Work - Volume 30, issue 4

Authors: Roelen, C.A.M. | Koopmans, P.C. | Groothoff, J.W.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Job satisfaction is associated with mental health. Employees could be counselled on how they feel about their work. If specific aspects of their job are causing particular dissatisfaction, they could be assisted to appropriately change these aspects. Objective: There is no 'gold standard' indicating the aspects that should be taken into account when job satisfaction is measured. This study investigated which work factors determine job satisfaction. Method: A self-report questionnaire was sent to a random …sample of 822 out of 1908 active employees. The questionnaire examined overall job satisfaction as well as satisfaction with specific work aspects using valid single-item measures. Results: The response rate was 63%. Overall job satisfaction was 5.3 ± 1.3 on a Likert-scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The work factors explained 54% of the variance in job satisfaction. Specific satisfaction with task variety, colleagues, working conditions, and workload were positively related to overall job satisfaction, as were career perspectives and job autonomy. Conclusion: Task variety, working conditions, workload, and career perspectives determine the greater part of job satisfaction. An instrument including these factors would provide beneficial information beyond current measures of job satisfaction. Show more

Keywords: Overall job satisfaction, specific job satisfaction, job satisfaction instruments, content of job satisfaction

Citation: Work, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 433-439, 2008

Authors: Sandqvist, Jan L. | Gullberg, Mats T. | Henriksson, Chris M. | Gerdle, Björn U.C.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In the area of work rehabilitation, many decisions about future interventions for the client are based on the results of various kinds of assessments. Therefore, it is important that the assessment instruments used are adequate, useful, and reliable. The purpose of this study was to investigate the content validity and utility of the instrument Assessment of Work Performance (AWP) which is used to assess an individual's observable (working) skills during work performance, i.e. how efficient and …appropriate a client performs a work activity. A questionnaire was answered by 67 respondents who used the AWP in various work rehabilitation settings in Sweden. The result indicates content validity and utility for the AWP that supports further testing of the instrument. Show more

Keywords: Occupational therapy, measurement, instrument development, skills, MOHO

Citation: Work, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 441-450, 2008

Authors: Bolin, Malin | Marklund, Staffan | Bliese, Paul

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Using a multilevel approach, this study explores how job demands and control are dependent on the organizational context in which work is performed. The data set consisted of 3,485 employees at 51 establishments divided into 141 sub-units and belonging to 10 parent organizations. Data were collected by means of a survey answered by the employees and structured interviews conducted with operative managers at participating establishments. The results showed that a significant proportion of the variance in …job demands and control was attributed to the organization, and that the three organizational levels varied in terms of their impact on the two psychosocial dimensions. More specifically, job demands were mostly affected by the establishment level, while the sub-unit level seemed to be the most important for job control. It is concluded that in studies of working conditions, the organizational context should be considered. Show more

Keywords: Multilevel analysis, JD-C model, job demands, control, organization

Citation: Work, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 451-459, 2008

Authors: Hultman, Barbro | Hemlin, Sven

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This study analysed self-assessed quality of life (QoL), using a QoL questionnaire (Hörnquist's QLcs) covering life spheres, somatic health, mental well-being, cognitive ability, social and family life, activity, financial situation, meaning in life and a global score "entire life", for young people aged 18–24 in a population-based cross-sectional study in northern Sweden. Of these, 651 were unemployed and 2802 were in work (employed, students and in military service). Results showed that the young unemployed …exhibited poorer QoL than the young in work and the greatest difference was found regarding their financial situation. Young men rated somatic health and mental well-being higher than young women. However, QoL in other essential domains was rated higher by young women in work. Close friends and money reserve were important for all participants, no matter whether they were employed or not. The risk of being young and unemployed was greater if the person had a worse financial situation, shorter education, and fewer leisure activities with other people. Finally, it was concluded that while QoL is poorer when in unemployment – both for the young and those who are older (aged 25–64) – psychological well-being, in contrast to several previous studies, is even poorer for young people than for those who are older. This is worrying in a public health perspective and could have implications for unemployment policies for younger and less well-educated age groups. Show more

Keywords: Unemployment, young, quality of life, health

Citation: Work, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 461-472, 2008

