Context Of Work Research Articles

Subjective Effects of Using a Passive Upper Limb Exoskeleton for Industrial Textile Workers

Industrial wool textile production exposes workers mainly to the biomechanical loading of the shoulder joint. In this work context, which is characterized by poor machine ergonomics, exposure to biomechanical risk factors, and variable work organization, exoskeletons could facilitate work processes or could be a valuable means to protect workers from overuse injuries. Field evaluation is essential to verify the suitability of specific devices and their acceptance by users. As part of a pilot study, we examined the short-term subjective effects of a passive Arm-Support Exoskeleton (ASE) on workers performing repetitive overhead tasks. In a textile factory, eight workers participated in the study, answering questionnaires after carrying out a work session with (ASE) and without an exoskeleton (FREE). Participants had been using the Paexo exoskeleton for 4.2±5.8 months (min 0–max 12). Subjective evaluations were collected regarding the workload (NASA-TLX) and relief (Borg’s CR10 scale) obtained from the use of the exoskeleton, satisfaction (Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST)), usability (System Usability Scale (SUS)), and opinions on the ergonomics of the device (Ergonomics questionnaire). Workers reported a high workload (NASA 7.2±1.0) and assessed a 46% reduction in effort on the CR10 in ASE conditions compared to FREE. They expressed high satisfaction with most characteristics of the ASE (100% satisfied with durability and effectiveness), high level of usability (62% of scores above 80, out of a maximum score of 100), and ergonomics of the device (88±12, out of a maximum score of 110). In addition to the objective effects (electromyography (EMG) reduction) already demonstrated in a previous publication, these qualitative results demonstrate a positive perception by textile workers regarding the effectiveness, usability, and suitability of the exoskeleton. The adoption of ASE in the textile industry appears beneficial in the short term, but the impact associated with individual variables and long-term effects remains to be explored.

Burned out by the binary: how misgendering of nonbinary employees contributes to workplace burnout

We examine nonbinary employees’ experiences with misgendering in work contexts and draw from minority stress theory (Meyer, 2003) to understand the consequences of misgendering. Our findings from 29 semi-structured interviews with nonbinary individuals revealed that although being misgendered is a common and highly stressful experience (distal stressor), the emotional labor associated with anticipating and reacting to misgendering acts as an additional and more proximal stressor. Together, these stressors jointly contribute to all three components of employee burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced professional efficacy). We also identified support from coworkers and supervisors (in preventing and addressing misgendering) as important ameliorating factors. As such, our findings provide support for the tenets of minority stress theory and extend this work by focusing specifically on nonbinary employees and on burnout, an important outcome for both employees and organizations. These findings provide a more complete understanding of the lived experiences of nonbinary employees and make unique contributions to the diversity/inclusion, gender studies, queer studies, work/life, and occupational health literatures.

The Human-Animal Interaction at Work Scale: Development and psychometric properties

The Human-Animal Interaction at Work Scale: Development and psychometric properties

Autonomy Orientation and Innovative Work Behavior

Abstract: Introduction: Innovative work behavior (IWB) has a built-in, definitional association with elements of creativity and the provision of benefits to others within the work context. Because of the properties of IWB and the nature of autonomy, as conceptualized by self-determination theory, we hypothesized that autonomy orientation would be positively associated with IWB through the mediating role of both creativity and prosocial motivation. Aim: The study examines the relationship of dispositional autonomy with IWB and offers evidence for potential explanatory mechanisms of how autonomous forms of motivation are associated with IWB. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study in Greece and Canada, wherein employees ( N = 528) completed assessments of causality orientations at work, prosocial motivation, creativity and IWB. Results: Autonomy orientation, creativity, and prosocial motivation were positively associated with IWB, whereas controlled and impersonal orientations were negatively associated with IWB. Mediation analyses showed that creativity and prosocial motivation mediated the relationship between causality orientations and innovative work behavior. Discussion and conclusion: Our findings extend prior research on the role of autonomy and prosocial motivation on innovative and creative behavior at work.

