Sumesh Soman and Dhanya Mohanan
The study has a twofold purpose. The first purpose is to understand the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on women's work–home integration and stress from both a constructivist and…
Abstract
Purpose
The study has a twofold purpose. The first purpose is to understand the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on women's work–home integration and stress from both a constructivist and positivist perspective. The other purpose is to emphasize the need for enterprises to understand the embedded considerations of occupational stress of women for strategy formulation.
Design/methodology/approach
The study has used a convergent parallel design to obtain data. A total of 63 respondents (a survey with a sample of 53 and ten narratives) was identified using the snowball technique. The respondents were married and working professionals from Kerala. Perceived stress scale was used to procure data on their stress in the home-based work during the pandemic lockdown. Simultaneously narratives were taken from ten respondents from the same pool. The data were analyzed using R software version 4.0.2.
Findings
The findings reflect that home-based work was stressful for women, and they weighed home tasks over work needs. There was no age difference in perceived stress, while it significantly differed by profession and designation they hold. Also, a mother felt more stressed than a non-mother. Quantitative data heavily backed up the narratives. Of the sample, 76% experienced higher stress levels.
Practical implications
This research will help users understand the stress distribution in women workers and how various sample characteristics influence stress. The enterprise could use this study to introduce a gender touch to their strategy. The study also adds value to the existing literature on home-based work during the pandemic.
Originality/value
The study systematically measures the stress felt by women during home-based work using a perceived stress scale. The mixed approach to the study helps to gain a deep understanding of the topic. This study is an original contribution by the authors to the collection of home-based work and stress literature.
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Jessica C.M. Li, Jacky C.K. Cheung and Ivan Y. Sun
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of demands from three life domains: society, workplace and family and different resources at the individual, family and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of demands from three life domains: society, workplace and family and different resources at the individual, family and supervisor levels on occupational stress and work engagement among Hong Kong police officers.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey based on a random sample of 514 male and female police officers was conducted, and multivariate regression was employed to assess the effects of demands and resources on work stress and work engagement.
Findings
Family–work conflicts, organizational and operational factors affected work stress and work engagement among police officers. Constructive coping was found to be positively related to work stress and negatively associated with work engagement.
Research limitations/implications
Survey data collected from a single Chinese city may not be generalized to officers in other parts of China or Chinese societies with different social and political contexts.
Originality/value
The present study filled the knowledge gap about factors influencing police stress and engagement. This study provides insights into how to establish relevant contextual measures to reduce police work stress. This study represents one of the first attempts to use a random sample of police officers for the investigation of police stress in Hong Kong.
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Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to clarify the evolution law of stress field and fracture field during the mining process of inclined coal seam, to prevent the occurrence of roof burst water and impact ground pressure accident during the advancing process of working face.
Design/methodology/approach
The evolution law of stress-fracture field under different mining conditions of inclined coal seam was studied by using discrete element method and similar material simulation method.
Findings
The overburden stress at the lower end of the coal seam was mainly transmitted to the deep rock mass on the left side, and the overburden stress at the upper end was mainly transmitted to the floor direction. With the increase of the inclined length of the mining coal seam, the development of the fracture zone gradually evolves from the “irregular arch” form to the “transversely developed trapezoid” form. The development range of the fracture zone was always in the internal area of the stress concentration shell.
Originality/value
An original element of this paper is based on the condition that the dip angle of coal seam is 35°, and the evolution law of overburden stress-fracture field during the excavation of coal seam with different lengths was analyzed by UDEC numerical simulation software. The coupling relationship between stress shell and fracture field was proposed, and the development range of fracture zone was determined by stress. The value of this paper is to provide technical support and practical basis for the safety production of a mine working face.
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Robert Conti, Jannis Angelis, Cary Cooper, Brian Faragher and Colin Gill
This empirical paper seeks to address the neglected work condition aspect of lean production (LP) implementation, specifically the relationship between LP and worker job stress.
Abstract
Purpose
This empirical paper seeks to address the neglected work condition aspect of lean production (LP) implementation, specifically the relationship between LP and worker job stress.
