Work Life Research Articles

A Conceptual Model of the Relationship between Quality of Work Life and Employee Engagement among Telecommunication Call Center Employees in Malaysia

Employee engagement has been one of the deepest issues for organizations. Organizations are currently struggling to survive due to the tough current economic environment, whereas the only tool for the organization to achieve a competitive advantage is by engaging employees to foster a competitive edge in the marketplace. Previous studies discovered that employee engagement in Malaysia is still steadily improving but falling behind its neighboring countries, including Indonesia and the Philippines, with the result rising only by four points to 63%. In addition, it was revealed that our country still ranks among the lowest in the region. This study focuses on employee engagement among call centers at selected telcos in Malaysia. There are many theoretical approaches to examining the quality of work life and employee engagement. Hence, this study adopted the Spillover Theory and Self-Determination Theory to explain the relationship between independent variables and employee engagement.

Factors Impacting Work-Life Balance and Quality of Work Life among Teachers

Introduction: A number of circumstances can disrupt the work life balance, and achieving success depends not only on one’s ability to perform at a high level but also on one's ability to manage professional and personal obligations. This study aims to explore the factors that impact stress levels and work life balance of teachers working in government-aided and self-financing schools. Method: A total of 200 samples were selected, and a structured questionnaire was adopted to gather the primary data. The collected data was tested by statistical analysis using various tools, including Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Chi-square, and ANOVA for interpretation. Results: The findings indicate that teachers in government-aided schools experience lower stress levels and evince higher contentment across various dimensions in quality of work life. However, the teachers in self-financing schools grapple with varying stress levels, ranging from lower to higher stress, reflecting dissatisfaction across all aspects of life. Conclusion: A collective implantation of strategies from teachers and institutions is required to maintain a healthy and harmonious work life balance in order to augment the quality of work life.

To Perform or Not to Perform: Exploring the Impact of COVID‐19 on Aotearoa New Zealand's Performing Arts Sector

ABSTRACTThis article explores narratives of how COVID‐19 impacted the performing arts sector, by drawing on interviews with creative workers in Aotearoa New Zealand. Despite the late exposure to COVID‐19 and the adoption of an elimination approach that afforded opportunities for performing arts to continue to varying extents between 2019 and 2022, cultural workers in Aotearoa New Zealand, as with their overseas counterparts, experienced significant and consequential disruption to their working conditions and lives. Taking into account the specificity of Aotearoa New Zealand's performing arts sector and the government's COVID‐19 response, the article contributes to the empirical examination of COVID‐19 experiences by teasing out narratives of impact from cultural workers. The thematic analysis demonstrates how participants presented (1) COVID‐19 as responsible for financial, emotional, and psychological costs, (2) framed opportunities arising from disrupted working conditions and wage subsidy as “silver linings,” (3) were reliant on digital technologies, and (4) constructed the return to “normal” as marked by the COVID‐19 “aftermath.” The article argues that uniting these perceptions and articulations of impact is the ongoing (re)evaluations of risks and benefits by cultural workers of working conditions that predate COVID‐19.

The Impact of Religion on Social Life: A Research on Scale Development, Validity and Reliability

Tradition and religion are two important sources that affect the construction and continuity of social relations throughout history. Prior to the modern period, when the secular social structure was widely accepted, these two sources served as the primary determinant resource on social relations, sometimes alone and frequently together. This study aims at developing a scale in order to determine the effect of the level of clerics (imams and muezzins) working under the Presidency of Religious Affairs, the institution authorized to serve religious services in Turkey, on social life. In this context, a survey was conducted with 1208 people in 12 provinces and 42 districts, based on a face-to-face interview method. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to test the reliability and validity of the scale made for this study, in which the universe is taken as a whole. The scale, which has been reliability and validity tested, can be used to assess the impact of religion on family, kinship, neighborliness, and work life, as well as the impact of religion on state-society relationships.