The contingent nature of the political skill-employee performance relationship.

The prevailing perspective in the organizational politics literature is that political skill facilitates heightened employee performance. Indeed, meta-analytic results have consistently found a positive relationship between political skill and both task and contextual performance. However, the literature has neglected the possibility of a contingent relationship between political skill and employee performance, despite arguments that organizations are political arenas in which employees also need political will. This is problematic because although politics are described as an ever-present facet of organizations, the extent to which work environments are politicized varies (Pfeffer, 1981), and such contexts can either constrain or enhance organizational behavior (Johns, 2006, 2018). Therefore, underpinned by the multiplicative framework of performance (i.e., P = f(M × A × C); Hirschfeld et al., 2004), we argue that the effects of political skill on employee task and contextual performance are contingent upon employee political will and the degree to which the work context is politicized. Results from a sample of working adults and their supervisors provided support for our hypothesis. Namely, political skill and political will interacted to predict heightened levels of task performance and citizenship behavior within more political contexts, but not within less political contexts. The contributions of this study to the politics literature are discussed commensurate with this study's associated strengths and limitations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Promoting Security Behaviors in Remote Work Environments: Personal Values Shaping Information Security Policy Compliance

Organizations worldwide face critical concerns related to cybersecurity threats and information security policy (ISP) compliance. Even though humans are the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain, information security professionals understand the importance of promoting individual information security behaviors because employees are also the first line of defense against ever-increasing cyber threats. Despite a recent trend of working from home, organizations do not make significant differences in their information security interventions for remote workers, relying mainly on VPNs as the only used tool, essentially making employees follow in-office standard information security policies because they are “virtually in-office.” Our study suggests that organizations need to recognize the unique context of remote work and consider personal motivations when shaping information security practices. Furthermore, our study indicates that in order to motivate remote employees to follow secure information security practices, organizations should consider personal characteristics instead of focusing on generic interventions. For instance, our study compares onsite and remote workers, suggesting that personal values are more relevant in remote work settings. Our findings exemplify just one of the many potential personal characteristics to be considered, highlighting how personal values are important motivators for ISP compliance and how they differ for onsite and remote workers in their importance when following information security rules.

How platformisation transforms the psychological profession: Reflections from a proposal of indicators for the classification of psychological platforms

AbstractThis article is part of a research context that examines the impact of new technologies on psychological practice. We argue that the use of technological mediators in the execution of the psychological profession goes beyond mere modifications to methods and tools, transforming the very nature of the discipline and influencing the associated professional identity. Specifically, our focus is on ‘psychological platforms’ as emerging work contexts that represent a relatively recent but rapidly growing phenomenon. Beginning with what is present in the literature on the subject of platform classification, this research project is intended to create functional and useful indicators for an analysis of psychological platforms. Based on these indicators, it is possible to reflect on the impact that the various characteristics of psychological platforms have on the psychological profession and psychological professionals themselves. In doing so, we seek to address the following research questions: (a) What are the main characteristics of psychological platforms, (b) which dimensions of the psychological profession are influenced by the use of a given platform in conducting psychological interventions and (c) how does the platformisation of the psychological profession affect the role of the psychologist? Our analysis is based on an in‐depth literature review regarding the platforms, followed by a desk analysis of 44 psychological platforms operating in the Italian context. By adopting this perspective, this article illuminates the dynamics shaping psychological practice in the digital era and suggests guidelines for future research in this continually evolving field.