Design/methodology/approach
The Karasek job stress model was used to link shopfloor practices to expected worker stress. The model incorporates the effects of job demands (physical and psychological), job control and social support. The study employs management and worker questionnaires, management interviews and structured plant tours. The response variable is total worker job stress – the sum of the physical and mental stress levels. The independent variable for the first question is the degree of lean implementation at the sites.
Findings
The results are based on 1,391 worker responses at 21 sites in the four UK industry sectors. About 11 tested practices are significantly related to stress and an unexpected non‐linear response of stress to lean implementation is identified. Results indicate that LP is not inherently stressful, with stress levels significantly related to management decisions in designing and operating LP systems.
Practical implications
The hypotheses tests shed light on the relationships between LP practices and job stress, and reveal a significant managerial influence on stress levels. The regression model shows the scale and significant lean practices of this influence, with the work practices explaining 30 percent of job stress variations. The stress reduction and stress control opportunities identified in the study show the potential for designing and operating effective lean systems while also controlling stress levels.
Originality/value
This is the first known multi‐industry empirical study of the relationship of job stress to a range of lean practices and to the degree of lean implementation.
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Guangming Chen, Dingena L. Schott and Gabriel Lodewijks
The tensile test is one of the fundamental experiments used to evaluate material properties. Simulating a tensile test can be a replacement of experiments to determine mechanical…
Abstract
Purpose
The tensile test is one of the fundamental experiments used to evaluate material properties. Simulating a tensile test can be a replacement of experiments to determine mechanical parameters of a continuous material. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This research uses a new approach to model a tensile test of a high-carbon steel on the basis of discrete element method (DEM). In this research, the tensile test specimen was created by using a DEM packing theory. The particle-particle bond model was used to establish the internal forces of the tensile test specimen. The particle-particle bond model was first tested by performing two-particle tensile test, then was adopted to simulate tensile tests of the high-carbon steel by using 3,678 particles.
Findings
This research has successfully revealed the relationships between the DEM parameters and mechanical parameters by modelling a tensile test. The parametric study demonstrates that the particle physical radius, particle contact radius and bond disc radius can significantly influence ultimate stress and Young’s modulus of the specimen, whereas they slightly impact elongation at fracture. Increasing the normal and shear stiffness, the critical normal and shear stiffness can enable the increase of ultimate stress, however, up to maximum values.
Research limitations/implications
To improve the particle-particle bond model to simulate a tensile test for high-carbon steel, the damping factors for compensating energy loss from transition of particle motions and failure of bonds are required.
Practical implications
This work reinforces the knowledge of applying DEM to model continuous materials.
Originality/value
This research illustrates a new approach to model a tensile test of a high-carbon steel on the basis of DEM.
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Minglong Li and Cathy H.C. Hsu
This study aims to conduct a comprehensive review of the literature on employee innovative behavior (EIB) in services. Based on the review, the conceptualization and…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to conduct a comprehensive review of the literature on employee innovative behavior (EIB) in services. Based on the review, the conceptualization and operationalization of EIB are summarized, and the relationships between job characteristics and EIB are revealed.
Design/methodology/approach
Altogether, 143 papers examining EIB in services published in 56 journals, including top management and hospitality journals, during the period of 1995-2014 were reviewed.
Findings
Three approaches to examine EIB in services have been identified. The concept of EIB based on the reviewed papers is summarized. In addition, antecedents and consequences of EIB are reviewed. In particular, the role of job characteristics in EIB is discussed.
Practical implications
This study provides practitioners with a “one-stop” paper to enhance their understanding of the relationship among EIB, job characteristics and other relevant concepts. Implications for hospitality firms on stimulating the innovative behaviors of employees are also provided.
Originality/value
Owing to the particularity and importance of EIB in services, this review summarizes the current knowledge on this concept and its antecedents and provides directions for future research, especially on the relationship between job characteristics and EIB.
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Jinda Kongcharoen, Nutthajit Onmek, Panaya Jandang and Sukanya Wangyisen
The purpose of this paper is to explore the levels of stress and work motivation of primary and secondary school teachers, investigate factors affecting stress of teachers and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the levels of stress and work motivation of primary and secondary school teachers, investigate factors affecting stress of teachers and validate the consistency of the model and empirical data.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample consisted of 400 teachers of primary and secondary schools. Questionnaire was implemented as the instrument and the data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA and confirmatory factor analysis.
