Do Attitudes towards Work or Work Motivation Affect Productivity Loss among Academic Employees?

Work motivation and job attitudes are important for productivity levels among academic employees. In situations where employees perceive problems, for example, health-related and work environment-related problems, the ability to perform at work could be affected, which may result in fewer publications, reduced quality and less research funding. Few studies, however, have paid attention to productivity loss among academic employees in order to understand how, or if, the perceived loss is affected by the reported problems, either alone or in combination with work motivation and job attitudes. To evaluate whether attitudes towards work—measured as job satisfaction, organisational commitment and work motivation—are associated with productivity loss in the workplace, a cross-sectional study was conducted. This type of design is required as performance is highly variable and is affected by changes in health and work status. This study includes employees who reported either health-related problems, work environment problems or a combination of both (n = 1475). Linear regression analyses were used to answer the hypotheses. Higher levels of motivation, job satisfaction and organisational commitment were associated with lower levels of productivity loss among employees who experienced either health-related or work environment problems. High work motivation and high commitment were significantly associated with lower levels of productivity loss among employees who experienced a combination of problems. In summary, productivity loss among academic employees is not only affected by health-related problems or problems in the work environment but also by work motivation, job satisfaction and organisational commitment; i.e., these factors seem to buffer, or moderate, the reduction in performance levels for this group of employees.

Countermeasures Against Job Burnout Among College and University Administrators from the Perspective of Psychological Contract Theory

Administrators are the implementers of the management in colleges and universities; however, their job scopes are relatively boring and complicated, with heavy workload and high work pressure, causing some of them to be less active and slack off in their careers. Therefore, under the guidance of psychological contract theory, colleges and universities should adopt various measures to deal with job burnout among college and university administrators. In this paper, the main causes of job burnout among college and university administrators are analyzed, and specific countermeasures are proposed from the perspective of psychological contract theory, hoping to help college and university administrators improve their work enthusiasm.

One Soft Step: Bio-Inspired Artificial Muscle Mechanisms for Space Applications

Soft robots, devices with deformable bodies and powered by soft actuators, may fill a hitherto unexplored niche in outer space. All space-bound payloads are heavily limited in terms of mass and volume, due to the cost of launch and the size of spacecraft. Being constructed from stretchable materials allows many possibilities for compacting soft robots for launch and later deploying into a much larger volume, through folding, rolling, and inflation. This morphability can also be beneficial for adapting to operation in different environments, providing versatility, and robustness. To be truly soft, a robot must be powered by soft actuators. Dielectric elastomer transducers (DETs) offer many advantages as artificial muscles. They are lightweight, have a high work density, and are capable of artificial proprioception. Taking inspiration from nature, in particular the starfish podia, we present here bio-inspired inflatable DET actuators powering low-mass robots capable of performing complex motion that can be compacted to a fraction of their operating size.

Remote Vascular Interventional Surgery Robotics: A Literature Review

Interventional doctors are exposed to radiation hazards during the operation and endure high work intensity. Remote vascular interventional surgery robotics is a hot research field that can not only protect the health of interventional doctors, but also improve accuracy and efficiency of surgeries. However, the current vascular interventional robots still have many shortcomings to be improved. This article introduces the mechanical structure characteristics of various fields of vascular interventional therapy surgical robots, discusses the current key features of vascular interventional surgical robotics in force sensing, haptic feedback, and control methods, summarizes current frontiers about autonomous surgery, long geographic distances remote surgery and MRI-compatible structures. Finally, combined with the current research status of vascular interventional surgery robots, this article analyzes the development directions and puts forward a vision for the future vascular interventional surgery robots.

The Influence of Training Methods and Students Work Ethos on Work Competency

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of training methods and work ethic on students' work competencies. The focus of teaching implementation is observed using two training methods, namely: on the job training method using internship training and simulasi method using simulation. The initial work ethic of students is limited to low and high categories. This type of research is a quasi-experimental with a 2 × 2 factorial design. The research population is all students of class XI of the Hospitality Accommodation Department at SMK Negeri 7 Bengkulu City, totaling 123 people. The sample was selected using the intact group technique from four classes selected to be two learning classes as the experimental group. The selected class is drawn by lottery to determine the treatment of the internship training and simulasi methods. Each treatment group was grouped based on low work ethic and high work ethic. The research instrument is a work competency assessment sheet and student work ethic. The data analysis technique used is 2-way analysis of variance. The results of the study can be concluded that: (1) the average work competence of students using the internship training method is higher than those using the simulation method. (2) The average work competence of students who have a high work ethic is higher than students with a low work ethic. (3) There is an interaction effect between training methods and work ethic on the work competence of students. (4) Students with a high work ethic who take part in the internship training method have higher work competencies compared to the simulation method. (5) Students with a low work ethic who take part in the internship training method have lower work competencies than those using the simulation method.

Remote Vascular Interventional Surgery Robotics: A Review

Interventional doctors are exposed to radiation hazards during the operation and endure high work intensity. Remote vascular interventional surgery robotics is a hot research field that can not only protect the health of interventional doctors, but also improve accuracy and efficiency of surgeries. However, the current vascular interventional robots still have many shortcomings to be improved. This article introduces the mechanical structure characteristics of various fields of vascular interventional therapy surgical robots, discusses the current key features of vascular interventional surgical robotics in force sensing, haptic feedback, and control methods, summarizes current frontiers about autonomous surgery, long geographic distances remote surgery and MRI-compatible structures. Finally, combined with the current research status of vascular interventional surgery robots, this article analyzes the development directions and puts forward a vision for the future vascular interventional surgery robots.