Women’s health at work: a qualitative study on women’s health issues in relation to work participation. Experiences and perspectives from female teachers and managers in Norwegian high schools

BackgroundPublic health and working life are closely related. Even though Norway is one of the world’s most equality-oriented countries, working life is still divided by gender. Women have a lower rate of participation in working life than men, they work more part-time and they have a higher sickness absence. Research has mostly focused on structural and cultural reasons for gender differences, rather than on the fact that women and men have different biology and face different health challenges. The aim of this project was to explore experienced associations between women’s health and female participation in working life.MethodsQualitative methods were chosen for investigating women’s experiences. We carried out in-depth interviews with 11 female high school teachers and supplemented the material with a focus group with five managers from the same organisation. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. We used the six steps of reflexive thematic analysis for consistency in the analysis process.ResultsThe teachers shared a variety of experienced health issues within the field of women’s health and perceived barriers in the work environment. Four main themes were identified: (1) invisibility of women’s health at work, (2) complexity and lack of recognition of women’s health at work, (3) women’s health in work environment and (4) women’s health and role conflicts. There were few contradictions between the two informant groups. We found that health, work and total life intertwine and that complexity, lack of recognition and invisibility of women’s health appear at different levels in a mutual influence: for the women themselves, in the organisation and in society.ConclusionLack of recognition and invisibility of women’s health in the work environment is suggested to influence women’s work participation. The complexity of female health is not captured by gender-neutral structures in the work environment meant to protect and promote employees’ occupational health. Recognition of women’s health in the work context can therefore contribute to a gender-equal, health-promoting and sustainable working life.

New frontiers of fun: sharing and supporting workplace fun in hybrid work

PurposeHybrid work is changing modern conceptions of work as workers move between their office space and alternate spaces such as a home office. Social aspects of work are therefore also changing, and this study aims to explore the implications arising for workplace fun when workspaces become dispersed.Design/methodology/approachWe undertook ethnographic research into two different companies to explore in depth the concept of fun at work and how it is being adapted for hybrid work. Data were collected through full immersion into both companies and gathered using mixed qualitative methods comprising semi-structured interviews, participant observations and evidence from organizational online platforms. A structured coding system was used in the analysis with an interpretive approach.FindingsOur themes include (1) artefacts, (2) organizing fun and space and (3) loss of fun and these provide the underpinning for our theoretical contribution.Research limitations/implicationsWe had limited access to online channels and identified opportunities for future research to explore fun in online platforms including chat functions, meme, gifs and other places where workplace fun may be enacted.Practical implicationsWork has changed for workers and managers, and this impacts fun which needs to adapt to hybrid work models.Social implicationsHybrid work is changing workplace social interactions, particularly, for fun and play. We depict how workers navigate the changing context of work and the significance of emerging elements of workplace fun and the implications for fun cultures.Originality/valueOur contribution is in a re-theorization of workplace fun arguing that sharing and supporting the creation and promotion of fun among workers at all levels offers new opportunities for organizations that value a fun culture. Our theorization of workplace fun shows its adaptation to new hybrid work contexts that deemphasize co-location and physical presence. We outline the significance of artefacts and depict the variability of workplace fun in hybrid work.

Understanding the efficacy of leadership communication styles in flex work contexts

PurposeBecause a large number of employees now work remotely, either completely or partially (e.g. flexible), it is imperative that scholars and practitioners understand the implications of remote work, such as how employee satisfaction is impacted.Design/methodology/approachThis study examined leadership communication styles to understand how they may be perceived differently for remote workers. Results from an online survey (N = 403) revealed that while higher perceptions of leadership communication styles (responsive, vigilant and motivating language) were related to increased employee satisfaction, the amount of time spent working remotely did not moderate these relationships.FindingsThe findings suggest that the benefits of demonstrating leadership communication strategies can be extended from physical environments into online spaces.Originality/valueThis study is unique in that it centers on communication-forward leadership styles and applies them to remote contexts. Furthermore, remote work is conceptualized as a continuous variable as opposed to a binary, allowing for increased nuance.

