Terms Of Job Security Research Articles

Awareness of Gig Economy in Malaysia: Study At International University of Malaya-Wales

Digitalization has transformed the world of business tremendously. The world of employment has shifted from a conventional method to a more flexible and seamless way. A gig economy has opened secondary careers that have created more opportunities that consequently have boosted the country’s economy. This secondary career is referred to as “freelancing”, or work on a job basis. In Malaysia, awareness and knowledge on this matter is still lacking and needs more studies and investigation. Past studies in Malaysia found that the gig economy faces challenges in terms of job security and safety, protection policies, proper platforms and dissemination, etc. Due to this, more studies are required to examine better development and implementation for gig communities. The findings will facilitate the development of better platforms and communities for a gig economy. Thus, this study aims to understand the awareness and knowledge of Malaysian private higher education staff and students on the gig economy. As such, this study specifically gathers data at the International University of Malaya-Wales. The findings will provide insights to lecturers, students, even alumni on how this kind of economy will benefit them and other stakeholders. These findings will also enrich the current data and information for policymakers, employers, and practitioners.
 Keywords: gig economy, private university, human resource, awareness, knowledge

A CASE STUDY OF AUTO-RICKSHAW DRIVERS IN HNAHTHIAL TOWN OF MIZORAM

In this paper, we examine the auto-rickshaw drivers in Hnahthial town of Mizoram, India by focusing their socio-economic status, issues and challenges that are being faced and the level of their job satisfaction. The study utilizes a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data analysis with qualitative interviews and observations from auto-rickshaw drivers, transportation authorities, and other key stakeholders. The study found that majority of the auto-rickshaw drivers are from the family of lower middle socio-economic status reflecting the fact that the driving of auto-rickshaw as the main source of livelihood is still not a gainful job. The study also found that low rate of fare with an index value of 0.8 was the most serious problem among the various problems confronted by auto-rickshaw drivers, followed by lack of auto-rickshaw stand and increasing private vehicles while lack of bad quality of road was ranked as the least significant problem with an index value of 0.51. As regard to job satisfaction, the study found that overall job satisfaction of auto-rickshaw drivers is very low. There is a higher level of dissatisfaction in terms of job security and income compared to working hours. The findings of this research shed light on the socio-economic conditions of auto-rickshaw drivers, their working conditions, income levels, and the challenges they encounter on a daily basis. The paper also explores potential solutions and strategies to address these issues and improve the livelihoods of auto-rickshaw drivers in urban Mizoram.

Enhancing Labour Policies: Ensuring Fair Treatment for Contract Labourers

The article provides an overview of the procedures involved in hiring contract laborers and explores various aspects related to labour laws, occupational safety, violations, and the status of contract workers in India and other countries. The article highlights the need for registration and certification under state government, provision of facilities for laborers, and adherence to occupational safety standards. It discusses the importance of maintaining a balance between labour market efficiency and job security measures. The article emphasizes the need for proper enforcement of labour-related laws and the implementation of social security schemes to protect the rights and well-being of contract workers. It also sheds light on the violations of labour laws and the challenges faced by contract workers in terms of job security and fair wages. The article compares labour laws and practices in different countries, including China, East and Southeast Asian countries, Europe, and the United States, providing insights into their approaches towards labour protection and productivity. Furthermore, the article addresses the issue of equal pay for equal work and the Supreme Court's stance on the contract labour system. It raises concerns about the promotion of the contract labour system by the government and the exploitation faced by contract workers in various industries, including multinational companies. The article concludes with recommendations to enhance labour policies, such as providing flexibility in employment, improving skill development programs, ensuring fair wages and benefits, and enforcing labour laws effectively. Overall, this article provides a comprehensive overview of procedures for hiring contract laborers and highlights the challenges, violations, and recommendations related to labour laws and the well-being of contract workers in India and other countries.

