Characteristics Of Work Organization Research Articles

Challenges and Perspectives for Research on Work Ability in Professional Drivers: A Scoping Review

To review studies on work ability (WA) and its relationship with the biopsychosocial factors of professional drivers. We performed a scoping review of articles published until 2021, extracting location, study design, sample characteristics, transport category, WA assessment methods, and health-related factors. Eighteen studies were found in different transport categories around the world. Most of the studies were cross-sectional (15/18, 83%), in a single branch of professional drivers, and the Work Ability Index (WAI) appears as the most common assessment instrument (7/18, 39%). The characteristics of work organization, lack of physical activity, comorbidities, and psychosocial and ergonomic factors are associated with musculoskeletal symptoms and stress in professional drivers. Comparisons of WA and related factors between studies and professional drivers are limited due to the multiplicity of assessment methods.

A FULL LIFE DATA QUALITY WORKFLOW RESEARCH AND PROJECT PRACTICE

Abstract. With the development of technology and geospatial equipment, more and more work, particularly covering a big area survey and mapping work, are conducted with different worker and equipment, or heterogeneous time variation. With the traditional data quality focus on the geospatial data quality itself, which is not include the work files and organization. Facing the heterogeneous characteristics of geospatial data and work organization, a full life data quality workflow was proposed to manage and control geospatial data quality. The proposed workflow is extended to include the file preparation, quality evaluation, and quality calculation phrases. It is demonstrated in one real data quality project, which include vector data, raster data and other geospatial data covering 160 thousands square kilometers and 300 work zones finished by 8 teams. The usability and reliability were validated in our work.

Effects of work organization on the occurrence and resolution of sleep disturbances among night shift workers: a longitudinal observational study

This study aimed to investigate the association between work organization and the trajectories of insomnia patterns among night shift workers in a hospital. The health examination data of hospital workers, recorded from January 2014 to December 2018, were collected; 6765 records of 2615 night shift workers were included. Insomnia was defined as a score of ≥ 15 on the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Participants were categorized into five groups according to insomnia patterns derived from the analysis of their ISI scores. Work organization and socio-demographic characteristics were also investigated. Generalized estimating equation models and linear mixed models were constructed to analyze the longitudinal data. Of the total participants, 53.0% reported insomnia at least once during the follow-up period. The lack of nap opportunities and work-time control was associated with the occurrence of insomnia, whereas more than 5 years of shift work experience was related to the resolution of insomnia. All work-related factors were significantly related to insomnia risk; however, the effects were not significant in the sustained insomnia group. Although sleep problems are inevitable in night shift workers, well-designed work schedules and better work organization can help reduce the occurrence of insomnia among them.

Work research 2021+: What research questions are employers moving and what will the future of work look like?

Der Arbeitskreis „Arbeitsgestaltung und -forschung“ der Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände (BDA) beschreibt aus einer praxisnahen Perspektive verschiedener deutscher Industrie- und Dienstleistungsbranchen heraus wichtige Forschungsbedarfe für die Arbeitswelt der kommenden Jahre (2021+). Ziel ist es, die vielfältigen Facetten und den Wandel der Arbeitswelt zu beschreiben, relevante Positionen und Thesen für die Arbeitsforschung aus Arbeitgebersicht herzuleiten sowie die Diskussion zur Weiterentwicklung der Arbeitswissenschaft anzuregen. Betrachtet werden soziotechnische Aspekte, wie zum Beispiel die Auswirkung der Digitalisierung und Künstlichen Intelligenz auf die Arbeitsgestaltung, Nachhaltigkeit in der Wirtschaft. Verschiedene arbeitsorganisatorische Ausprägungen, wie zum Beispiel mobile Arbeit, agiles Arbeiten, Führungsanforderungen, stehen ebenso im Mittelpunkt der Thesen.