Kompetencje cyfrowe Polaków w świetle teorii przyspieszenia społecznego

The dynamic development and spread of information and communication technologies have caused contemporary society, also known as modern or information society, to undergo constant changes. These are taking place both in the technological, economic and social spheres, becoming the focus of researchers in social, economic, engineering and technical sciences. As a result of these changes, we can even, according to Hartmut Rosa (2020), speak of a society of acceleration, in which technological acceleration is accompanied by an acceleration of the pace of living. As part of numerous consequences, acquiring new skills and improving those already acquired, especially in the use of ICT, becomes particularly important. Achieving an appropriate level of expertise turns out to be almost indispensable, both at the micro level - the realm of work and everyday life of individuals, and at the macro level, as a condition for stable and systematic socio-economic development. Therefore, the purpose of the article is to analyze the level of digital competence of Poles, primarily focusing on the level of overall digital skills and its changes over recent years, the type of digital skills that pose particular challenges, as well as to determine the rank of Poland as compared to other European Union member states regarding the subject matter. The source material is statistical data from Eurostat and Poland Statistics.

Covid-19, working from home and work–life boundaries: the role of personality in work–life boundary management

Working from home (WFH) has accelerated in occurrence following social distancing measures directed at stemming the spread of Covid-19 globally. Using a sample of 41 in-depth qualitative interviews and measurement of the personality scores of the 41 interviewees, who are UK academics, using the IPIP test questionnaire, we explored how mandatory WFH impacts the boundary management of different academics based on their personality and the role of personality in their boundary-management approach to enhance work-life balance (WLB) during Covid-19. Our results suggest that mandatory WFH impacts academics differently depending on their personality, with academics high in conscientiousness and introversion (compared to their neurotic and extroverted colleagues) more suited to managing work and life domains to maintain a WLB while working from home. Building on boundary theory, we uncovered that while conscientious and introverted academics preferred and used integration as their boundary-management style, extroverted academics preferred segmentation in favor of family, but used volleying as a boundary-management style. Neurotic academics leaned toward our newly uncovered boundary-management style – quitter. Our findings suggest that the family circumstances of academics play an important role in their boundary-management styles. Overall, our study suggests relationships between personality and boundary-management styles and characteristics.

Armed Forces as an Employer of Choice: The Role of Gender and Person–Organization Fit

Many militaries are facing challenges in meeting recruitment goals and increasing the number of women in their ranks. The objectives of this study were to examine the gender-specific associations between Armed Forces (AF) employer knowledge dimensions (i.e., familiarity, job attributes, and reputation) and AF attractiveness as an employer as well as to assess the moderating effects of person–organization fit (P-O fit) between these associations. Participants included 1,955 potential applicants who completed an online survey on the Canadian Armed Forces’ image. Results from multiple-group analyses showed that P-O fit was the factor most strongly associated with AF attractiveness for both men and women. Results also suggested that P-O fit plays a moderating role for women in that a minimum level of P-O fit is necessary for perceived work–life benefits in the AF to positively affect attraction to a military career.

Examining the impact of artificial intelligence on employee performance in the digital era: An analysis and future research direction

A new era of digital transformation has begun with the rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology with human management, changing traditional methods to people management. Due to the unprecedented digital transitions that businesses are seeing, AI integration in Human resource management (HRM) has become a significant area of focus. This systematic literature critically examines how AI is altering the landscape of its impact on employee performance in the HRM area in the era of digital transformation. The Scopus database, where 73 peer-reviewed articles are found These are subjected to integrated methodology of Bibliometric analysis, Content analysis, Epistemological analysis and Substantive analysis to identify the emerging themes, trends and contribution of theory in the AI impact on the employee performance in digital transformation era. The results identifies the major themes a) Digital Transformation in HRM for enhancing Efficiency b) Deep learning and neural networks in HRM c) Innovation and Technology adoption in HRM and d) Human resource investments. From the epistemological analysis results “Resource Based theory,” has been mentioned highest (4 times) and shows how HRM is evolving in the context of digital change. With 3 instances each, institutional theory with empirical study is being the most common method. Substantive analysis shows the Digital Transformation, Employee Performance, Work life balance, and Organisational change are the significant criteria, whereas sub-criteria included Innovation, performance management, and Techno stress. Additionally, it investigates the challenges and opportunities arising from how AI is incorporated into HRM procedures and its implications for workforce dynamics. The study has proposed a model of 3 major criteria and 14 sub criteria for future research actions based on substantive analysis. AI integration in HRM requires strategic planning, ethical considerations, and employee well-being. Organisations that recognise these consequences and handle issues will be more prepared for AI-driven HRM.