Findings
The results indicated that teachers of secondary schools have higher overall stress than teachers of primary schools for many reasons, such as financial issues and work obligations. Stress was found to be significantly positively associated with work motivation in secondary school teachers. The study revealed that demographic and work motivation factors influence teacher stress. The validation of a goodness of fitted model demonstrated an acceptable model fit with empirical data (χ2 test/df = 1.913, GFI = 0.934, CFI = 0.965, NFI = 0.930, AGFI = 0.893).
Originality/value
Teachers under stress could negatively influence their students’ academic performance and might be more vulnerable to occupational diseases. Therefore, the teachers should find favorite activities that reduce stress and thereby contribute to effective teaching. This study would be beneficial for anyone who works to support teachers and wants to reduce turnover among teachers.
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Walter H. Gmelch and John S. Burns
Seeks to answer the following research questions: What job dimensionsare perceived as stressful by department chairs? To what degree dochairs exhibit stress from their dual…
Abstract
Seeks to answer the following research questions: What job dimensions are perceived as stressful by department chairs? To what degree do chairs exhibit stress from their dual faculty and administrator roles? What influence does academic discipline have on chair stress? and What influence do personal attributes have on chair stress? Over 800 department chairs, stratified by discipline, were selected from research and doctorate granting institutions and completed the Department Chair Stress Index along with demographic questions. A response rate of 70.2 per cent was achieved. The results of the study indicate that, overall, stress among department chairs appears to be monolithic in its effect. Also chairs expressed high stress both in faculty and in administrative areas of concern.
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Mengsha Liu, J.Y. Li, Lixin Chen and J.S. Ju
The internal force is more complicated in a combined load case than in a single load case, and the influence of the combined load on the stress cannot be neglected. The purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
The internal force is more complicated in a combined load case than in a single load case, and the influence of the combined load on the stress cannot be neglected. The purpose of this paper is to study the mechanical behavior of the flexible riser under combined load conditions of tension and internal pressure or external pressure.
Design/methodology/approach
The mechanical behavior of the flexible riser under combined load conditions is studied by numerical simulation with a nine-layer detailed finite element model. The layers of flexible riser are modeled separately, and the interactions between layers have been taken into consideration in numerical simulation.
Findings
Under tension and internal pressure or external pressure, the pressure armor will bear extra external pressure because of the squeezing actions between layers caused by tension, and the extra external pressure will increase proportionately with the increase of the tension. Under internal pressure and tension, the internal stress for tension armor was nearly unchanged compared to that under unique tension load, whereas under external pressure and tension, the change of internal stress for tension armor was significant. Prediction methods of internal force for pressure armor and tension armor under pressure and tension are given, and the result from the formula agrees well with the simulation results.
Originality/value
The prediction methods on the internal force of flexible riser proposed in this study are proven accurate, with numerical simulation results, and the prediction methods are convenient for engineering applications.
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Jui-Chung Kao, Hsiang-Yu Ma, Kao Rui-Hsin and Cheng-Chung Cho
The rise of communication software has changed our work style. The objectives of this study are: (1) to explore the effect of supervisors making after-hours work requests using…
Abstract
Purpose
The rise of communication software has changed our work style. The objectives of this study are: (1) to explore the effect of supervisors making after-hours work requests using communication software (SWRUCS) on employees’ job stress, quality of life and (2) to examine the moderating effect of personality traits and the cross-level contextual effect of social support.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire survey was conducted to obtain information from 357 employees.
Findings
The results suggested that SWRUCS exacerbated job stress, which negatively impacted on quality of life and well-being. Moreover, different personality traits can either increase or decrease the positive or negative effect of SWRUCS on job stress. This study also revealed that social support can reduce employees’ job stress in a cross-level fashion. Furthermore, social support, especially organizational and supervisory support, can decrease the negative effect of job stress on employees’ quality of life and well-being.
Originality/value
Theoretically, this study has broadened the research scope of the organizational application of communication software, and practically, this study has demonstrated the reason why organizations should provide social support and select employees with suitable personality traits.