ChatGPT usage in everyday life: A motivation-theoretic mixed-methods study

GenAI-driven technologies such as ChatGPT influence activities in all areas of life and are used in private and work contexts. This study uses an individual-centered perspective to explain what motivates users to use ChatGPT continuously. We propose that four motivational factors and two technology characteristics together lead to continuance intention among individual ChatGPT users. Therefore, we use a mixed-methods design to combine findings from a quantitative survey study and a qualitative interview study. In Study 1, we follow a configurational approach to analyze multi-wave data from 279 participants with fsQCA. We identify five configurations that lead to high continuance intention and show that perceived ease of use and perceived novelty are necessary for this outcome. Interestingly, the observed factors together cannot explain low continuance intention. In Study 2, we complement these findings with insights based on 15 semi-structured interviews. We illustrate the configurations by identifying 27 individual use cases in the private and work contexts as well as additional factors that facilitate and hinder individual ChatGPT continuance intention. We draw meta-inferences by combining findings of both studies to develop five propositions. Based on that, we contribute a motivational, individual perspective on GenAI continuance intention, present practical implications as well as valuable future research opportunities.

Job design in blue- and white-collar jobs: the influence of transformational leadership on job crafting and i-deals

PurposeWhereas job crafting and idiosyncratic deals (i-deals) have primarily been studied in white-collar jobs, there is a lack of research on job design in less skilled and highly structured work. Our study addresses this gap by analyzing the effects of transformational leadership on job crafting and i-deals in blue- and white-collar jobs.Design/methodology/approachTo test our hypotheses, we surveyed 285 employees (31.9% blue-collar employees and 68.1% white-collar employees) in the German craft industry, using structural equation modeling for data analysis.FindingsOur results show that transformational leadership is a strong predictor of job crafting and i-deals but that its influence depends on the occupational group. More specifically, the moderating role of the occupational group in the relationship between transformational leadership and job crafting differs regarding job crafting’s dimensions. Concerning i-deals, transformational leadership’s influence on both development and task i-deals is stronger in white-collar jobs than it is in blue-collar jobs.Practical implicationsThe study provides new insights into the important role of the work context in which leadership takes place. In particular, these insights can guide leaders in how to manage different occupational groups to engage them in proactive behaviors.Originality/valueThis study is the first to compare the contextual roles of blue- and white-collar jobs with regard to job design. By examining the influence of transformational leadership on job crafting and i-deals in two occupational groups, our study contributes to research on the role of work context in the effectiveness of transformational leadership in encouraging employees to engage in proactive behaviors.

Striking the balance: Exploring the impact of work-life balance on workplace well-being with the mediating influence of job embeddedness

BACKGROUND: The reconciliation of professional and family life has been growing in importance in recent years, and although progress has been made, there is still much to be done. It is crucial to understand the extent to which the individual’s attachment to the organization contributes to identifying the mechanisms related to work-lifebalance (WLB) and workplace well-being.This study highlights the need for a more in-depth and comprehensive investigation into the determinants of workplace well-being and the development of effective strategies to promote it. OBJECTIVE: Analyze the mediating role of job embeddedness in the relationship between WLB and workplace well-being. METHODS: Quantitative methodology grounded in a hypothetical-deductive perspective. Data was gathered through the use of well-being, job embeddedness, and WLB as measuring elements.The sample included 243 participants employed in the public and private sectors.This is a cross-sectional study in which data were collected through a questionnaire survey administered to a convenience sample. RESULTS: Well-being in the workplace is positively influenced by WLB and job embeddedness. With the inclusion of the mediating variable in the model, WLB tends to decrease. The indirect effect of job embeddedness on the relationship between WLB and workplace well-being is significant, indicating the existence of partial mediation. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to promote WLB and strengthen the connection between employees and their work roles, because only through this is it possible to promote lasting and sustainable well-being within the context of work as well as a real engagement of workers.

Gender and schooling in Australia

This special issue presents a collection of recent papers drawing on qualitative research in and about schooling in Australia and the ways in which gender-related issues in the broadest sense continue to shape people’s educational experiences. These papers from the present are positioned in relation to the long histories of policy and research attention to gender equity in Australian education. We set the context for work in the present by scanning the past, noting the ambitions, the gaps and the failures of earlier policies, and drawing attention to the quality and volume of research that has previously been undertaken in this area. We explore the current policy vacuum regarding gender to consider some of the pressures and complexities that have led to the erasure or avoidance of gender-related issues. Each of the papers that form this special issue demonstrate—despite different methods, theoretical frameworks, settings and participant cohorts—how stereotypes and limitations circulate in everyday life in schools and beyond them, and how these impact on people. They each explore from a different starting point how gender injustices are perpetuated and produced, in often subtle and nuanced ways that require concerted effort to unpack. They simultaneously offer insights into the critical and creative ways that young people and those around them are reconfiguring gender and seeking more hopeful and more equitable educational experiences and outcomes. Collectively, the papers that form this special issue advocate for policies and practices that embrace the complexities of young people's lives and are oriented towards inclusive and equitable educational environments.