The Experience of Malay Food Delivery Gig Worker in Johor Bahru, Johor/ Pengalaman Pekerja Gig Penghantar Makanan Berbangsa Melayu di Johor Bahru, Johor

The gig economy has been growing since the world economic recession in early 2008 to 2011 and created new jobs for many. Food delivery gig workers are among the important types of gig jobs especially in urban areas such as Johor Bahru. Thus, studies related to the economy of gigs, especially employees who are involved as food deliverers are also given attention by researchers. Therefore, this study aims to explore the experience of food delivery gig workers around Johor Bahru. Qualitative studies using phenomenological approaches were used to explore the working experiences of informants. Snowball sampling technique was used and through this technique 9 informants were obtained. Thematic analysis was applied to obtain the meaning of the experience of the informants interviewed in a semi -structured manner. The results of the study found that although the job is flexible, free and easy but high risk. The informant also described the gig job as still unstable in terms of job security and uncertain job prospects. This job is still considered a transition before the informant obtains a more secure permanent job. Therefore, the government and other stakeholders need to pay attention by offering policies that can ensure job security and reduce the vulnerability and risk of these gig workers.

Creating inclusivity through boundary work? Zooming in on low-wage service sector work

Workers in the low-wage service sector represent a sociodemographically heterogeneous and particularly vulnerable group in terms of job security, job quality and health implications. However, organizational inclusion research has largely neglected this group. In contrast, this article builds on a qualitative study of a Dutch aircraft cleaning company in order to assess the ‘inclusivity of inclusion approaches’ for less privileged groups of employees. By reconstructing how managers and cleaners draw/rework boundaries, we identify certain configurations of inclusion and exclusion that can unfold more or less ‘inclusive’ consequences for historically disadvantaged group members, and more or less exclusionary repercussions for particularly privileged and/or majority group members. We stress the need to say goodbye to a linear narrative of organizations becoming ‘inclusive as such’. Furthermore, we argue that the presence of decent working and employment conditions and the absence of steep differences in those conditions between groups represent the ‘silent foundation’ of creating inclusivity. Consequently, we ask: does inclusion research reach its ‘natural limits’ by tiptoeing around the topic of equality?

The Level of Satisfaction of the Regular Employees of the Department of Tourism Region – 4a with their Benefits

Receiving good benefits is a way of showing that the amount of dedication put to work is being rewarded. Government employees are definitely not excluded into receiving these benefits. The researcher together with the help of the Administration Unit of the Department of Tourism-Region IV-A determined the benefits that they are receiving. These are leaves, retirement, loans, healthcare, and monetary bonuses. This study aims to find out the level of satisfaction of the regular employees from the Department of Tourism-region 4A with their benefits. This study distributed 19 questionnaires and gathered 19 respondents from the regional office of the Department of Tourism-Region 4A in the City of Calamba, Laguna. The study used descriptive method of research to illustrate the level of satisfaction of the regular employees from the Department of Tourism-region 4A with their given benefits The data were statistically treated using percentage, weighted mean, and chi- square. Based on the findings of the research study, it was established that the regular employees of the Department of Tourism-Region 4A were satisfied with such benefits, leaves, loans, retirement, and monetary bonuses. While healthcare received was not well perceived. Further, the independent variable of the study does not significantly affect is the level of satisfaction of DOT-Region 4A regular employees with the benefits they are receiving. In this light, the implementation of the following recommendations shall enhance the level of satisfaction of these government employees. The concerned government agencies such as the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Budget and Management to review and assess the current incentive schemes provided to regular government employees. Also, for the Department of Tourism to establish an organization within the agency, to raise and discuss concerns of regular employees in terms of job security and betterment of their working conditions.

Attitudes towards immigration: responses to the increased presence of Polish migrants in the UK post 2004

ABSTRACT Based on a large-scale research project conducted in a northern English city, this paper focuses on the attitudes towards, and experienced by, Polish migrants as a result of increased immigration following the 2004 enlargement of the European Union. We pay attention to the ways in which people justify their negative attitudes towards this migrant group through competition for resources, particularly in terms of job security and the receipt of benefit payments. However, we also consider meaningful encounters between these migrants and the ‘local’ population, and how through these encounters attitudes can sometimes be transformed from negative to positive. Crucially, we demonstrate how Polish migrants themselves respond to these attitudes. In doing so, we show that by drawing upon the very same discourses of job security and social benefits they develop complex understandings of the ‘local’ population. Through its attention to immigration, the paper contributes to debates about the relationships between different social groups and processes of exclusion, highlighting the importance of encounters on the process of attitude formation. By giving voice to representatives of both the ‘local’ population and migrants, it further provides a rare perspective on social responses to immigration-driven diversity in European societies.

