Work Values Research Articles

An exploration on the Cultural Loss in the Translation of Camel Xiangzi from the Post-colonial Perspective

Chinese literature Camel Xiangzi, written by Lao She, has exerted a vast influence among overseas readers. Through the study, we found that despite Evan Kin’s excessive domestication and rewriting in his translation, his version still achieved great success in the United States at that time, which violated the literary and cultural value of the original work and constituted cultural hegemony to some extent. It is a pity that a classic work has become a tool for pleasing natives and that the cultural elements in it have been lost to varying degrees, partly to the point of exhaustion. Based on cultural dimensions such as language, religion, and society, as well as the characterization of the protagonist Xiangzi, this paper explores the phenomenon of cultural loss in Kin’s translation in terms of post-colonial theory. Moreover, we also recommend that translators attach great importance to having a responsible translation ethic, protecting cultural diversity, and advocating to restore the regional, linguistic, and cultural traits of the source language as originally as possible.

Questioning Case Studies: Subverting Social Work Education and Practice Through a Lens of Queer Irreverence

ABSTRACT Queer theory pushes us to resist normativity, question power structures, and strive for liberation. Queer-affirming practice encourages trauma-informed, consensual, accountable, and reciprocal care. Theoretically, the values of queer theory, queer-affirming practice, and social work are adjacent, if not intrinsically interconnected. However, social work education often relies on practices rooted in oppressive frameworks wedded to traditionally western and colonist socio-behavioral science standards that go unchallenged. For example, encouraging the appropriation of clients’ lived experiences for students’ learning and instructors’ teaching needs reinforces this complex, as this practice can be exploitative and reductive. Similarly, training social workers to engage clinical exercises without the transparent consent of their clients dehumanizes clients and reinforces imbalances of power. Inspired by Alex Iantaffi’s approach of irreverence in Gender Trauma and queer theory’s analysis of power, the practice of case studies (i.e. formulations, analyses, etc.) is questioned and subverted. Through an example of how the gatekeeping process of gender-affirming surgery letters can be practiced with “queer irreverence,” this piece offers tools for applying such irreverence in clinical practice, informing liberatory paths forward.

Integrating social work into general practice in Australia: protocol of an intervention study

PurposeThis study protocol provides an overview of research aimed to evidence social work contributions to general practitioner (GP) clinics and evaluating the value of social workers and students in such settings. The research will facilitate and evaluate 12 months service delivery by social workers and students who will be employed in North Queensland GP clinics.Design/methodology/approachThe study will be conducted in three phases. The first phase will involve developing partnerships and contractual arrangements to co-fund social workers to be employed in GP clinics. In the second phase, social workers and social work students will be practicing in GP settings and systematically recording basic demographics about their patients, areas of health and interventions. This data will be collated and correlated. Patient feedback surveys and a pre- and post-well-being scale will be applied to evaluate the outcomes of interventions. In the final phase, feedback about the value and contribution of social work in a GP setting will be sought from key GP practice stakeholders via an online survey tool to evaluate the research.FindingsFurther data is needed to evidence the contribution and outcomes of social work practice in Australia and elsewhere. It is important that social work and GPs work together to evidence and evaluate the outcomes and contribution of social work to develop sustainable funding pathways for embedding social work in GP clinics.Originality/valueThis is an innovative study design that will use various data sources to identify, quantify and evaluate the contribution of social work in general practice. It allows for stakeholders feedback that can contribute to policy review and the development of funding pathways to advance the inclusion of social work in integrated team care.

Work Value and Work-Related Issues between Two Generations for Technical Staff at Northern Region in Malaysia

Work Value and Work-Related Issues between Two Generations for Technical Staff at Northern Region in Malaysia

Key influences on residential photovoltaic solar panel adoption in the United States

ABSTRACT The prevalence of low-density residential development to host solar PV, the ubiquity of solar irradiation, and incentivizing policies have created substantial opportunities for homeowners in the United States. Federal, state, and municipal governments implement regulatory policies and financial incentives to promote photovoltaic solar systems in residential buildings with limited resources. Thus, understanding the main factors and their spatial variations is vital for expanding the accessibility of renewable energy benefits to specific socio-economic groups and submarkets. Our research includes linear regression, principal component regression, and spatial error models to provide empirical evidence for the relationship between the adoption rates and socio-economic, geographical, and technical factors while identifying characteristics of adopter groups. The results suggest that the relative advantage factors – electricity prices and solar irradiation – play the most significant role across all regions and market segmentations. Statewide policy indicators are the second most significant factor, followed by socio-economic variables on employment status, remote working, car ownership, and property value. Our results indicate that homeowners do not only differ in their circumstances but also in their motivations. This highlights a need for policy-makers and the solar industry to place greater emphasis on distinct characteristics of consumers motivated by ideology and consumers motivated by economic benefits.