Authors: Vinberg, Stig

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This article has a two-fold approach. First, it investigates relationships between work organizational factors, and health and performance outcomes. Second, it compares two change strategy approaches in workplace health interventions by studying changes of these factors and outcomes. The sample consisted of ten Swedish small enterprises including 102 individuals, who answered a before and after questionnaire about organizational factors and outcomes. The leaders were interviewed and answered a questionnaire about performed workplace …health interventions. Statistical methods used were reliability tests, correlation analyses and t-tests. Results indicate rather strong links between indicators of respectful leadership, creative work and team spirit, and the outcome indicators self-assessed health and judged workplace adaptability in association with customer satisfaction. The results concerning changes of determinants and outcomes (after workplace health interventions) showed significant differences between enterprises using a broad change strategy and those using an expert/problem-based strategy with the former having more favourable results. The leader interview results also point at obstacles concerning workplace change processes as lack of resources, insufficient competence and influence of external factors. The study results suggest that work organizational factors and integrated models for workplace health intervention are of importance for health and performance outcomes in small enterprises. Show more

Keywords: Small enterprises, health, performance, workplace health interventions, change strategy

Citation: Work, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 473-482, 2008

Authors: Hennessey, Mary L. | Rumrill, Phillip D. | Fitzgerald, Shawn | Roessler, Richard

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper describes research regarding factors predicting career optimism for a group of postsecondary students with disabilities (N = 208) who were enrolled in seven colleges and universities in four states. Career optimism was defined as a student's self-confidence regarding his or her ability to choose, maintain, and advance in an appropriate career. The proposed model incorporated variables related to employment discrimination and disincentives such as perceived impact of disability on one's education and …quality of life, racial/ethnic status, gender, and presence of disability benefits. Results indicated that two aspects of "disadvantagement," specifically severity of perceived impact of disability and racial/ethnic status, were significant predictors of career optimism. Implications of the findings were discussed in terms of informational interventions, curricula, development of self-advocacy and self-determination, and research topics. Show more

Citation: Work, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 483-492, 2008

Authors: Forcier, Lina | Lapointe, Claire | Lortie, Monique | Buckle, Peter | Kuorinka, Ilkka | Lemaire, Jacques | Beaugrand, Sylvie

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: A literature review revealed that cashiers are the most studied of all supermarket workers, while little is known about other types of employees. However, cashiers are far from being the only supermarket workers affected by musculoskeletal disorders. The musculoskeletal health of supermarket employees other than cashiers was therefore examined for one company. Two sources of data were used: compensation statistics (from the company's 57 corporate supermarkets) and self-reported questionnaires (administered in 4 selected …stores). These sources provided very different descriptive statistics, both in terms of the size of problems (depending on which aspects were compared, compensation statistics depicted 2 to 18 times fewer disorders than self-reports), and in terms of which body regions were most affected. There were also discrepancies with regard to identifying those departments which were most at risk (wrappers according to self-reports, delicatessen according to compensation reports). According to self-reports, 83% of workers (excluding cashiers) reported at least one musculoskeletal disorder over a 12-month period, and 32% had problems severe enough to impede regular activities. Different approaches to calculating rates were also used within each data source. Calculations using the number of hours worked annually by all workers were deemed to be the best. The significance of these results for supermarket employees and in terms of intervention and prevention in other sectors is examined. Show more

Keywords: Supermarket, musculoskeletal disorders, repetitive strain injuries, low back pain, compensable injuries, self-administered questionnaire data, Nordic Questionnaire, surveillance

Citation: Work, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 493-510, 2008

Authors: Biron, Caroline | Brun, Jean-Pierre | Ivers, Hans

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Canadian higher education sector has undergone numerous changes during the past decades. Increased student enrolments, massive cuts in human resources and constant restructuring are changes likely to have had a considerable impact on all employees (e.g., administrative, trades, and faculty). While many studies conducted in different countries have shown that stress in universities is a problem of alarming proportions, to date, no study of the entire staff of a university has been carried out in Canada. …This research uses an approach based on the prevention and management of the sources of occupational stress to study 1086 employees of a Quebec university. Data were collected by means of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. It was found that the proportion of individuals who reported a high level of psychological distress was twice as high (40%) than that reported for a Quebec-wide sample (20%). Work overload, the relationship with one's superior and participation in decision making were systematically reported as high risks to employees' health. It was found that human resources management practices have not followed the rapid organizational changes which affected the university in the past years. The results are discussed in light of the risk management approach. Show more

Keywords: Psychological distress, prevention, risk management, higher education, occupational stress

Citation: Work, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 511-522, 2008

Article Type: Other

Citation: Work, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 523-523, 2008