scholarly journals “Bad jobs”: a case study of toilet attendants

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-505
Author(s):  
Stef Adriaenssens ◽  
Jef Hendrickx
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Job Insecurity ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Employment Protection ◽  
Skilled Workers ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Group Position ◽  
Job Content

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the knowledge of precarious and low-quality jobs with the study of toilet attendants, an ideal typical case of low-wage manual service workers who are excluded from secure wages, decent working conditions, and employment protection. Design/methodology/approach An extensive survey with standardized questionnaires (n=107) and in-depth interviews (n=10) of toilet attendants in Belgian towns, mostly Brussels and Ghent. Results are compared to the work quality of low-skilled workers, and the within-group position of necessity workers is analysed. Findings Toilet attendants definitely occupy “bad jobs”, measured by the higher prevalence of informal and false self-employed statuses, more intense work-life conflicts and verbal aggression from clients, and a lower job satisfaction. In all these respects, they perform worse than other low-skilled workers. Concurrently, there is a strong within-group divide between necessity workers and those who see the job as an opportunity. Despite a similar job content, necessity workers less often earn a decent wage, suffer more from customer aggression, lack social support and pleasure from work. Mechanisms related to self-selection and the absence of intrinsic rewards explain these in-group differences. Originality/value This contribution indicates, first, that job insecurity spills over into poor working conditions, work-life conflicts, and customer aggression. Furthermore, it documents that jobs are not necessarily bad in themselves, but become problematic when taken up by people with too few choices and too pressing socio-economic needs. Problems of sub-standard jobs are not merely job problems but problems of workers in a certain position.

The mediating role of organizational embeddedness on the relationship between quality of work life and turnover

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 696-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Decha Dechawatanapaisal
Keyword(s):  
Life Quality ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Career Opportunities ◽  
Organizational Embeddedness ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating effect of organizational embeddedness in the relationship between quality of work life (QWL) and turnover under a foundation of conservation of resources theory. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 422 healthcare professionals through a questionnaire survey, and analyzed by means of a confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Findings The results indicate that organizational embeddedness has a negative impact on employees’ intention to leave, and on actual turnover. For QWL perception, career opportunities, work life balance, and job characteristics are positive and significant predictors of organizational embeddedness. In addition, organizational embeddedness plays an intermediary role that mediates the relationship between the three components of QWL mentioned earlier and turnover intention, and also between the factor of career opportunities and actual turnover. Research limitations/implications The current research took place within two healthcare organizations. Replicating the study in a variety of business sectors or professions with a larger sample of subjects would be useful for the generalizability of the findings. Practical implications Organizations may improve their retention of employees by offering intrinsic resources that can be obtained from the social contexts of the individual through human resource management system, e.g., growth opportunities, a healthy and caring work life quality. Such motivational resources then develop a sense of obligation toward their places of employment, which influences their intention to stay or leave. Originality/value This study examines the mediating role of organizational embeddedness between employees’ perception of their work life quality and their desire and behavior to withdraw, which is an area of inquiry that has not been fully investigated in the literature.

Kwantitatieve en kwalitatieve baanonzekerheid: samenhangen met arbeidstevredenheid en psychisch welzijn

2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasmin Handaja ◽  
Hans De Witte
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Job Insecurity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Bank Employees ◽  
Job Content ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Quantitative and qualitative job insecurity: associations with job satisfaction and well-being Quantitative and qualitative job insecurity: associations with job satisfaction and well-being Y. Handaja & H. De Witte, Gedrag & Organisatie, volume 20, June 2007, nr. 2, pp. 137-159 This study analyses the associations between both quantitative and qualitative job insecurity and job satisfaction and psychological ill-being. We also analyse whether the relationship between job insecurity and psychological ill-being is mediated by job satisfaction. A more subtle and differentiated measurement of qualitative job insecurity is used, in which insecurity is measured regarding four aspects: the job content, working circumstances, working conditions and social relations. Data gathered among Belgian bank employees are used to test the hypotheses. The results show that both quantitative and qualitative job insecurity are negatively associated with job satisfaction and positively associated with psychological ill-being. The relationship between job insecurity and psychological ill-being is only partially mediated by job satisfaction. This signifies that the impact of job insecurity exceeds the boundaries of work, since it exerts an autonomous impact on the psychological well-being of individual workers. Limitations of the research and recommendations for further research are discussed.  