A Study on Career Aspiration and Their Effect on Work Values among Gen Z: A Contextual Investigation of Chennai City

This study investigates the profession yearnings and their effect on work values among Age Z in Chennai City. As this segment enters the labor force, their interesting points of view and needs are reshaping conventional vocation pathways and working environment assumptions. The exploration inspects key factors like self-awareness, instructive portion, and financial status, and what these factors mean for vocation desires and work values. Using a blended strategies approach, the review accumulates quantitative information through studies and subjective experiences by means of meetings with Gen Z people in Chennai. The discoveries uncover that vocation yearnings among Gen Z are essentially impacted by a longing for significant work, balance between fun and serious activities, and moral arrangement. Instructive assets and financial status additionally assume significant parts in molding these yearnings. Moreover, the review features the significance of self-awareness in improving position fulfillment. The outcomes give important experiences to instructors, policymakers, and businesses intending to adjust their systems to the developing profession and work upsides of Gen Z, subsequently encouraging a more spurred and connected with labor force.

Unpaid Labor of Women in Barangay San Juan, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija Towards Sustainable Gender Equality Policy Reforms

Globally, women have been a critical part of every household and agricultural operation. Despite their major contributions in the care economy in maintaining a healthy and sustainable food system, they remain largely invisible because, for a long time, economists depart from valuing unpaid work because of its non-economic value and social constructs. Barangay San Juan is one of the 26 barangays representing 7.47% of the total population of the municipality categorized by PhilAtlas (n.d.) as landlocked, referring to an area that is entirely surrounded by land. Before the agricultural mechanization, farmwomen in the barangay devoted 35 hours a week of unpaid care and 49 hours a week of unpaid farm work assisting the family in farm activities. The mechanization displaced farmwomen and deprived them of income opportunity while continuously providing domestic care to the family. This research aims to investigate the impact of unpaid labor for women in Barangay San Juan, Aliaga, and Nueva Ecija are adhering to Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG-5) by recognizing the value of unpaid work. A triangulation approach was employed through a qualitative and descriptive design to assess the effects of unpaid work on gender equality, which revealed a significant amount of time devoted by women in the care economy, hence dismissing their economic opportunity in the labor market. The observed absence led to the proposal of operational gender education, governance in resource mobilization, and inclusion of gender perspectives in ordinances that are critical in achieving equality to increase value recognition of women's labor.

A Resident Narrative Medicine Curriculum to Promote Professional Identity Development: Story-Based Sessions Grounded in Narrative Learning Theory.

Empathy, reflection, and social connectedness are important skills for physician identity development and are increasingly challenged by burnout. Humanities-based interventions like narrative medicine (NM) are emerging in medical education to promote these skills. Only 17% of such initiatives target graduate medical learners. Furthermore, interventions are inconsistent in approach and theory representation. NM uses story-based learning to promote reflection and group discussion. Inspired by narrative learning theory, we developed NM sessions for residents to foster healthy identity development. Ninety-minute sessions were integrated into curricula for PGY 1-PGY 3 internal medicine-primary care residents at two large academic centers. Sessions involved engagement with a narrative source (stories, poems, art), personal reflection, and group discussion. Topics ranged from burnout to difficult patients. Participants completed anonymous postsession surveys assessing satisfaction, attitudes, and skills. Fifteen sessions occurred from 2021 to 2023, with three to 10 residents per session. Fifty residents completed between one and four sessions, with 68 survey responses (response rate: 88%). Over 95% ranked 4-5 out of 5 for overall impression (n = 67) and personal value (n = 65) of sessions. Sessions were highly enjoyable (M = 4.8), with mean scores of >4 out of 5 for impact on wellness, appreciation of work values, social connectedness, and patient care. NM sessions demonstrated measurable improvements in several domains of professional performance including wellness, job satisfaction, and patient care, while promoting camaraderie and emotion processing. Our materials offer tremendous potential for promoting healthy identity formation.