Flexible working on employees’ quality of work life: the role of locus of control through psychological perspective

Flexible working on employees’ quality of work life: the role of locus of control through psychological perspective

Factors affecting the quality of work life for industrial labour force: empirical evidence from a developing country

The success of any organization requires a skilled, competent, and satisfied workforce. If the workforce can be provided with the necessary components to ensure a high quality of working life, they will become permanent assets. Various factors undoubtedly affect the quality of workers' work lives. This study aims to investigate the drivers of the quality of work life in industrial labour force in a developing country, Bangladesh. It enumerated the elements that have an impact on industrial labour force’s quality of work life (QWL). A structured questionnaire was administered to 420 Bangladeshi workers across diverse industries, yielding a commendable response rate of 93.33%. The collected data underwent analysis employing the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique. Representative industries and respondents were chosen by random selection. The results revealed that work environment, organizational culture and climate, relationships and cooperation, compensation and rewards, adequacy of resources, autonomy of work, job satisfaction, and security are directly related to the QWL. Training and development, and facilities do not significantly affect QWL. The research results can be used to improve the quality of work life for those working in the industrial sector. An industry may accomplish long-term and short-term goals by maintaining a pleasant workforce. The study's findings will provide policymakers and regulatory authorities of Bangladesh's industrial sector with strategic references and strategies to boost industrial productivity and economic growth for sustainable development by ensuring industrial employees' quality of work life that can serve as a template for Bangladesh.

Gender inequality in the public sphere as perceived by Muslim female graduate students at a Pakistani higher education institution – a critical grounded theory perspective

Purpose The subject of gender inequality has been approached by academics of various fields – psychologists, political scientists, developmental economists, feminists, sociologists, among others. Although there is a considerable amount of evidence indicating the presence of gender bias in various aspects of educational and work life in Muslim countries, not many studies have attempted to understand the female perspective during extra- and co-curricular activities in higher education institutions (HEIs) and their coping strategies. Design/methodology/approach A critical grounded theory approach was used. Findings The findings indicate that the role of female “religio-socio-cultural” stereotypes mutually reinforces each other to perpetuate an uneven playing field. Females have evolved many strategies to cope, including creation of sub-private spheres within larger public spheres and restricting their interactions to specific strata within the public sphere. Originality/value The study provides a female perspective regarding participation during extra- and co-curricular activities in a HEI in a Muslim majority context using critical grounded theory.

Employee use of social media: Private, public or something else?

This article examines the use of social media at the intersection of work and private life and analyses how employers are permitted to intervene in employees’ social media behaviour. In the article, this phenomenon is described as the hybrid role of an employee. It is created when a person adds work-related information to their personal social media profile and when employers encourage personnel to highlight their expertise and employer-related issues using personal social media accounts. The content of an employee's social media bio and social media postings, as well as an employer's social media policy, create a complex framework spanning the private and public domains. In addition, an employer's intervention in an employee's social media posts constitutes an interference with that employee's freedom of expression and private life, which are fundamental and human rights. Therefore, a compelling reason must exist for an employer to interfere with an employee’s use of social media. Factors that influence this assessment include the employee's position and duties, the closeness of the connection between the social media content and the employer, the (harmful) effect of this content on the employer or its activities, the veracity and public-interest value of the content, the proportionality of the sanction and its compatibility with the employer's social media policy.

Implementation of Digital-Based Adult Learning Education (ALE) at Community Learning Centre (CLC)

This study aims to answer the challenges of globalization of information and the position of advanced technology in adult learning education that accelerates the diffusion of science and technology in the work or social life and encourages adults to adapt to the times. This research uses mixed methods, with quantitative and qualitative approaches. The research was conducted at a community education institution, namely a CLC in Indonesia, with a total response of 120 adult learners from 43 CLCs. The results of the study are: 1) CLC has provided material according to the needs of the learning community with cooperative, participatory and collaborative learning; 2) CLC has facilitated its learning citizens to discuss and provide digital exercises and quizzes; 3) CLC has provided learning materials that are tailored to the needs of learning citizens; and 4) adult learners are considered satisfied with the learning and learning facilities in CLC. Digital-based adult learning education has been implemented in CLC in Indonesia. Despite COVID-19 disruptions, digitalization has brought positive changes to adult learning. It has diversified the learning process, requiring educators to be more creative. However, around 20% of the 43 CLCs continue conventional learning. Because institutions are not yet fully ready to equip IT equipment and most adult learners prefer face-to-face This research illustrates that teaching adults requires the right learning approach or strategy; boredom does not occur in learning. However, 20% of CLCs must still be ready to digitize adult learning education.