Information professionals' quality of work-life and its impact on their job performance

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saira Hanif Soroya ◽  
Tehmina Sarwar ◽  
Muhammad Shahid Soroya
Keyword(s):  
Job Performance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Behavior ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Key Indicator ◽  
Information Professionals

PurposeJob performance (JP) of employees is a key indicator of success for any organization; however, job performance is dependent on many factors including personal and organizational. The current study aims to investigate this phenomenon concerning the quality of work-life (QoWL).Design/methodology/approachThe study design was quantitative, and a questionnaire was filled by 130 professional librarians based on a convenient sampling technique. The research population was academic information professionals (IPs) serving the university libraries of Lahore, Pakistan. Data were analyzed using SPSS (20.0).FindingsJob career satisfaction is proved a key indicator of JP along with job control and general well-being (GWB). Counterproductive work behavior (CWB), which is a negative behavior, is significantly affected by poor job satisfaction (JS), stress, feelings of unhappiness and low workplace autonomy.Practical implicationsThe study suggests that if poor JS, stress, feelings of unhappiness and low workplace autonomy could be manipulated positively, CWB may be reduced and there are chances to improve the JP of IPs.Originality/valueThis is one of the first attempts that focuses on QoWL and its impact on JP of IPs. The study findings may help leaders and library administration to take employees' friendly decisions to provide a conducive work environment.

Life of the Bangladeshi construction workers: an insight observation from the reality of the quality of an isolated community

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Saidur Rahaman ◽  
Md. Mizanur Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Group Discussion ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Living Standard ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Needs

Purpose Construction workers contribute significantly to the economic development of a country, but the working conditions and the living standard for construction workers in Bangladesh are inhumane. This study aims to focus on the actual scenario of the quality of work-life (QWL) of the construction workers who work without meeting basic human needs. Design/methodology/approach In this study, researchers used a mixed-method approach. An inclusive one-to-one (F to F) interview has operated at the beginning of the research; later on, focus group discussion (FGD) and a structured questionnaire have been used to investigate the construction workers' QWL workers in Bangladesh. Findings The findings showed that construction workers are highly dissatisfied with their position, working hours and leaves, payment system, accommodation, food, sanitation and drinking water, education, leisure, entertainment and religious freedom, health safety and security. Consequently, that hinders the natural growth of the said sector where there is no initiative to implement these rights. Practical implications Based on this study's findings, the construction industry's higher authority can make some policies to make workers' lives a little happier. Besides, this study will play a vital role in improving academic literature regarding the workers' current condition in Bangladesh's construction industry. Originality/value To best the authors' observation, this is the first study in the Emerald Insight publishers on the overall inhuman quality of construction workers' work-life in Bangladesh.

Health care providers' experiences with delivering person centred care in an Integrated Care Program for thoracic surgery patients in Ontario, Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy Kornas ◽  
Meghan O'Neill ◽  
Catherine Y. Liang ◽  
Lori Diemert ◽  
Tsoleen Ayanian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Integrated Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Provider Experiences

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand health care providers' experiences with delivering a novel Integrated Care (IC) Program that co-ordinates hospital-based clinical services and home care for thoracic surgery patients, including perceptions on the provision of person-centred care and quality of work life.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a process evaluation using qualitative methods to understand provider experiences in the Integrated Care (IC) Program and to identify areas for programme improvement. Study data were collected using a focus group with thoracic surgeons, open-ended survey with home care providers, and semi-structured interviews with lead thoracic surgeons and IC leads, who are nurses serving as the primary point of contact for one consistent care team. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.FindingsThe IC Program was successful in supporting a partnership between health care providers and patients and caregivers to deliver a comprehensive and person-centred care experience. Informational continuity between providers was facilitated by IC leads and improved over time with greater professional integration and adaptation to the new care delivery processes. Differential impacts were found on quality of work life for providers in the IC Program.Originality/valueThis study describes provider experiences with delivering integrated and person-centred care across the hospital to home continuum, which can inform future integrated care initiatives.

How despotic leadership jeopardizes employees' performance: the roles of quality of work life and work withdrawal

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shazia Nauman ◽  
Connice Zheng ◽  
Ameer A. Basit
Keyword(s):  
Job Performance ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Harmful Effects ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis study contributes to the leadership literature by examining how and when despotic leadership jeopardizes employees' performance. Specifically, we examine whether employees' job performance could be harmed by despotic supervision through employees' work withdrawal behaviour. Moreover, we investigate whether the quality of work-life (QWL) helps in toning down the harmful effects of despotic supervision on work withdrawal.Design/methodology/approachWe used a multi-wave research design with data collected from 195 employees and their supervisors working in Pakistan's manufacturing sector. At time 1, we measured the independent variable (i.e. despotic leadership) and moderator (QWL), whereas, at time-2, the mediator (work withdrawal) was tapped by the same respondent with a time interval of three weeks between them. At time 3, the outcome (supervisor-rated job performance) was assessed directly by the supervisors.FindingsThe results support the mediating effect between despotic leadership and employees' performance through an enhanced level of work withdrawal behaviour. The effect of despotic leadership on job performance via work withdrawal behaviour was found to be weaker among employees with a higher level of QWL.Practical implicationsFor individuals, QWL serves as an enhancement of personal resources to deal with despotic leaders at the workplace; for organizations, our study results alert managers and leaders at the workplace to address employees' need for QWL as this positive resource may discourage work withdrawal behaviour and stimulate employees to perform well in their jobs despite facing despotic supervision.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the leadership literature by introducing work withdrawal as an underlying mechanism to explain the despotic leadership – job performance relationship. Further, we examined how the harmful effects of despotic leadership can be toned down through the moderating variable of QWL thus having practical implications for both employers and employees.