Predictors of Perceived Healthcare Professionals' Well-Being in Work Design: A Cross-Sectional Study with Multigroup PLS Structural Equation Modeling.

The growing attention paid to employee well-being in the healthcare system, along with the reinforcement of factors that drive change in the work environment, provides a strong foundation for studying the relationship between work design and its related outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the elements of work design and the overall well-being of healthcare professionals, particularly the differences across multiple groups of various genders and age brackets. A cross-sectional study design was employed, and a convenience sampling method was used. The study participants were healthcare professionals, and a total of 427 valid surveys were collected. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was deployed to test the relationship between the determinants of work design and the perceived well-being of healthcare professionals. The results indicate a strong positive relationship between the social characteristics of work and overall well-being, as well as a positive contribution of the work context to the perceived well-being of healthcare professionals. The findings validated that knowledge characteristics had no beneficial impacts on overall well-being; nor did the task characteristics of work design. Although the mentioned associations failed to demonstrate statistical significance, the results nonetheless have significant practical consequences that are comparable to those of the relationships that demonstrated statistical significance.

Antifungal Potential of Endophytic Metabolites Derived from Staphylococcus: An In-Vitro and In-Silico Approach

Introduction: Nature is full of surprises; it gives us problems along with solutions, but the only condition is that it needs to be explored. The ability of endophytes to tackle pathogens is one such example that falls within the context of the current work. In the current study, we have assessed the antifungal potential of endophytic bacterial metabolites of medicinal importance through in-vitro and in-silico studies. Materials and Methods: Bioactive metabolites from Staphylococcus species, an endophytic bacterium, were extracted to assess their antifungal potential through disc diffusion assays and minimum inhibitory concentration determination. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy characterized the diverse composition of the endophytic extracts. The interactions between these metabolites and target proteins, such as CYP51B in Aspergillus fumigatus, were revealed by in-silico studies, which included molecular docking and dynamics simulations. This provided a thorough understanding of the antifungal qualities inherent in endophytic bacterial metabolites. Results: The research findings highlighted that the zone of inhibition (ZOI) exhibited by the crude extract from Staphylococcus endophytes (23.6±1.24 mm) is comparable to that of the control, Voriconazole (23±0.82 mm). Additionally, the minimum inhibitory concentration of the crude extract (0.21±0.06 mg/ml) is lower than the control (0.33±0.11 mg/ml). Notably, among the 45 identified endophytic metabolites, Pyrrolo [1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione, hexahydro-3- (phenylmethyl), demonstrated superior inhibition efficacy against CYP51B (PDB Id: 4UYM) of Aspergillusfumigatusascompared to Voriconazole. These findings emphasized the potential of the identified metabolite as a promising antifungal agent. Conclusion: The endophytic metabolite, Pyrrolo [1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione, hexahydro-3- (phenylmethyl), showcased significant antifungal potential as a therapeutic agent against fungal infections.