Characteristics of distance work organization in SMEs during the COVID-19 lockdown: case of western Lithuania region

The article is based on the findings of the applied research project Assessment of the Effectiveness of COVID-19-Related Restrictions on Economic Activity and the Impact of State Intervention Measures on Enterprises in the Klaipėda Region (No P-COV-20-51) The aim of the research is to reveal the characteristics of distance work in small and medium business enterprises of Klaipėda Region in the context of COVID-19 The main research question focuses on how the variety of work activities be realized in distance way and to what extent is it effective? To identify the situation, a mixed research methodology, quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (focus group) research methods were used 73 business entities participated in the survey, and 7 focus group discussions were organised remotely in 7 municipalities, with the participation of 61 respondents (on average, 8 in each group) The research findings revealed that the problems of distance work in SME‘s were generally an under-researched topic, and the definition and concept of distance work varied Problems emerged that could be divided into two subgroups: the first related to the IT infrastructure(a shortage of equipment, Internet disruption and the resulting increased costs), while the second subgroup concerned mainly human factors (the issues of employees' communication skills and attitudes or emotions when working remotely, lack of methodology for organising distance work, etc ) It is worth adding that, in the course of the current research, identification of a broader field of problems and discussions of their causes were possible due to the cooperation of researchers-representatives of various scientific areas

The cost of caring during recent epidemics: a rapid review of risk factors, psychological manifestations, and strategies for its treatment.

During epidemics, health care workers (HCWs) are particularly exposed to the risk of secondary trauma. If not effectively addressed, the consequences of such psychological distress can progress to more severe conditions. A systematic search of several databases on the effect of SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 epidemics on the mental health of HCWs was performed according to both the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the WHO Rapid Review Guide for Health Policy and Systems Research. The 77 reviewed studies highlighted that work organization and individual characteristics can add to mental health risk. Providing adequate training to prevent infection and prepare HCWs to handle the epidemic, strengthening team work to improve organization, and ensuring appropriate protective equipment is available can help prevent risk of psychiatric illness. Monitoring and addressing through tailored interventions the mental health consequences of pandemics in HCWs is necessary.

An Examination of Work Interference with Family Using Data from a Representative Sample of Workers Participating in the General Social Survey and NIOSH Quality of Worklife Module

Work-family conflict research has progressed over the past few decades, but it has often focused on workers in specific occupations or targeted populations. Few studies used population-based samples to explore factors associated with work interference with family (WIF), a directional domain of work-family conflict. This study used data from a population-based sample to examine relationships between work design characteristics and WIF among a representative sample of workers across the United States. Multiple logistic regression, using a weighted sample of 1,272 adult workers, identified increased odds of WIF were associated with full-time work, varied work shifts, work from home, and work overload. Analyses also identified the importance of supervisor support, which was a significant moderator in the association between workplace injury and WIF. Demographic factors were not generally significant, but the odds of WIF increased with additional children. Overall, these findings delineate the relationships between work organization characteristics and WIF.

Syndemic frameworks to understand the effects of COVID-19 on commercial driver stress, health, and safety

IntroductionU.S. commercial drivers are entrenched in a stressogenic profession, and exposures to endemic chronic stressors shape drivers’ behavioral and psychosocial responses and induce profound health and safety disparities. To gain a complete understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect commercial driver stress, health, and safety over time, and to mitigate these impacts, research and prevention efforts must be grounded in theoretical perspectives that contextualize these impacts within the chronic stressors already endemic to profession, the historical and ongoing forces that have induced them, and the potentially reinforcing nature of the resulting afflictions. MethodsExtant literature reveals how an array of macro-level changes has shaped downstream trucking industry policies, resulting in stressogenic work organization and workplace characteristics. Emerging evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates existing stressors and introduces novel stressors, with potentially exacerbatory impacts on health and safety disparities. ResultsAs COVID-19 exerts an array of multi-level stressors on commercial drivers, syndemic frameworks can provide the appropriate theoretical lens to guide research and prevention. Syndemic frameworks can provide the grounding to allow foregoing commercial driver COVID-19 research to transcend the limitations of prevailing research frameworks by contextualizing COVID-19 stressors holistically within the complex system of endemic chronic stressors and interrelated health and safety afflictions. Syndemic-informed prevention efforts can then be implemented that simultaneously tackle multiple afflictions and the macro-level forces that result in the emergence of commercial drivers’ health and safety disparities over time. ConclusionsThe impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on commercial drivers cannot be adequately understood or acted upon in isolation from the endemic chronic stressors and interrelated health and safety disparities that characterize the profession. Instead, commercial driver COVID-19 research and prevention needs syndemic frameworks to holistically understand the impacts of COVID-19 on commercial driver stress, health, and safety, and to identify high-leverage preventive actions.

