Compensation Appraisals and Labor Union Membership

Author(s):  
Megan M. Reynolds

Given the beneficial effects of labor unions on “bread and butter issues,” union members should appraise their economic circumstances more favorably than nonunion members do. Yet, research on the anomaly of the dissatisfied union worker challenges this expectation. Using the General Social Survey’s Quality of Work Life module, this article examines whether union members appraise their economic circumstances less favorably than nonunion members. Results suggest that union membership is associated with more favorable appraisal of benefits but not wages. These findings may help to provide at least a partial explanation for the anomaly of the dissatisfied union worker. Because income constitutes a vital component of job satisfaction, this study contributes more broadly to our understanding of employee well-being. It also connects the study of occupational health to that on institutions, contributes to the growing literature on the political economy of health, and highlights latent effects of union security agreements.

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 675-688
Author(s):  
Shamsi Abbasalizadeh ◽  
Behzad Ebrahimi ◽  
Aslan Azizi ◽  
Rogaye Dargahi ◽  
Maryam Tayebali ◽  
...  

Constipation is a common public health concern experienced by all individuals during their life affecting the quality of life. In this paper, we aimed to provide an overview of the existing evidence regarding the role of food ingredients, including bran, prune, fig, kiwifruit, and flax-seed in constipation treatment. We searched Scopus, Pub Med, and Science Direct by using the keywords, “laxative foods” and “constipation”, for searching studies assessing laxative food ingredients and their beneficial effects on constipation treatment and/or control. Lifestyle modifications such as increasing dietary fiber and fluid intake and daily exercise are the proposed first line treatments for constipation. Optimizing ‘diet’ as an efficient lifestyle factor may contribute to the well-being of patients. The use of laxative food ingredients including bran, prune, fig, kiwifruit, flax-seed, probiotics, and prebiotics is a convenient alternative to cope with constipation. According to previous findings, laxative food ingredients could be considered as effective treatments for subjects suffering from constipation. Many studies have assessed the pharmacological and non-pharmacological roles of these ingredients in treating constipation, however, their importance has not been thoroughly investigated.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Ružica Dragun ◽  
Nikolina Nika Veček ◽  
Mario Marendić ◽  
Ajka Pribisalić ◽  
Gabrijela Đivić ◽  
...  

Objective: To investigate dietary habits, sleep and psychological well-being of adolescents and medical students during COVID-19 lockdown in Split, Croatia. Methods: We surveyed 1326 students during 2018 and 2019, and compared their responses with 531 students enrolled in May 2020. Perceived stress, quality of life (QoL), happiness, anxiety, and optimism were assessed as proxies of psychological well-being, using general linear modelling. Results: We found no substantial differences in dietary pattern between pre-lockdown and lockdown periods, including the overall Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence. However, the MD pattern changed, showing increased adherence to the MD pyramid for fruit, legumes, fish, and sweets, while cereals, nuts, and dairy intake decreased during COVID-19 lockdown. A third of students reported weight loss during lockdown, 19% reported weight gain, while physical activity remained rather stable. The most prominent change was feeling refreshed after a night’s sleep, reported by 31.5% of students during lockdown vs. 8.5% before; median length of sleep duration increased by 1.5 h. Lockdown significantly affected QoL, happiness, optimism (all p < 0.001), and perceived stress in students (p = 0.005). MD adherence was positively correlated with QoL and study time, and negatively with TV and mobile phone use in pre-lockdown period (all p < 0.001). Interestingly, higher MD adherence was correlated with less perceived hardship and greater happiness and QoL during lockdown. Conclusion: These insights provide valuable information for tailored interventions aimed at maintaining healthy lifestyle in young population. Given the numerous beneficial effects associated with MD adherence, modification of lifestyle through application of lifestyle medicine deserves a priority approach.