Cabaran Dalam Pengendalian Pembelajaran Dan Pengajaran Fardu Ain Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) Pendengaran Di Malaysia

Kehidupan beragama adalah suatu yang amat penting dalam melahirkan modal insan berkualiti sebagai aset utama pembangunan negara. Individu yang memiliki berpegang teguh kepada ajaran agama akan memiliki cara dan budaya hidup yang lebih teratur, motivasi kerja yang tinggi, dan lebih bersemangat untuk meningkatkan kualiti hidup. Keutuhan untuk hidup mengikut lunas agama merupakan keperluan bagi setiap individu sekalipun kepada Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) Pendengaran. Malangnya, golongan ini telah dikenal pasti sebagai golongan yang keciciran dalam pembangunan keagamaan. Pencapaian pelajar OKU Pendengaran dalam mata pelajaran pendidikan Islam dilaporkan sangat lemah. Malah, persepsi mereka terhadap pembelajaran fardu ain adalah membimbangkan apabila menyatakan pengajian ini membosankan dan rasa kurang minat mereka untuk mengikutinya. Kajian yang dijalankan mendapati golongan OKU Pendengaran secara umumnya mempunyai latar belakang pendidikan yang rendah dan ketinggalan dalam arus pendidikan formal. Justeru, kajian ini akan meneliti berkaitan bentuk permasalahan dan cabaran yang dihadapi dalam pengendalian pembelajaran dan pengajaran (PdP) fardu ain kepada golongan ini. Kajian yang dikemukakan adalah bersifat kualitatif dengan menggunakan analisis dokumen dan temu bual separa struktur dengan pihak atau individu berkepentingan dalam isu yang dikaji. Empat cabaran utama telah dikenal pasti menjadi kekangan dalam pengendalian PdP fardu ain iaitu faktor sikap dan tahap kecerdasan, kurangnya kesedaran, kekurangan kemudahan info dan infrastruktur yang relevan dan sesuai dan kesukaran untuk mendapatkan pengajar agama yang berkemahiran berbahasa isyarat. Diharapkan kupasan yang dikemukakan berhubung isu ini dapat dijadikan asas untuk pihak berkepentingan dan pemegang taruh dalam memastikan pembangunan keagamaan OKU pendengaran dapat dilaksanakan sebaik mungkin. Religious development is an important aspect in producing quality human capital, which is one of the main assets to national development. Individuals who adhere to Islamic teaching tend to have systematic lifestyle and culture, high work motivation and great enthusiasm for life development. The need to follow the Islamic path must be fostered in every individual including those with disabilities like deaf. They are identified as one of the communities with disability who are most left out in spiritual development. Achievement of students with hearing disability in the subject of Islamic Studies is reported to be poor. This study will examine the problems and challenges faced by the hearing impaired in their religious development. The research uses qualitative method analyzing non-numerical data and interviews from related agencies and key informants. Four main challenges have been identified as constraints in handling of TnL Fardu Ain, namely attitude factors and level of intelligence, lack of awareness, lack of relevant and appropriate information facilities, and infrastructure and difficulty in obtaining religious teachers skilled in sign language. This result is important for associated parties to pay attention to this matter so that the religious development for the deaf can be ensured.

Why do men extend their employment beyond pensionable age more often than women? a cohort study

Men extend their employment beyond pensionable age more often than women, but the factors that contribute to this sex difference are unknown. This study aimed to examine sex differences in extending employment and the contribution of sociodemographic, work- and health-related factors to these differences. Participants of this prospective cohort study were 4,263 public sector employees from Finland who reached their individual pensionable date between 2014 and 2019 and responded to a survey on work- and non-work-related issues before that date. Extended employment was defined as continuing working for over six months beyond the individual pensionable date. We used mediation analysis to examine the contribution of explanatory factors to the association between sex and extended employment. Of the participants, 29% extended employment beyond the pensionable date. Men had a 1.29-fold (95% confidence interval 1.11–1.49) higher probability of extending employment compared with women. Men had a higher prevalence of factors that increase the likelihood of extended employment than women (such as spouse working full-time, no part-time retirement, low job strain, high work time control, and lack of pain) and this mediated the association of sex with extended employment by up to 83%. In conclusion, men were more likely to extend their employment beyond pensionable age than women. This difference was largely explained by men being more likely to have a full-time working spouse, low job strain, high work time control, no pain, and not being on part-time retirement.

MENGUKUR DAMPAK PELATIHAN TERHADAP IMPLEMENTASI BUDAYA KERJA PRODUKTIF DALAM RANGKA PENINGKATAN PRODUKTIVITAS MENGGUNAKAN SMARTPLS

The competitiveness of Indonesian workers is still lagging behind several countries in the world. For this reason, the Indonesian government needs to increase labor productivity which is a component of competitiveness. One of the efforts is to organize training related to work productivity. This study aims to evaluate and analyze the impact of productivity training programs organized by the government on the implementation of productive work culture in Indonesia. This study uses quantitative data analysis in the form of path analysis using SmartPLS software. The results show that productive work culture can encourage work productivity, job training can encourage Kaizen culture, and a productive work culture directly, but job training does not directly encourage work productivity. Kaizen culture has a positive and significant relationship to work productivity indirectly, but through the 5S culture first. The productivity improvement training program and consulting guidance by the government need to pay attention to the dominant work culture applied by companies to achieve high work productivity.