A pilot study on the possibility of human‐centred participative redesign of work organization at psychiatric wards

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Rationalization and an increasing shortage of nurses in psychiatric care require the improvement of working conditions. Work organization of hospital wards determines nurses' well-being on the job. In somatic care, observation-based assessments and participative improvements of work organization in the wards by involved nurses can reduce workload. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: In psychiatric nursing, observation-based assessment as well as nurses' self-reports may identify characteristics of ward organization that determine nurses' well-being. This study suggests a system of characteristics of work organization at psychiatric wards that may guide participative analyses and improvement measures. This may contribute to the research on prevention of conflicts and aggressive behaviour in psychiatric wards. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Participative analysis and, if necessary, participative redesign of work organization at psychiatric wards may reduce nurses' perceived work load. An approach to address the above is suggested for psychiatric nursing, which, in another version, is proven effective in somatic care. ABSTRACT: Introduction The study was based on an approach for participative improvement of work organization at somatic hospital wards related to characteristics that determine nurses' health. It differed from research seeking to adjust the environment to prevent aggressive behaviour at psychiatric wards. The focus was on the ergonomic principles of the whole work system and its impact on the nurses' health. Aim/Question We analysed the prerequisites for a transfer of this approach to psychiatric nursing. Method This study employed a cross-sectional design examining 11 wards of a hospital for psychiatry and neurology; 109 nurses participated. We used a multi-method design with observation-based assessments and nurses' self-reports of ward organization. Results Two clusters with wards of different work organization were identified. One cluster consisted of better-organized wards. The other included wards with a worse organization. We found substantial convergence between the observation-based assessments and nurses' self-reports. Discussion This study results indicated that observation-based assessments were an acceptable alternative to nurses' self-reports, enabling the evaluation of ward organization in a feasible and reliable way. Implications for practice This study showed an approach with a specific view on the structural quality of psychiatric wards; this may support work improvement processes in a more systematic way.

Availability of and Participation in Workplace Health Promotion Programs by Sociodemographic, Occupation, and Work Organization Characteristics in US Workers

To examine how the availability of and participation in workplace health promotion programs (WHPPs) vary as a function of sociodemographic, occupation, and work organization characteristics. Cross-sectional study. 2015 National Health Interview Survey and Occupational Health Supplement. The study sample included 17 469 employed adults who completed the WHPP questions. The 2 dependent outcome measures were availability of WHPPs and participation in these programs when available. Independent variables included occupation and 8 work organization and employment characteristics: company size, hours worked, supervisory responsibility, hourly pay, paid sick leave, health insurance offered by employer, work schedule, and work arrangement. Poisson regression analyses were conducted with SUDAAN 11.0.1. Overall, 57.8% of 46.6% employees who have WHPPs available reported participating in these programs. This study found that adults who worked ≤20 h/wk, worked regular night shifts, were paid by the hour, or worked for temporary agencies were less likely to participate in WHPPs. Workers who supervised others were 13% more likely to participate than nonsupervisors. Borderline associations were seen for having access to employer-sponsored health insurance and working at a site with <10 employees. Despite the potential for improving physical and mental health, only 58% of US workers participated in WHPPs. Since barriers to WHPP participation (eg, time constraints, lack of awareness, and no perceived need) may vary across occupations and work organization characteristics, employers should tailor WHPPs based on their specific work organization characteristics to maximize participation.