Work Values and Related Construction Industry Perceptions of US Undergraduate Construction Management Students

ABSTRACT Human capital management is a challenge faced by built environment employers that is amplified by the labor shortage. To stay competitive, employers must retain existing employees and recruit new talent. The modern workforce has different career expectations and overall work values than previous generations. The purpose of this research is to identify work values of recent construction management students along with their perceptions of a career in the built environment. Data were collected via a survey from a sample of students enrolled in three accredited 4-year Construction Management programs in the United States (located in Utah, Oklahoma, and South Carolina). Respondents ranked the significance of 21 work values as they related to their future careers. They also rated their perceptions of the industry along those same value statements. Findings indicated that the highest ranked work values were job security, opportunities to feel accomplished, and opportunities to earn a high income. Differences between stated work values and perceptions of the industry were also identified. Most notably, differences in requires meeting and speaking with many other people, provides job security, and requires supervising others are areas that warrant attention. An improved understanding of these work values will assist the industry in successfully recruiting and retaining this new generation of employees.

A meta-analysis of the relationship between overtime work and neck musculoskeletal disorders in Chinese occupational population

Objective: To systematically evaluate the effect of overtime work on neck musculoskeletal disorders of occupational population in China. Methods: In August 2023, the literatures on the relationship between overtime work and neck musculoskeletal disorders were searched in China National Knowledge Infrasture (CNKI), WanFang Database, Chinese Science & Technology Journal Database (VIP), China Biomedical Literature Service System (SinoMed) and PubMed. The search scope was Chinese and English literatures published before June 30, 2023. The Quality of literature studies was evaluated using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) cross-sectional study quality evaluation criteria. The Stata 15.0 software was used to calculate combined OR values, and subgroup analysis and meta regression were used to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Results: A total of 32 literatures were included, all of which were in Chinese, with a total sample size of 36003 people, and the literature quality scores were 5-7 points. Heterogeneity test showed that there was no heterogeneity between the literatures (I(2)=20.3%, P=0.156), so fixed effect model was selected to calculate the combined OR value. The combined OR value of overtime work on neck musculoskeletal disorders was 1.51 (95%CI: 1.42-1.60, P<0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that the combined OR of occupational population <35 years old group was higher than that in the ≥35 years old group (P<0.05). But there were no significant differences in the combined OR values in the subgroups classified by average years of service, male proportion, type of OR values, sample size and industry classification (P>0.05) . Conclusion: Overtime work is a risk factor for neck musculoskeletal disorders in Chinese occupational population. Working hours should be rationally arranged to reduce the prevalence of neck musculoskeletal disorders.

Islamic work ethics in a complex, conflicted cultural milieu: The case of indigenous Palestinian Arab high school teachers in Israel

This study focuses on Islamic work ethics (IWE) among Indigenous Palestinian Arab high school teachers in Israel. With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, this predominantly Muslim Palestinian Arab minority experienced rapid socioeconomic change, as well as repression of its socio-political and cultural background and values. Despite its incorporation into a Western-oriented country, the core principles of Islam continue to have broad influence on the Palestinian Arab minority in Israel, as well as applications to many areas of life, including work values. The study sample included 1245 high school teachers. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were utilized to establish a reliable model of IWE, resulting in two reliable IWE dimensions: “dedication and social responsibility at work” and “independence, diligence, and achievement at work.” Indigenous Palestinian Arab teachers reported high IWE levels, although this differed by gender and age group. The IWE scale appears to be a valuable measure for describing the work-related values of Indigenous Palestinian Arab high school teachers in Israel.

Using authentic student personas to inform academic policy review with the lived experience of students: a case study from Nottingham Trent University

ABSTRACT This case study from Nottingham Trent University describes how an intra-departmental collaborative team used the lived experience of students to inform academic policy review. Drawing on data from Student 2025, a longitudinal study exploring the complexity of student experiences and identities, the team created authentic student personas called Student Voice Profiles and supported colleagues to use them in a pilot workshop to consider academic policy and policy changes. Findings were mixed: the pilot project highlighted areas for further development, including improvements to resources; it also generated considerable interest in the potential application of student personas to a range of teaching and learning enhancements, and demonstrated the value of cross-team collaborative working.