Reconceptualizing Simulations: Epistemic Objects and Epistemic Practices in Professional Education

This study explores how and why simulation training facilitates professional learning by investigating how simulators and simulations are used and conceptualized in two professional domains, nursing and maritime navigation, and offer a reconceptualization. Our aim is to move beyond past theorizing of simulators and simulations that has mainly centered on representational issues like validity, fidelity, and authenticity. Instead, we approach simulators as epistemic objects and simulations as epistemic practices. These concepts offer a lens to examine the situated and sociomaterial practices that make simulators into simulations and simulations into entry points to the epistemic culture of a profession. As a result, we pinpoint three central mechanisms for transforming the simulation experience into an event that facilitates the enrollment of students into their future profession. The first mechanism involves the instructional practice of “filling in” aspects of the work context that might be missing in the simulator. The second mechanism, sometimes labeled the “as-if” mode of simulations, manifests through the participants’ ongoing commitment to treat the simulation as-if it was a real professional encounter. The third relates to how simulation-based learning activities afford a crucial pedagogical orientation towards defining what constitutes exemplary professional practice in specific training situations.

Whom Does Remote Work Make Happy? The Digital Divide in Remote Workers' Well-Being.

The global shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified scholarly attention to remote workers' well-being. Although existing studies explore the varied impacts of remote work, there is a gap in understanding remote workers' well-being through the lenses of social disparity and the digital divide. Extending digital divide scholarship to the remote work context, this study disentangles why some remote workers experience better well-being than others. We conducted a two-wave longitudinal panel study in South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic (Wave 1: February 2021, Wave 2: October 2021). Among the 501 participants who participated in both waves, we found that individuals with lower education levels were less likely to have remote work opportunities. We focused our further analyses on a subset of 144 employees who had remote work opportunities within organizations with typical hierarchical structures. We found that socioeconomic status (SES) did not directly influence remote workers' well-being but indirectly influenced it by contributing to the diversity in using information and communication technologies (ICTs). Workers with higher SES or more diversity in using ICTs demonstrated lower vulnerability and more effectiveness in maintaining their well-being in virtual organizational communication situations. This study highlights social disparities in remote workers' well-being, which arise from the complex interplay of SES either indirectly influencing the diversity in ICT usage or interacting with virtual organizational communication satisfaction and duration. This study advances remote work scholarship by restructuring theoretical discussions on social stratification and the digital divide reproduced within the evolving work environment.

How teams can overcome silence: The roles of humble leadership and team commitment

AbstractTeam performance can be eroded or undermined when team members intentionally withhold information, such as suggestions for improvements, or concerns about issues that matter for the team. Yet, we know very little about whether silence in teams (team silence) in fact reduces team performance, and if it does, how team silence might be ameliorated. Grounded in social information processing (SIP) theory, we hypothesize and investigate the role of leaders as a potent social informational source to reduce team silence and in turn, enhance team performance. We further posit the role of team commitment to the organization as an important amplifier of humble leadership in reducing team silence. Across a programmatic series of five empirical studies involving experimental, multisource, and multiwave field data, we found support for the negative relationship between leader humility and team silence. Team silence also mediated the relationship between leader humility and team performance in a variety of work contexts. Findings supported that the benefits of leader humility were amplified in teams with higher levels of organizational commitment. Overall, this paper contributes new theoretical and practical insights by identifying leader humility as a preventative antecedent to team silence, with team commitment to the organization as an important qualifier of the impact of humble leadership on teams.

De kallar oss för partners: Betydelsen av maskulinitet för konstruktionen av gig-arbetare som nyliberala subjekt

In today’s neoliberal era, the gig economy is rapidly expanding. Gig jobs span various sectors of the labor market and have been both lauded as an opportunity to enter the workforce and criticized for their insecure and precarious nature. While previous research has emphasized the importance of gender in understanding contempo-rary neoliberal development, such as how ideals of femininity are used to interpellate female subjects as malleable workers in developing countries, less attention has been paid to masculinity. This article offers an empirically based analysis of how masculinity is employed to construct subjects within a specific context of gig work situated in the urban space, and the resulting implications for the gig workers’ understanding of themselves and their situation. Drawing on interviews with six gig-working food delivery drivers – all young men – the study sheds light on the precarious positions these workers inhabit while being framed as neoliberal masculine subjects through ideological associations to entrepreneurship. The overarching argument of the article is that the neoliberal structure of the gig-platforms propels exploitative relations in the labor market, masked behind gender associations.