Work-Life Conflict among U.S. Long-Haul Truck Drivers: Influences of Work Organization, Perceived Job Stress, Sleep, and Organizational Support.

Work-life balance and job stress are critical to health and well-being. Long-haul truck driving (LHTD) is among the unhealthiest and most unsafe occupations in the U.S. Despite these disparities, there are no extant published studies examining the influence of work, stress and sleep outcomes on drivers’ work-life balance. The current study investigated whether adverse work organization, stress, and poor sleep health among LHTDs are significantly associated with work-life conflict. Logistic regression was used to examine how work organization characteristics, job stress, and sleep influenced perceived stress and a composite measure of work-life conflict among a sample of 260 U.S. LHTDs. The pattern of regression results dictated subsequent analyses using structural equation modeling (SEM). Perceived job stress was the only statistically significant predictor for work-life balance. Fast pace of work, sleep duration and sleep quality were predictors of perceived job stress. SEM further elucidated that stress mediates the influences of fast work pace, supervisor/coworker support, and low sleep duration on each of the individual work-life balance indicators. There is an urgent need to address work conditions of LHTDs to better support their health, well-being, and work-life balance. Specifically, the findings from this study illustrate that scheduling practices and sleep outcomes could alleviate job stress and need to be addressed to more effectively support work-life balance. Future research and interventions should focus on policy and systems-level change.

The Impact of Work Organization, Job Stress, and Sleep on the Health Behaviors and Outcomes of U.S. Long-Haul Truck Drivers.

Background. Compared with other occupations, long-haul truck drivers (LHTD) engage in excessively unhealthy behaviors and experience disproportionately poor health outcomes. Health promotion efforts targeting LHTDs focus on improving individual-level behaviors; however, this occupation is replete with adverse work organization characteristics, high job stress, and compromised sleep health, which are hypothesized to cause poor health behaviors and outcomes among LHTDs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the connections between work characteristics, job stress, and sleep outcomes, and health behaviors and physical and mental health outcomes among LHTDs. Method. This was a cross-sectional study, using interviewer-administered surveys with LHTDs (n = 260). Bivariate correlation analysis was used to explore the associations among work organization, job stress, sleep health, and health behaviors and outcomes. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine whether these work organization, job stress, and sleep factors predicted health behaviors and outcomes. Results. Long work hours of more than 11 hours daily (odds ratio [OR] = 2.34) resulted in increased odds of high caffeine consumption. High job stress (OR = 0.48) and poor sleep quality (OR = 0.42) led to decreased odds for spending at least 1 hour daily for cooking/eating. Low sleep duration, less than 7 hours daily (OR = 2.55), led to increased odds of a physical health diagnosis. Both high job stress (OR = 3.58) and poor sleep quality (OR = 2.22) resulted in increased odds of a mental health diagnosis. Conclusion. Health promotion efforts targeting LHTDs need to be coupled with upstream policy, environmental, and systems-level change, especially at the governmental and trucking industry levels.

Working Time Society consensus statements: Evidence-based effects of shift work and non-standard working hours on workers, family and community.

Working time arrangements that require shift work or other non-standard working hours have significant potential to encroach on time that is highly valued for family, social and leisure activity. This can often result in workers experiencing poorer work-family or work-life balance. Based on an extensive literature search and expert knowledge, primary risk factors were identified including shift work; long, irregular and unpredictable working hours; and work on evenings and weekends (in combination and independent of shift work). On the other hand, flexibility, in the form of adequate worker control over work schedules, may be a protective factor. In addition, workers experiencing excessive work-life conflict are likely to reduce their working hours, reflecting a reciprocal relationship between working hours and work-life balance. Workers’ families are also affected by shift work and non-standard working hours. Parents’ shift work is associated with poorer emotional and developmental outcomes for their children, and to a greater likelihood of risky behavior in adolescence. Additionally, the risk of separation or divorce is increased, especially for parents working night shifts. Due to relationships such as those above, the consequences of shiftwork and non-standard working hours on family and social life are largely dependent on a complex interaction between specific work schedules, other aspects of work organization, and family and individual worker characteristics. This article provides an overview of current evidence regarding the relationships between working time arrangements and various social and family variables, and concludes with shift scheduling and intervention recommendations to improve work-life balance and social well-being.