Navigating protean career paths in medical education: insights from outstanding medical educators in South Korea

BackgroundThis study explored the career development experiences of Korean medical educators who have forged their paths amid dynamic medical education landscapes. Additionally, it explored their career development process by introducing a protean career theoretical framework, that is, an individual-led career development theory.MethodsThis study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to gather in-depth insights regarding the experiences of medical educators who have successfully built their careers in Korea. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine medical educators to investigate the significance of these experiences. The emerging themes were categorised based on the protean career theory during data analysis.ResultsThe findings revealed that medical educators navigated their careers in line with the protean career development model, characterised by protean career orientation, process and outcomes. Their experiences in the medical education domain were aligned with eight factors of the protean career model – self-direction, intrinsic work values, awareness, adaptability, agency, subjective career success, objective career success and organisational commitment.ConclusionIn the context of less structured career pathways and a rapidly evolving regional environment, medical educators have developed individual-driven careers with self-direction and intrinsic values, formed their identities and demonstrated flexibility and proactive strategies. Hence, the protean career model successfully explains the characteristics of self-directed career development for medical educators, while emphasising the need for organisational support.

The knowledge and skills needed for forensic social work in Australia: A Delphi study

Summary Forensic social work is the application of social work knowledge, skills, values and ethics within a legal and criminal justice context. Globally, social workers play an integral role in the criminal justice system but in many countries, including Australia, there is limited conception of the competencies needed for this specialist practice. Australia serves as an example of forensic social work regulated through a generalist social work competency framework, where specialist skills and knowledge are not distinctly outlined or assessed. The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge and skills used by forensic social work practitioners in Australia. This study used a 3-round Delphi method with an expert panel of social workers working in forensic practice across Australia. It consisted of a 1-hour semi-structured individual interview followed by 2 rounds of online surveys. Findings Consensus was obtained for 30 skill and knowledge items for Australian forensic social work. The panel identified these competencies as specialist, meaning requiring further training beyond generalist proficiency. Of these, eight of the skill and knowledge items were seen as essential for graduates entering forensic social work. Applications The findings from this study contribute to an evidence-based model of forensic social work competency. In Australia, they can be used to consider potential gaps between current generalist mechanisms and specialist practice expectations. With further research, these findings can be used to inform professional standards for forensic social work in Australia and potentially internationally.

Human agility management in Thai SMEs: A catalyst for enhancing employee value proposition

This study investigates the application of Operational Agility Management in Thai SMEs, examining its impact on Employee Dynamic Capability and the resulting Employee Value Proposition. Using a quantitative approach with a questionnaire survey targeted at Thai SME executives, the research analyzes the relationships between “Value of Work”, “Goal Orientation”, and “Network Communication” as independent variables, “Employee Dynamic Capability” as a mediating variable, and “Employee Value Proposition” as the dependent variable. The findings reveal that Thai Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) struggle particularly with “Network Communication” in enhancing their “Employee Value Proposition”, primarily due to their predominant hierarchical command structure. This challenge highlights the need for Thai SMEs to reassess their organizational structures and communication practices to improve employee dynamic capabilities and overall employee value proposition. The study provides novel insights into the application of Operational Agility Management in Thai SMEs, bridging the gap between high-performance management theories and the practical realities faced by SMEs in unpredictable business environments, thus offering a unique perspective on cultivating employee dynamic capabilities in this setting.

Changing values of work (based on the materials from Russian and foreign publications)

The sphere of work, which was previously central to Soviet and Russian sociology constantly covered in the Sociological Studies journal, is no longer so, although work remains an important subject of research in the conditions of the challenging digital transformation and growing uncertainty. Based on the analysis of domestic and foreign publications, the authors tried to identify current trends in the development of research that reflect global and regional changes in labor. Solving this problem allows the authors to show which problems attract the prime attention of scientists from different countries, and define the prospects for the future research. The authors show the discussion conducted by researchers on the topic of changing labor values. Particular attention is paid to how precarization is analyzed and the growth of the “meaninglessness” of labor is argued. A significant similarity of the identified problems in Russia and foreign countries is emphasized, regardless of the fact that they belong to different levels of socio-economic development, differ in work culture and other characteristics.