Occupational Safety, Health, and Well-Being Concerns and Solutions for Management Reported by Sign Language Interpreters: A Qualitative Study

While the occupational health of sign language interpreters has traditionally focused on physical health, evidence demonstrating mental health concerns is growing and supporting a shift to a more integrated approach. We embarked on a qualitative study to guide the adaptation of a previously developed Total Worker Health® program to the context of sign language interpreting. Eight unstructured 90-min focus groups were conducted. Interpreters reported occupational safety, health, and well-being concerns and shared their solutions for management. Twenty-seven interpreters participated (aged 53.7 years; 81% female; 85% white). Predominant concerns centered on topics like workplace violence, secondary traumatic stress or vicarious trauma, lack of work–life integration or boundaries, and loss of agency or loss of self. The organizational culture of the field fostered deprioritization of self, oppression, elitism, sexism, and unhealthy relationships with interpreter peers and community members. Physical health remained a contributor, specifically the physical effects of non-physical work, aging, and differences in exposures across interpreting settings but paled in comparison to mental health and organizational culture. Solutions for management included but were not limited to prioritization of jobs, creating safe spaces/communities of supported practice, and exercise. This study supports the evolution of future research, practice, policy, and capacity building aspiring to a more integrated approach.

The Effects of Unethical Practices on the Burnout Level of Accounting Professionals and an Implementation in Bursa Province

Burnout, which hinders individuals from performing their professions by complicating both work and social life, is also common in the accounting profession due to factors such as the large number of communication parties, intense work pace, and the mentally demanding nature of the job. Given that burnout experienced by accountants is a significant issue affecting many parties, it is essential to evaluate the factors contributing to this condition. Among these factors are unethical practices encountered in the profession. Accountants frequently face ethical dilemmas due to their responsibilities to various stakeholders. This study, designed to determine the impact of unethical practices on accountants' burnout levels, gathered insights from CPAs via surveys and analyzed them using statistical methods. The analysis revealed that accountants experience a significant decline in personal accomplishment and, to a lesser extent, emotional exhaustion, but do not become desensitized to the profession.

Empowering work-life balance: Exploring the nexus of flexible work arrangements, job satisfaction, and women's well-being in SMEs

The aim of this study is to evaluate flexible working arrangements, work-life balance, and job satisfaction among women who work in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of flexible working arrangements, particularly for women juggling work and family responsibilities. The study evaluates the extent to which flexible working arrangements enable women to maintain a balance between work and family life in order to achieve work-related satisfaction. One hundred and thirty questionnaires were collected from the respondents for analysis. The analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between flexible working arrangements and work-life balance/job satisfaction among women working in SMEs. Importantly, work-life balance is an explicit factor that influences job satisfaction and mediates the relationship between flexible working arrangements and job satisfaction. These findings emphasize the need for organizations to seriously consider implementing flexible working arrangements and work-life balance policies in return for enhanced satisfaction of their workforce, especially women in SMEs in Malaysia. Research in this area is scarce; however, these findings offer valuable insights for SMEs in improving employee satisfaction and striving for growth and sustainability in the long run.

Center-based childcare during infancy: The relations with functional brain networks and self-regulation in young children

Given the substantial increase in children attending center-based childcare over the past decades, the consequences of center-based childcare for children’s development have gained more attention in developmental research. However, the relation between center-based childcare and children’s neurocognitive development remains relatively underexplored. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the relations between quantity of center-based childcare during infancy and the neurocognitive development (both functional brain networks and self-regulation) of 584 Dutch children. Small-world brain networks and children’s self-regulation were assessed during infancy (around 10 months of age) and the preschool period (2–6 years of age). The findings revealed that the quantity of center-based childcare during infancy was unrelated to individual differences in children’s functional brain networks. However, spending more hours per week in center-based childcare was positively related to the development of self-regulation in preschool age children, regardless of children’s sex or the levels of exposure to risk and maternal support in the home environment. More insight into the positive effects of center-based childcare on children’s development from infancy to toddlerhood can help to increase our insight into a better work–life balance and labor force participation of parents with young children. Moreover, this study highlights that Dutch center-based childcare offers opportunities to invest in positive child outcomes in children, including self-regulation.