Work and sleep among transport operators: Disparities and implications for safety

Abstract The transportation and warehousing sector employs nearly 5 million individuals, many of whom are transport operators. Transport operators have experienced changes in work organization in recent decades; however, little is known about the impacts of these changes and how these impacts differ between operator types. Therefore, using two directly comparable transport operator datasets – one of all transport operator types by the National Sleep Foundation, and another of exclusively long-haul truck drivers called the Trucker Sleep Disorders Survey (TSLDS) – we sought for the first time to evaluate disparities between transport operators’ work organization; sleep characteristics; sleep problems and sleep disorders; and safety outcomes. We also explored associations between work organization and sleep characteristics, problems, and disorders with safety outcomes. Many significant differences were found across transport operator sectors. In particular, the TSLDS long-haul truck drivers largely fared worse when compared to other transport operators across a number of characteristics, including shift length, shift work, sleep latency, and the number of safety outcomes due to sleepiness. These cross-sectoral differences suggest the need for tailored interventions to address the unique configurations of demographic, work organization, sleep, and safety characteristics found in different transport operator sectors. However, across all transport operator sectors, latent sleep disorders appeared ubiquitous; thus, universal efforts to screen, diagnose, and treat sleep disorders should be a public health imperative. Differences were found transport operator in patterns of significant associations between work organization and sleep with safety outcomes, further suggesting the need for tailored interventions. However, sleep quality, sleep sufficiency, and whether one's workday schedule allowed adequate sleep were the most strongly associated with safety, suggesting that addressing these issues could benefit many transport operators. Further research, including a national study of transport operators, would help guide future interventions to enhance safety.

Work, sleep, and cholesterol levels of U.S. long-haul truck drivers.

Long-haul truck drivers in the United States experience elevated cardiovascular health risks, possibly due to hypercholesterolemia. The current study has two objectives: 1) to generate a cholesterol profile for U.S. long-haul truck drivers; and 2) to determine the influence of work organization characteristics and sleep quality and duration on cholesterol levels of long-haul truck drivers. Survey and biometric data were collected from 262 long-haul truck drivers. Descriptive analyses were performed for demographic, work organization, sleep, and cholesterol measures. Linear regression and ordinal logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine for possible predictive relationships between demographic, work organization, and sleep variables, and cholesterol outcomes. The majority (66.4%) of drivers had a low HDL (<40 mg/dL), and nearly 42% of drivers had a high-risk total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio. Sleep quality was associated with HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol, and daily work hours were associated with LDL cholesterol. Workday sleep duration was associated with non-HDL cholesterol, and driving experience and sleep quality were associated with cholesterol ratio. Long-haul truck drivers have a high risk cholesterol profile, and sleep quality and work organization factors may induce these cholesterol outcomes. Targeted worksite health promotion programs are needed to curb these atherosclerotic risks.

Understanding the role of sleep quality and sleep duration in commercial driving safety