Does incivility impact the quality of work-life and ethical climate of nurses?

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yariv Itzkovich ◽  
Niva Dolev ◽  
Moran Shnapper-Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Climate ◽  
Ethical Climate ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between incivility and two organizational and personal attitudes, namely, perceived ethical climate and perceived quality of work-life of nurses, in the framework of organizational climate.Design/methodology/approachQuantitative data of 148 nurses working in a medium-sized hospital in Israel were collected. Furthermore, qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 nurses and 14 doctors from the same hospital, constructing a mixed-method approach.FindingsFindings revealed that witnessing or experiencing incivility affected the nurses' perception of the ethical climate of their work unit and their perceived quality of their work-life. Additionally, we found that the relationship between incivility and nurses' perceived quality of work-life was partially mediated through their perceived ethical climate. The qualitative data supported some of the findings.Originality/valueThe article stretches the incivility theory beyond its dyadic boundaries, prominently showing the spillover effect of incivility as an organizational problem. Additionally, it offers some evidence-based support for the multidimensionality of incivility, strengthening the need for a construct cleanup.

Does hotel employees’ quality of work life mediate the effect of psychological capital on job outcomes?

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 1638-1657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taegoo (Terry) Kim ◽  
Osman M. Karatepe ◽  
Gyehee Lee ◽  
Seungjae Lee ◽  
Kyungsuk Hur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Turnover Intentions ◽  
Psychological Capital ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Frontline Employees ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This study aims to investigate quality of work life (QWL) as a partial mediator of the impact of psychological capital (PsyCap) on service recovery performance (SRP) and turnover intentions (TI). Design/methodology/approach Data were obtained from 288 frontline employees in ten five-star hotels with a one-month time lag in three waves in Busan, Korea. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the direct and mediating effects. Findings As expected, PsyCap heightens QWL and SRP, while it reduces propensity to leave the current organization. QWL partially mediates the association between PsyCap and the two critical outcomes. Practical Implications Management of hotels should recognize the importance of PsyCap and assess candidates’ PsyCap during selection process. Using the PsyCap questionnaire, organizations can select candidates who possess positive personal resources. In addition, hotels may consider the assessment of frontline employees’ PsyCap to ascertain which employees can succeed in challenging situations. It is also important to create a healthy and happy environment where employees are willing to be more productive and contribute more to organizational performance. Originality/value The extant hospitality research is devoid of empirical evidence about the outcomes of PsyCap and QWL such as SRP.

scholarly journals All precarious? Institutional change and turning points in labour market trajectories in Spain

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 408-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martí López Andreu
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Career Paths ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Employment Protection ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Working Lives ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Work And Employment

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of changes in employment regulation in Spain on individual labour market trajectories. It is well known that the Spanish labour market has been strongly hit by the 2007 recession. Furthermore, after 2010 and in the benchmark of “austerity”, several reforms were implemented to further flexibilise employment regulation. At the same time, public sector budgets suffered severe cutbacks, that impacted working conditions and prospects of public sector workers. These reforms were implemented by different governments and substantially changed previous existing patterns of employment. This paper explains how these reforms have reinforced previous existing trends towards greater flexibility and weaker employment protection and how they lead to a shift in the position of work in society. Design/methodology/approach The emerging patterns that these changes provoked are illustrated thorough data from narrative biographies of workers affected by a job loss or a downgrading of working conditions. The workers of the sample had relatively stable positions and careers and were affected by changes that substantially modified their paths. Findings The paper shows how reforms have expanded work and employment insecurities and have broken career paths. It demonstrates how the reforms have weakened the position of work and organised labour in society and how, when institutional supports are jeopardised, the capacity to plan and act is harassed by the traditional social inequalities. Originality/value The paper enhances the knowledge about the impact of institutional changes by analysing their effects in individual working lives by means of narrative biographies.

scholarly journals Quality of Work Life of Women Employees in Fireworks and Match Industries in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-56
Author(s):  
R. Padmaja
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Work Organization ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Women Employees

Generally the quality of work life of employees is based on Hours of work and arrangements of working time; Work organization and job content; Impact of new technologies on working conditions; Working conditions of women, young workers, older workers and other special categories; Work-related welfare services and facilities. This paper highlights about the quality of work life of the women employees working in the various fireworks and match industries in Sivakasi.

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