2021 ◽  
pp. 009102602110127
Author(s):  
Min Young Kim ◽  
Hyo Joo Lee

To ensure the quality of the work done in the Korean career civil service system (which is characterized by stability, such as lifelong job security), the public sector must use methods to motivate their employees and improve their performance in the long run. In this study, we propose that grit, as a type of work motivation, can boost employee well-being (i.e., job satisfaction, job stress) and organizational outcomes (i.e., organizational commitment, performance). Therefore, the main objective of this study is to assess the validity of grit among public employees from a collectivist culture; to this end, we use the 2016 survey of Korean public officials ( N = 2,070). The results are as follows: (a) grit has a direct positive effect on quality of work life (QWL), (b) QWL can increase employee’s quality of life (QOL), and (c) professionalism and goal-oriented culture negatively and positively regulate grit and QWL. We also examined how employee motivation (e.g., grit) can enrich their QWL and QOL. Altogether, this study supports the argument that human resource (HR) managers should pay attention to grit. To achieve success, one needs not only some level of ability but also the zeal and capacity for hard labor, the latter two of which are considered to constitute grit. Given that, this research targeted grit in the Korean context—not the Western one—and examined its effects in the Korean public sector, where conscientiousness is emphasized.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1985-1990
Author(s):  
Ahmet Maslakçı ◽  
Lütfi Sürücü ◽  
Harun Sesen

This study was conducted in order to analyze the effect of the nurses’ quality of work life based on fear about COVID-19 and examine the psychological well-being as a moderating variable in this relationship. The survey questionnaire was administered among nurses between 1 November 2020 and 14 November 2020. The self-report survey comprised the nurse information survey, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, work quality of life scale, and psychological well-being scale as data collection tools. Data were obtained from 339 nurses. The findings show that fear of COVID-19 negatively affects nurses’ quality of work life. It has been determined that PWB plays a moderating role in this relationship. While the fear of COVID-19 negatively affects the quality of work life in nurses with low psychological well-being, there is not any kind of significant effect on the quality of work life in nurses with high psychological well-being. This result shows that as the psychological well-being of nurses’ increases, fear of COVID-19 effect on quality of work life decreases. The results of the study show that responses designed to enhance psychological well-being can enhance nurses' working conditions that could reduce the negative effects of the fear of COVID-19. There is an urgent need for clinical and policy strategies to help increase nurses’ PWB in order to increase the quality of work life by reducing fear and also anxiety among nurses fighting on the front line during COVID-19.


2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saira Hanif Soroya ◽  
Tehmina Sarwar ◽  
Muhammad Shahid Soroya

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1295-1309
Author(s):  
Amauche Ehido ◽  
Zainudin Awang ◽  
Bahyah Abdul Halim ◽  
Chukwuebuka Ibeabuchi

Purpose of the study: Quality of work life (QWL) is vital for all establishments to continue to hire and retain high-performance workers. However, from the review of previous literature on QWL, little is known about the dimensions that constitute high QWL among academics. Therefore, this study aimed at contributing to the literature by conducting a detailed validation of seven dimensions of QWL through the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) procedure. Methodology: This study employed a cross-sectional research design to establish reliable measures for the QWL construct. The items were adapted and modified to suit this study. Study data was obtained using a structured questionnaire from 100 randomly selected academics from the five Malaysian research universities. The study further conducted the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) procedure using IBM-SPSS version 21.0. Main Findings: A total of 51 items were initially developed to measure QWL construct, however, from the EFA procedure, the study found that 8 items with factor loading below the cut-off point of .60 were deleted and 48 items with a factor loading above the cut-off point of .60 were retained and deemed suitable to measure the QWL construct. Applications of this study: This study validated the dimensions that lead to improved QWL. Therefore, this study is particularly useful to the Malaysian universities' management who aim to obtain benefits from super motivated and high-performance academics by making sure that the workers' overall well-being is protected in the workplace. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study established a validated and reliable instrument for measuring the QWL construct among academics in the Malaysian research universities.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghadah Almugren ◽  
Haya Zedan