Eksplorasi Karya Sastra Mengenai Nilai-Nilai Edukatif Melalui Analisis Novel “Laskar Pelangi” Karya Andrea Hirata

This research aims to explore literary works regarding the educational values ​​in the novel "Laskar Pelangi". The method used is a qualitative approach, which uses descriptive methods and observational analysis. The results of this research show the existence of various educational values ​​such as the value of education, the value of hard work and perseverance, friendship and solidarity, and optimism and hope. Analyzing the values ​​in “Laskar Pelangi” helps us to improve the quality and credibility of our knowledge.

Enabling Emergency Department Staff to Support Domestic Violence Victims of Strangulation

ABSTRACT The study reported here investigated what enables emergency department (ED) staff to support domestic violence victim-survivors of strangulation, which poses potentially life-threatening medical and psychosocial risks. Informed by Appreciative Inquiry, interviews were conducted with twelve staff from eight emergency departments in New South Wales, Australia. Doctors, nurses, and social workers with experience in supporting victim-survivors of domestic violence-related strangulation were interviewed. De-identified transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Themes identified from the data were the importance of recognising strangulation injuries, that understanding experiences of violence improves ED staff’s responses to victim-survivors of strangulation, the value of social work in multidisciplinary response, and that informal support sustains staff in this work. These themes highlight the need for emergency department staff education in identifying and responding to domestic violence and strangulation, which enables informed responses, positive patient engagement, and effective multidisciplinary care. IMPLICATIONS Multidisciplinary care for health and safety assessments are essential for domestic violence victim-survivors of strangulation presenting to emergency departments. 24-hour access to social workers in emergency departments facilitates safety planning and may mitigate the risks of escalating violence. Strangulation and domestic violence education is essential for emergency department staff. There is an evident need for increased social work roles in EDs, especially in rural hospitals, to support victim-survivors and to apply a social work approach to train ED staff to respond appropriately. Formalising supportive structures through enhancing social work and domestic violence education in emergency departments whilst encouraging informal support networks for staff may enhance safety for victims-survivors and maximise staff emotional wellbeing.

Exploring The Connection of Spirituality at Work in Enhancing Nurses’ Job Performance: Insight from Malaysian Hospitals

The performance of nurses can be seen as a reflection of healthcare organizations, as they constitute the most critical human resources within hospitals. However, challenges arise when issues such as staff shortages, high turnover rates, and burdensome workloads contribute to poor nurse performance. Conversely, the incorporation of spirituality in the workplace provides nurses with an opportunity to align their inner selves within a supportive community environment, fostering a deeper sense of purpose in their professional responsibilities. This study sought to determine the connection between spirituality at work and nurses’ job performance, surveying 350 nurses employed in public hospitals across Malaysia. Data analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 27, revealing that all three aspects of spirituality at work, namely inner life, meaningful work, and sense of community, had a positive and significant influence on nurses’ job performance. This study provides potential aid to decision-makers in Malaysian healthcare organizations by offering significant insights for the development of strong spirituality at work values within their organizational setting. Additionally, this study presents recommendations for future research and proposes methods for the authorities to incorporate spirituality at work values into nurses’ jobs, ultimately enhancing the overall performance of healthcare services.

A Moral Dilemma of “Selling Out”: Race, Class, and Career Considerations among Elite College Students

Abstract Research on occupational choice focuses on individualistic work values and emphasizes economic returns. Drawing from 62 in-depth interviews with Asian, Black, and White first-generation, low-income (FGLI), and middle-class students at an elite university, I argue that students’ career decisions comprise a moral dimension. How students contended with this dimension varied based on the intersection of their racial and class backgrounds. Specifically, patterns broadly align with two categories: contingent objections to certain high-prestige, high-paying careers arising from individual priorities or concern for social good, and linked obligations to broader collectivities, such as ethnoracial groups or families. While students across all racial and class backgrounds raised objections based on different individual priorities, FGLI students primarily mentioned objections based on the value of social good. Across class backgrounds, Asian and Black students more often cited obligations based on ethnoracial uplift compared to their White peers. Asian and Black FGLI students prioritized family contributions more strongly than their White FGLI counterparts. Paradoxically, some students used these evaluative logics to justify “selling out” in pursuit of high-prestige, high-paying jobs, whereas others used these justifications to reject them. This study furthers understanding of the cultural processes behind social inequalities and highlights how the intersection of race and class shapes moral understandings.