Insecure Employment Contracts during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Need for Participation in Policy Making.

Job security influences the ability of nurses to provide high-quality nursing care. The Iranian health system has always faced nursing shortages, and the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened this situation. Although nurses have been labelled ‘heroes’ across the globe, many of them have been hired using insecure employment contracts. This commentary aims to describe issues surrounding job contracts for Iranian nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and discusses how the current situation can be improved. Iranian nurses are at the frontline of the fight against COVID-19 and need to receive better support in terms of job security and dignity. They should participate more in policymaking activities to improve their job condition and prevent the development and implementation of the short-term and insecure job contracts that lead to job insecurity.

İş Güvencesi Memnuniyeti ve Çeşitli Değişkenlerin İşten Ayrılma Niyetine Etkilerinin Lojistik Regresyon Analizi İle İncelenmesi (Examining The Effects of Job Security Satisfaction and Various Variables on intent to Leave With Logistics Regression Analysis)

Purpose – The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of job security satisfaction and various variables on intent to leave in the context of hotel businesses and to test the hypothesis of the study in the light of these data. Design/methodology/approach – In line with the purpose of the study, a model was proposed to test whether job security satisfaction, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, job stress, age, gender, marital status, education status, department worked, monthly income, manner of work, position held, working hours and duration of employment significantly predicted the intention to leave. This proposed model was tested with binary logistic regression analysis. The dependent variable in the model is the intention to leave, and the independent variables are job security satisfaction, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, job stress, age, gender, marital status, education status department worked, monthly income, manner of work, position held, working hours and duration of employment. The universe of the research consists of employees in five-star hotel businesses in Kundu town of Antalya. In calculating the sample size, the sampling table suggested by Yazicioglu and Erdogan (2004: 50) was used. In the table in question, it was stated that the sample size should be 384 if the universe volume was 100 million, with a significance level of 0.05 and an error rate of ± 0.05, and 477 people were included in the scope of the study. A questionnaire consisting of six parts was used in the study as data collection method. In order to fill in the questionnaires, most of the 25 hotel businesses in Kundu town of Antalya province were visited in the summer season of 2015. The data obtained from 477 valid questionnaires were analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis in statistical package program. Findings – The result of binary logistic regression analysis conducted in order to test the main hypothesis of the study suggests that female and single employees have much higher levels of intention to leave while married employees graduated from primary school who are committed to their organization, satisfied in terms of job security with high job satisfaction and income at the level of 0-1000 TL have low levels of intention to leave. Discussion – Today, there are major economic bottlenecks on a global scale. In these troubled days, institutions prefer to either lock their doors or shrink in order to continue their lives. Unfortunately, many employees face the risk of being unemployed in this process and their job security satisfaction decreases.

THE OUTSOURCING URBAN MOBILITY IN INDUSTRY 4.0 AND THE CHALLENGES FACED BY THE CATEGORY OF WORKERS IN SEARCH OF RIGHTS AND OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY

This article has as its central scope to capture the challenges faced by service providers for delivery applications and urban mobility on demand such as Uber, 99POP, iFood, Rappi, among others, a profession that has emerged with innovations in technology and Industry 4.0, which with the Brazilian economic crisis, a mass of workers changed their careers out of necessity and faced new challenges, with a category that is not recognized by law, there are flaws in terms of job security, and the study will also analyze the main diseases and injuries acquired while working. In addition to highlighting other risks faced by this new category of workers, such as urban violence in large cities. For this, a descriptive research was carried out with qualitative and quantitative analysis of data using books, articles, dissertations, newspapers and magazines to support the analysis of the content extracted from the interviews that took place from January/2020 to March/2020, where it was possible to know and describe the routine, the difficulties, as well as the activities that directly affect the health and safety of this service provider's work.