IntroductionLong-haul truck drivers in the United States suffer disproportionately high injury rates. Sleep is a critical factor in these outcomes, contributing to fatigue and degrading multiple aspects of safety-relevant performance. Both sleep duration and sleep quality are often compromised among truck drivers; however, much of the efforts to combat fatigue focus on sleep duration rather than sleep quality. Thus, the current study has two objectives: (1) to determine the degree to which sleep impacts safety-relevant performance among long-haul truck drivers; and (2) to evaluate workday and non-workday sleep quality and duration as predictors of drivers’ safety-relevant performance. Materials and methodsA non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed to collect survey and biometric data from 260 long-haul truck drivers. The Trucker Sleep Disorders Survey was developed to assess sleep duration and quality, the impact of sleep on job performance and accident risk, and other relevant work organization characteristics. Descriptive statistics assessed work organization variables, sleep duration and quality, and frequency of engaging in safety-relevant performance while sleepy. Linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate relationships between sleep duration, sleep quality, and work organization variables with safety composite variables. ResultsDrivers reported long work hours, with over 70% of drivers working more than 11h daily. Drivers also reported a large number of miles driven per week, with an average of 2,812.61 miles per week, and frequent violations of hours-of-service rules, with 43.8% of drivers “sometimes to always” violating the “14-h rule.” Sleep duration was longer, and sleep quality was better, on non-workdays compared on workdays. Drivers frequently operated motor vehicles while sleepy, and sleepiness impacted several aspects of safety-relevant performance. Sleep quality was better associated with driving while sleepy and with job performance and concentration than sleep duration. Sleep duration was better associated with accidents and accident risk than sleep quality. DiscussionSleep quality appears to be better associated with safety-relevant performance among long-haul truck drivers than sleep duration. Comprehensive and multilevel efforts are needed to meaningfully address sleep quality among drivers.

A Meta-analysis of the Variables related to the Emotional Labor of Nurses

Purpose: The study was done to verify the effect size of the variables related to the emotional labor of nurses. Methods: A total of 47 article on variables related to the emotional labor of nurses and published from 2006 to 2014 were used for the meta-analysis. Results: Variables with the largest effect size related to emotional labor were identified as the variables of work task, organization and individual characteristics in descending order of effect size. The sub-factors with the greatest effect size in the work task variable were exhaustion and work commitment, while for organization variables, intention to change jobs had the largest effect size. For individual characteristics, physical symptoms had the largest effect size. Conclusion: The results of this study are meaningful as the first study to integrate research results on variables related to the emotional labor of Korean nurses, providing practical data for the management of emotional labor.

Organización del trabajo y satisfacción laboral: un estudio de caso en la industria del calzado

El objetivo del presente trabajo es describir y analizar las características de la organización del trabajo (tamaño de la fuerza laboral, objeto del trabajo, medios de producción, división y distribución del trabajo), así como sus implicaciones en la satisfacción laboral de los trabajadores. El estudio se basa en las entrevistas a 16 miembros de una organización, concluyendo que entre los factores fundamentales de la motivación y satisfacción laborales, se encuentran las relaciones y la comunicación informal, así como la imagen o percepción de la conducta del dueño o director general.

Personal protective equipment and work safety climate among Latino poultry processing workers in Western North Carolina, USA

Job-appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is important for decreasing the high rates of occupational injury experienced by poultry processing workers. This analysis describes the job-appropriate PPE provided to poultry processing workers by their employers and the PPE used by these workers, and it delineates the association of work safety climate with job-appropriate PPE. Data are from a cross-sectional study of 403 Latino poultry processing workers in North Carolina. Most poultry processing workers are not provided with nor use job-appropriate PPE; however, more workers use PPE than are provided. The provision and use of PPE differs by employer. Work safety climate was associated with use of job-appropriate PPE. Poultry processing workers should be provided with job-appropriate PPE. Workers' use of PPE is an indicator of safety climate. Further research about work safety climate and other work organization characteristics and job safety characteristics is needed.

Prevalence rates of work organization characteristics among workers in the U.S.: Data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey

Surveillance is needed to capture work organization characteristics and to identify their trends. Data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used to calculate prevalence rates for four work organization characteristics (long work hours, non-standard work arrangements, temporary positions, and alternative shifts) overall, and by demographic characteristics, and industry and occupation of current/recent employment. Data were available for 27,157 adults, of which 65% were current/recent workers. Among adults who worked in the past 12 months, 18.7% worked 48 hr or more per week, 7.2% worked 60 hr or more per week, 18.7% had non-standard work arrangements, 7.2% were in temporary positions, and 28.7% worked an alternative shift. Prevalence rates of work organization characteristics are provided. These national estimates can be used to help occupational health professionals and employers to identify emerging occupational safety and health risks, allow researchers to examine associations with health, and use the data for benchmarking.