Exploring the job (dis)satisfaction indicators of online food delivery employees: insights from employees' online reviews

PurposeThe present study sought to determine the main themes employees discussed in online reviews associated with satisfaction (pros) and dissatisfaction (cons).Design/methodology/approachThis study used qualitative content analysis to examine employee reviews working in India's largest food delivery company.FindingsThe analyses revealed the existence of seven themes: company environment, employees, salary, work–life balance, company culture and values, flexibility and favoritism. Negative themes were associated with the “work-life balance” and “favoritism” themes. The results provided valuable insights into online food delivery platform employees' overall experiences based on social media information and aided in identifying key themes associated with various satisfaction levels.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by uniquely utilizing user-generated content from an employment search engine as a novel data source to investigate the factors influencing satisfaction and dissatisfaction among online food delivery employees. This approach represents a significant departure from traditional survey-based methods, filling a gap in the literature by offering insights directly from employees' unfiltered perspectives. By leveraging this innovative methodology, our research provides a fresh and nuanced understanding of the experiences and concerns of online food delivery workers, thereby adding substantial value to the fields of organizational behavior and human resource management.

Impact of AI on Work Life Balance of Working Women in Hotel Industry

Artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about significant advancements as well as challenges for the hotel industry. AI enhances efficiency by automating routine tasks, allowing employees to focus on personalized services . Tools like chatbots ease workloads, benefiting women employees. However, AI also raises concerns about job security due to potential role replacement. According to a report by the Hotel Association of India, in 2020, the percentage of women employees in the Indian hospitality industry stood at around 35%. This study aims to explore the impact of AI on the work life balance of women employees in the hotel industry in Delhi, focusing on hotel employees and including positive and negative aspects of AI-driven advancements. To explore these impacts, a quantitative study method is used via Google Forms. The study uses both primary and secondary data. Primary data are collected through questionnaires and interviews of women employees in the hotel industry in Delhi, while secondary data are gathered from industry reports and academic literature. The findings aim to provide insight into how AI influences the work-life balance of women employees, throwing light on issues like job security and employee productivity of women in the hotel industry. This study can be helpful to the hotel industry in guiding the adoption of AI to improve women's work-life balance while addressing job security and productivity concerns. Key Words: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Hotel Industry, Work-Life Balance, Women, Job Security, Employee Productivity

A Study On Effects Of Work-Life Balance And Women Employees Job Productivity In It Organizations

This study examined just at work-life balance and women productivity in only few IT sectors in Chennai. The study was stimulated by the IT sectoring industry's high rate of work-life unequal distribution. The study specifically examined the impact of workload pressure, role conflict, family stress, and work flexibility on female productivity. The relevant conceptual, theoretical, and empirical literatures were investigated. This work examined the work life balance and ladies productivity in selected IT sectors in Chennai city. The study was necessitated by high rate of work-life unbalance in the IT sectoring industry. Specifically the study determined the effect of workload pressure, role conflict, family stress and Work flexibility on ladies productivity. Relevant conceptual, theoretical and empirical literatures were examined. A total of fifteen IT sectors were studied, and the population of study was 2021, with the sample size of total sample size evaluated using the statistical formula SPSS. The research also revealed that family stress has a significant impact on female productivity. The study concluded that work load pressure, role conflict, and family-related stress all have a negative impact on female productivity. According to the study, people should relax in ways that do not interfere with their work; it can be an efficient way to recover from identified work-life balance issues. Management must take note of the volume of work assigned to women in order to deal with work-life balance issues in the workplace. Management must act immediately to rectify the issue; work should be delegated accordingly to ensure that no one is overloaded. Ladies should be given appropriate breaks and vacation time.