The Lived Experience of Work and Career Among Individuals with Bipolar Disorder: A Phenomenological Study of Discussion Forum Narratives

Individuals with invisible chronic illnesses are often at a disadvantage in the workplace in terms of job security, promotion, and occupational success. Because little is known about the use of public online support forums to help patients with mental health disorders cope with the impact their illness has on their work and career, this research identifies and examines online forum posts related to employment by contributors with bipolar disorder. Seven percent of the total eligible posts from four discussion forums (n = 7,712) contained mentions of work and career (n = 572). A thematic analysis of the 572 posts is reported, organized by characteristics of contributors related to work and career histories, symptoms of bipolar disorder at work, needs for coping at work, the importance of work as part of a healthy life, disclosure of the illness, and recommendations by other contributors. The symptoms associated with the illness can have a negative impact in the work environment. Fear of stigma and other negative consequences inhibit workers from disclosing their condition and negotiating ways to get the fundamental accommodations they need. The posts reveal a climate of fear and uncertainty surrounding mental illness in the workplace, as well as individuals’ desire to conquer their health challenges to achieve meaning and fulfillment in their work life.

Neglected Issues: How Charter Schools Manage Teachers and Acquire Resources

Background/ContextCharter schools are commonly discussed as being more effective at matching student and family interests with school mission, ensuring family choice of educational products and improving education quality and the efficiency of resource use as a result of the competitive dynamics they are assumed to generate between themselves and public schools. The rhetoric around charter schools in general puts little attention on teacher management and resource acquisition, and the literature on charter schools has tended to focus on outcomes such as student achievement. The prevalence of charter schools within and outside the United States underscores the need to understand what role such issues as teacher management and resourcing play in this increasingly popular education reform.Focus of StudyThe purpose of this article is to uncover and present the strategies that charter schools employ for managing teachers and acquiring resources, and with what implications.Research DesignThrough a qualitative case study of a charter school program in Bogotá, Colombia, that began in 1999, we investigated (a) the regulations that governed the hiring, firing, and compensation of charter school teachers, in addition to (b) how charters respond to those regulations in contracting teachers, and (c) the overall approach of charter principals and the charter management organizations (CMOs) that oversee them when it comes to teacher engagement, collaboration, supervision, and professional development. In terms of resource acquisition, the focus was on understanding (d) the extent of government-provided resources to charter schools, (e) the perceptions of charter principals and CMO directors of the resources provided by the government, (f) the ways in which these actors have sought to complement these resources, and (g) the kinds of additional resources that have been obtained. Data in the form of documents, archives, literature and evaluations, and qualitative interviews were collected over eight months.ConclusionsFindings indicate that charter school teachers in Bogotá feel that many aspects of their work environment are positive, though they also report tradeoffs in terms of job security and financial compensation. Charter schools use the flexibility afforded to them around employment to spend half as much on teachers by hiring nonunionized teachers, contracting them for periods of a year or less, assigning teachers to lower compensation categories, and offering significantly lower salaries, despite teachers working over 12 hours more each week than their public school counterparts. Findings with regard to resource acquisition address differences between public and charter schools, perceptions of school leaders, and the routes to resource acquisition used by charter schools, namely budget prioritization, donations, volunteers, partnerships, and alumni networks. Implications for future research are discussed, including the need for studies to distinguish among types of charter schools. The article concludes that, when addressing the costs and benefits of charter schools, we need to ask: Costs in what sense? Benefits for whom? And at whose expense?

Transportation and temp agency work: Risks and opportunities for migrant workers

Access to transportation has long been recognized as key to people’s employment outcomes. Being able to get to work affordably, safely and on time makes all the difference in terms of job security and satisfaction. Recently, the rise of temporary placement agencies, especially as a gateway into the labour market for many newcomers to Canada, raises new questions. In this article, we present the findings of a 3-year longitudinal study that followed 42 (im)migrant temp agency workers in 5 sectors to explore the trajectory of their experiences. We analyze the role of transportation within their employment and make the argument that access to transportation—and especially the lack of it—is an important factor in temp agencies’ control and exploitation of workers. At the same time, those seeking to help workers can look into their work commute as a place of intervention.

Institutions, employment insecurity and polarization in support for unemployment benefits

Research has shown that workers’ support for public unemployment benefits (UB) depends on their level of employment insecurity: the insecure workers are more supportive of benefits than the secure workers. It can also be hypothesized that this polarization in support for UB is increased or decreased by the institutional settings of a country. We are particularly interested in two types of institutional conditions: the level of employment protection and the generosity of unemployment benefits. We discuss how public provision of social protection in terms of job security and income might motivate the subjectively secure and insecure workers in different ways and thereby polarize or unite support for unemployment benefits. We find that protection of temporary job contracts and generous unemployment benefits bring the attitudes of the secure and insecure closer together. We argue that the convergence of attitudes can be explained by the distribution of underlying social risks and existing social norms about solidarity.

