Investigating the role of employee psychological well-being and psychological empowerment with relation to work engagement and sustainable employability

Purpose This study aims to gain insight into how employee psychological and human resource (HR) practices impact employee work engagement behavior. In addition to that, the research model of this study has tested the moderating relationship of affective employee commitment between employee work engagement and sustainable employability. Design/methodology/approach The research model is empirically tested with data set of 311 responses retrieved from an employee working in private organizations. Sample size of this study is computed with prior power analysis. Data were analyzed with partial least square-based structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings Findings of the SEM revealed that altogether psychological well-being, psychological empowerment, HR compensation, HR training, transformational leadership and job enrichment have explained R2 66.1% variance in employee work engagement. Concerning individual impact size psychological well-being has shown medium level effect size (f2) in measuring employee work engagement. However, all other exogenous variables have shown a small effect in determining employee work engagement. The moderating effect of commitment is confirmed in such a way that the relationship between employee work engagement and sustainable employability will be higher when affective commitment is higher. Practical implications This research has synthesized HR literature into four core dimensions of HR practices and, hence contributes to HR literature. Similarly, this research contributes to well-being theory while integrating employee psychological well-being into the research model. For HR practitioners this research revealed that psychological well-being, psychological empowerment, affective employee commitment, transformational leadership, HR compensation and HR training are core factors, which influence employee behavior toward work engagement and sustainable employability. Originality/value The current research is unique as it investigates sustainable employability phenomenon with an integrated research model that combines employee psychological and HR factors. The concept of sustainable employability is less studied, and therefore this research fills the research gap in this context.

Redefinition and Measurement Dimensions of Sustainable Employability Based on the swAge-Model

Objectives: To solve the labour shortage, we clarify the definition and dimensions of sustainable employability, and make it possible to develop sustainable employability scales in the future and lay the foundation for subsequent quantitative research. Finally, people’s sustainable employability can be improved. Highly sustainable employability employees can continue to work in the labour market and their working lives can be prolonged. Labour market supply will increase and labour shortage will be partly solved. Methods: We discuss the concept of sustainable employability based on some previous studies. Our conclusion is that the existing definitions and measurement dimensions are problematic. The swAge-model, a tool that helps us understand how to make working life more sustainable and healthier for all ages, can be the basis of sustainable employability. Results: We develop a discussion paper concerning the definition and measurement dimensions of sustainable employability using the swAge-model with an added factor of intrinsic work value and the dynamic chain. Conclusions: Our definition of sustainable employability takes environmental factors into consideration and makes it clear that it is not a solely personal characteristic, but the result of an interaction between individuals and the environment, thus distinguishing employability from work ability. We use the swAge-model as a basis to make the composition of our definition more logical and informed. Our measurement dimensions are clearly described to facilitate the future development of a scale, and our concept may ultimately help to extend the working lives of older and retired workers and thus solve the future labour shortage problem.

Using health and safety monitoring routines to enhance sustainable employability

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, the field of health and employment has mainly focused on preventing unhealthy work practices. Nowadays, there is increasing interest in also promoting a positive work environment. It is relevant to investigate how organizations can integrate both approaches into their work practices. We posit this could promote the sustainable employability of employees. OBJECTIVE: We explored whether a tool that monitors health and safety risks can also be used to create a positive work environment. METHODS: Almost 600 employees completed the Dutch version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ). We used regression analyses to investigate the associations between dimensions of work and employees’ outcome (stress and sustainable employability). We also validated the Dutch version of this questionnaire by adding Sustainable employability and Vigor. RESULTS: A theory-based selection of dimensions explained 32%of the variance in Sustainable employability, whereas a set of established predictors explained 16%in Stress. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated a good fit of the COPSOQ to the hypothesized model. Reliabilities of the dimensions were satisfactory to good. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that organizations can use COPSOQ both as a tool to monitor risk, as well as a means of promoting positive work practices.

‘I Find it Daunting . . . That I’m Gonna Have to Deal with This until 60’: Extended Working Lives and the Sustainable Employability of Operational Firefighters

While operational firefighters in the UK fire and rescue service traditionally retired in their 50s, their working lives are now extending. However, external pressures and the emotional and physical demands of firefighting work, lead to questions about whether operational firefighters will be able to extend their working lives. In this article, we engage with Van der Klink et al.’s sustainable employability model, which focuses on situations that allow individuals to make valuable contributions through their work and reveal how working lives can be extended. We consider implications of the characteristics of operational firefighting work, individual circumstances and contextual factors for the extension of working lives. Drawing on interviews conducted with firefighters, crew managers and watch managers working in a UK fire and rescue service, we highlight the unsustainability of many future working lives because of wellbeing and organisational pressures.

Examining the structural relationship between employee branding, TQHRM and sustainable employability outcome in Indian organized retail

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to examine the structural relationships of employee branding (EB), total quality human resource management (TQHRM) and sustainable employability outcome variables (employee performance, satisfaction and loyalty) by identifying the suitable measurement scale which captures the service employee perceptions in selected Indian organized lifestyle retail stores.Design/methodology/approachThe four hypotheses given in this study were evaluated using data gathered from employees in chosen retail shops operated in India. In addition, the structural equation modelling has been used to study the link between the variables suggested by evaluating the measurement and the structural models.FindingsThe study revealed that robust measurement techniques were used to measure EB, TQHRM and sustainable employability outcome variables. The initial findings of the investigation showed that three of the hypotheses suggested were supported. Furthermore, the study concluded that TQHRM partially mediates the EB effect on sustainable employability outcomes.Research limitations/implicationsConsultants, practitioners and management can leverage the results of this research for sustainable employability through the integration of TQHRM and employee branding strategies.Originality/valueThe study explored the dynamics of employee quality management practices (EB and HRM) on service employee attitudes and behaviours through a mediating variable (TQHRM) practices. This is a unique contribution to the organized retailers in increasing the level of implementation of TQHRM practices, which can balance the attrition rates.

Digital Divide or Digital Welfare?

With the widespread use of the internet, exploring how it will influence the labor market is of great significance. Based on the 2010-2018 China Family Panel Studies dataset, this paper investigates the effect of the internet on sustainable employability among Chinese aged 16-60. The empirical results of the panel double-hurdle model show that the internet can significantly enhance an individual's competitiveness in the labor market. Moreover, the heterogeneity tests show that the middle aged and older adults, freelancers, and those living in disadvantaged regions can benefit more on employability brought about by the internet. The authors define this phenomenon as the information welfare of the internet, which has narrowed the digital gap caused by the uneven development of technology among different social groups. In addition, the positive coefficient associated with internet use is driven by higher skill requirements in specific workplaces. The authors further explored the role workplace computerization has had in this process.