaires among employees in the Eastern Cape local government.Results: The study found that experienced workplace incivility significantly influences decent work. Further, instigated workplace incivility was found to influence decent work among employees significantly.Conclusion: Through the findings of the study, an appeal is made to policy makers and practitioners to implement policies that promote necessary good working conditions, social support, interdependence and fairness to counteract incivility aggression.Contribution: The study advances the understanding of incivility aggression within an organisational setting.

Factors Influencing the Quality of Life in Rural Populations in Colombia: A Theoretical Review

The quality of life of rural populations in Colombia is affected by various problems, including poor living conditions related to limited access to basic services, education, health and economic opportunities. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify the most impacted dimensions in these rural contexts and to formulate guidelines to address the difficulties faced by their inhabitants. Methodologically, the research is framed within the qualitative paradigm, with a descriptive scope and is based on a review of existing academic literature. The findings emerging from the literature review show that the most affected dimensions are access to public services, infrastructure, employment and education, which has a direct impact on the general welfare of rural communities. It is concluded that there is a need to implement public policies that promote the integral development of these areas, improving their infrastructure, strengthening access to basic services and promoting educational and economic strategies that favor a better standard of living in rural areas of Colombia.

Bridging the Gaps Within and Between Public Services Through Samverket, a New Co-Working Concept

ABSTRACT Gaps within and between public actors cause inefficient, incomplete, and inequitable public services. A new co-working concept, Samverket, was designed and tested to address these shortcomings in two Swedish regions. This paper investigated qualitatively how public sector employees perceived the conditions for cross-organizational networking, learning, and collaboration when using Samverket and whether they experienced positive outcomes for society. The results show that this co-working concept can innovate public services and highlight which conditions are optimal when designing and using such a workplace for public sector employees. These new findings are relevant to the public sector, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers.

Factors Influencing Employee Job Commitment in the Public Sector: A Case Study of Temeke Municipal Council, Tanzania

The study aims to assess the factors influencing employee Job commitment Case study Temeke Municipal Council, Tanzania. The main objective was to examine factors which influence employees Job commitment at work place in public sector Temeke Municipal. The specific objectives were to examine the relationship between communication practices within public sector, to examine various leadership styles within public sector organizations, to analyse the association between job satisfaction levels among public sector employees, to investigate the role of employee engagement initiatives in influencing job commitment within public sector organization. This research was guided by Social Exchange Theory and Agency Theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design and a quantitative approach. Data was collected structured questionnaires from a purposive sample of 50 and descriptively analyzed. The study found that both intrinsic and extrinsic factors significantly influence employee job commitment at Temeke Council. Key findings revealed that effective communication practices, transformational leadership styles, high job satisfaction, and robust employee engagement initiatives are positively correlated with increased job commitment. Employees who experienced clear and frequent communication, recognized and supportive leadership and opportunities for professional growth reported higher levels of engagement and loyalty to the organization. The study concludes that retaining and enhancing employee’s commitment relies on deliberate efforts of the management to improve job satisfaction, quality selection of leadership styles, communication practices as well as employee’s engagement. The study recommends the management of Temeke Municipal Council to invest in leadership development programs to enhance managers' skills in communication, conflict resolution, and team building. Effective leadership is crucial for fostering a supportive and motivating work environment.

Resource rents, ethnic fractionalization and redistributive public sector employment

The resource curse literature often posits that public employment in resource-rich economies tends to be large, driven by motivations beyond public goods provision. One set of theories attributes this phenomenon to (ethnic) clientelism, but lacks robust empirical support. Another set of theories challenges the notion of (ethnic) clientelism, suggesting that the expansion of public sector employment serves as a form of social insurance in the absence administrative tools to redistribute income. This study diverges from the conventional story of an invariably positive association between resource abundance and public sector employment. Instead, I show that the positive correlation between resource abundance and public sector employment only holds when ethnic fractionalization is low. In countries with high levels of ethnic fractionalization, the relationship weakens and can even reverse. This is because an increase in public sector employment tends to dilute public sector wages, diminishing the attractiveness of public sector jobs as clientelist rewards. The empirical analysis supports this claim: when ethnic fractionalization is low, more resource rents correspond to higher public sector employment and lower (or even negative) public sector wage premiums; when ethnic fractionalization is high, the opposite holds: more resource rents correspond to fewer public sector jobs but larger public sector wage premiums.