Bankruptcy Risk, Costs and Corporate Diversification

This paper studies the impact of diversification on firms that file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Prior research suggests that diversification affects both the probability and costs of distress. Treating bankruptcy as a special case of distress, we find that diversification reduces the likelihood of bankruptcy and liquidation in Chapter 11, which is consistent with the coinsurance hypothesis. However, we observe higher bankruptcy costs as measured by time spent in Chapter 11 and inefficient segment investment for diversified firms. Our evidence is consistent with the idea that diversification provides benefits to managers in terms of job security rather than to firms. Our findings may help firms to make diversification decisions and creditors determine lending policies toward different forms of organizations.

Bankruptcy risk, costs and corporate diversification

This paper studies the impact of diversification on firms that file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Prior research suggests that diversification affects both the probability and costs of distress. Treating bankruptcy as a special case of distress, we find that diversification reduces the likelihood of bankruptcy and liquidation in Chapter 11, which is consistent with the coinsurance hypothesis. However, we observe higher bankruptcy costs as measured by time spent in Chapter 11 and inefficient segment investment for diversified firms. Our evidence is consistent with the idea that diversification provides benefits to managers in terms of job security rather than to firms. Our findings may help firms to make diversification decisions and creditors determine lending policies toward different forms of organizations.

Determinants of job satisfaction: a European comparison of self-employed and paid employees

The job satisfaction of self-employed and paid-employed workers is analyzed using the European Community Household Panel for the EU-15 covering the years 1994–2001. We distinguish between two types of job satisfaction: job satisfaction in terms of type of work and job satisfaction in terms of job security. Findings from our generalized ordered logit regressions indicate that self-employed individuals as compared to paid employees are more likely to be satisfied with their present jobs in terms of type of work and less likely to be satisfied in terms of job security. The findings also provide many insights into the determinants of the two types of job satisfaction for both self-employed and paid-employed workers.

Determinants of Job Satisfaction Across the EU-15: A Comparison of Self-Employed and Paid Employees

textabstractJob satisfaction of self-employed and paid-employed workers is analyzed using the European Community Household Panel for the EU-15 covering the years 1994-2001. We distinguish between two types of job satisfaction, i.e. job satisfaction in terms of type of work and job satisfaction in terms of job security. Findings from our generalized ordered logit regressions indicate that self-employed individuals as compared to paid employees are more likely to be satisfied with their present jobs in terms of type of work and less likely to be satisfied in terms of job security. The findings also provide many insights into the determinants of the two types of job satisfaction for both the self-employed and paid employees

Impact of Downsizing on Employee Attitude and Performance: A Case Study of HBL

The function of downsizing today has become a byword for layoffs amidst burgeoning company, mergers and acquisitions and more particularly amid business devouring world wide recession. In the modern day world, where efficiency and effectiveness are imperative for survival, it is getting mandatory for the corporations of every kind to reduce their costs and improve their profitability by inducing modern cost cutting techniques-Human Resource traditionally being the first target. The banking industry in Pakistan has undergone similar restructuring, involving large scale layoffs in many local and multinational banks in the last few years. This study has attempted to investigate the factors which made downsizing a relevant strategy for the management in the Habib Bank Ltd, simultaneously identifying its employees' attitude and performance attitude in terms of job security, morale, turn over rate, absenteeism, degree of organizational citizenship, commitment towards long-term goals and projects. The study has been carried out among HBL employees at head office, Karachi through in depth interviews with Human Resource personnel involved in downsizing decisions. In the second stage an analysis of about 100-150 employees from the middle and lower management level belonging to departments which were most downsized was done. The study has explored the reasons for which an organization uses downsizing as a corporate policy, its impact on employee performance and investigate the various negative impacts of downsizing on the survivors' attitude in terms of job security, morale, turn over rate, absenteeism, degree of organizational citizenship, commitment towards long term goals and projects in the banking sector in general and Habib Bank Ltd in particular. The conclusions developed through this study will be useful in developing a set of guidelines on how the banking industry in Pakistan can effectively implement layoff strategies while maintaining employee performance, organizational citizenship and commitment among the survivors.

This issue of JAN

This issue of <i>JAN</i>