Abstract Quality of Work Life (QWL) is a multi-dimensional discipline concerned with the quality of life at the workplace. Objectives: This work aimed to assess the level of QWL of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (MRITs) at National Guard Health Affairs Hospitals (NGHA) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and identify the correlation between QWL dimensions and Job and Career Satisfaction (JCS). Methodology: This study used the 32-item WRQoL-2 tool, a questionnaire consisting of 6 subscales; Job and Career Satisfaction (JCS), Control at Work (CAW), Home-Work Interface (HWI), General Well-Being (GWB), Stress at Work (SAW) and Work Conditions (WCS). Results: The study respondents were 57 MRITs working in NGHA hospitals across KSA with a 100% response rate. We found a high level of QWL among MRITs (66.2%, 3.31/5). The level of JCS was high (71.6%, 3.59/5) with a significant correlation between JCS and WCS, CAW, HWI, and GWB. There was an inverse relationship between SAW and JCS. Conclusion: Further research in the field of QWL is needed to diagnose shortcomings affecting the quality of healthcare services in KSA.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 154
Author(s):  
Anderson Martelli ◽  
Lucas Rissetti Delbim

O crescimento e urbanização das cidades têm incitado sérios danos à condição ambiental, bem como consideráveis prejuízos econômicos, nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnsociais e de qualidade de vida das pessoas. Os efeitos benéficos das áreas arborizadas, que privilegiam a prática de atividades físicas sempre foram inerentes à melhoria da qualidade de vida e bem-estar social. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi realizar um estudo descritivo frente à percepção dos acadêmicos de Educação Física da Faculdade FMG, município de Mogi Guaçu–SP quanto à arborização existente no perímetro urbano e se este tipo de vegetação favorece a prática de atividades físicas e qualidade de vida da população. Participaram desta pesquisa cinquenta e seis estudantes do primeiro ao quarto período desse curso. A pesquisa foi realizada por meio de uma entrevista semiestruturada através da aplicação de um questionário, sendo observada uma percepção positiva da arborização urbana entre os acadêmicos. Está bem estabelecida a função exercida pela arborização na redução do calor gerado no ambiente urbano, redução da insolação, evapotranspiração, redução da velocidade dos ventos e os resultados indicam que a arborização urbana é um importante fator na melhoria das condições ambientais das cidades, favorecimento da prática de exercícios físicos e qualidade de vida de seus habitantes.Palavras chave: Urbanização. Educação Física e Treinamento. Qualidade de Vida.AbstractThe growth and urbanization of cities have prompted serious damage to environmental conditions, as well as considerable economic, social losses and quality of life. The beneficial effects of wooded areas that emphasize physical activity have always been involved in improving the quality of life and social well-being. The aim of this study was to perform a descriptive study before the Scholars’ perception of of Physical Education Faculty FMG, municipality of Guaçu-SP Mogi regarding the existing trees within the city limits and if this type of vegetation promotes physical activity and the population’s quality of life. The study gathered 56 students from the first to the fourth quarter of this course. The survey was carried out using a semi-structured interview through the application of a questionnaire, and observed a positive perception of urban forestry among the scholars. It is well established the function performed by afforestation in reducing the heat generated in the urban environment, reducing insolation, evapotranspiration, reduced wind speeds and the results indicate that urban forestry is an important factor in the improvement of environmental conditions in cities, favoring physical exercise and quality of life of its inhabitants.Keywords: Urbanization. Physical Education and Training. Quality of Life.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 5489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Egemen Algan ◽  
Azize Ummanel

Previous research shows that sustainable organization conditions are associated with high levels of teacher well-being. Organizational happiness and quality of work life, two indicators of teacher well-being in an organization, impact the outcomes of teachers and organizations. Determining ways to support the organizational happiness and quality of work life variables in the organizational environment are gaining significance. Distributed leadership has attracted attention in the literature with its principles. Adopting a sequential explanatory design, qualitative data were collected after quantitative data. In the quantitative component, it was hypothesized that organizational happiness could play a mediating role in the relation between distributed leadership and quality of work life. This was tested through structural equation modeling, and the findings indicated that organizational happiness had a full mediation effect. In the qualitative component, the opinions of administrators regarding the effects of their behaviors on organizational happiness and quality of work life of teachers were investigated within the scope of distributed leadership. The results indicated that administrators’ own behaviors in the school context displayed distributed leadership characteristics.


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