Helen Jones, Shelley Gait and Philip John Tyson
The mental health and well-being of employees is negatively impacted by stress, anxiety and depression. There is a need to address these issues at an organisational level to…
Abstract
Purpose
The mental health and well-being of employees is negatively impacted by stress, anxiety and depression. There is a need to address these issues at an organisational level to enhance workforce welfare and to decrease the number of days lost due to mental health/well-being concerns. This study aimed to evaluate a mental health and well-being toolkit designed to enhance the resilience, coping and self-talk of employees.
Design/methodology/approach
The intervention was derived from counselling psychology and composed of an 8-hour programme, which was delivered over four consecutive weeks. A mixed methods approach was adopted, with the quantitative element assessing an intervention group (n = 10) and control group (n = 14) at baseline and at the end of the programme on measures of mental health and well-being. The qualitative aspect of the study involved interviews with the intervention group, which were thematically analysed..
Findings
Quantitatively, the experimental group showed statistically significant improvements in elements of resilience and well-being and a reduction in stress and anxiety. Qualitatively, participants experienced a positive effect on their well-being, benefited from the learning process, applied the taught strategies widely and found the session experience positive.
Research limitations/implications
This was a small pilot study, nevertheless, the mixed methods nature of this investigation indicates that a counselling derived online training programme can enhance the well-being of employees within large organisations.
Originality/value
A remotely delivered mental health and well-being toolkit could be a useful resource to enhance the well-being of employees in all organisations.
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Robin A.F. Andrews and Philip Tyson
The development and application of critical thinking skills are an important component of success at University. Such skills permit students to evaluate the strengths and…
Abstract
Purpose
The development and application of critical thinking skills are an important component of success at University. Such skills permit students to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of evidence, argument and theory. However research suggests that many students believe in paranormal phenomena (e.g. telekinesis). Such beliefs defy the basic principles of science and do not stand up to critical scrutiny. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This study aimed to investigate paranormal beliefs within a student population: differences among gender, academic discipline and academic performance were explored.
Findings
Findings indicated that females expressed higher levels of paranormal belief than males, “hard” science students (e.g. Biology) and “soft” science students (e.g. Sociology) expressed lower levels of belief than arts students, and a significant negative correlation indicated that high achievers were less likely to endorse paranormal beliefs.
Originality/value
In light of these results the authors suggest that paranormal phenomena may be a useful tool for teaching critical thinking skills at university.
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Rebecca May Thompson, Bridie Victoria Stone and Philip John Tyson
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) people within the UK and the Republic of Ireland are underrepresented within research and policies despite high rates of mental illness and…
Abstract
Purpose
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) people within the UK and the Republic of Ireland are underrepresented within research and policies despite high rates of mental illness and suicide. This study aims to explore the mental health (MH) support needs for GRT people within the British Isles.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with nine self-identified GRT people.
Findings
The analysis revealed a longing for acceptance, both within and outside the GRT community; barriers to help seeking, specifically unsuitable services, poor awareness, stigma and distrust; and increased vulnerability owing to participants’ perceived lack of prospects and adverse life events.
Originality/value
Despite increased vulnerability, MH services are underutilised by GRT people for a variety of cultural and practical reasons. To reduce the current inequality, it is imperative that services take steps to increase accessibility. This study expands upon previous research by using the voices of GRT people themselves, creating a narrative built from their own emic perspectives. Unlike previous research, this study focuses exclusively on the MH of participants and includes participants from across the British Isles.
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Philip F. Banks and Jack Baranson
Innovative companies in the U.S., Mexico, and the Pacific Rim are experimenting with a new type of transnational strategic alliance (TSA). By sharing complementary resources and…
Abstract
Innovative companies in the U.S., Mexico, and the Pacific Rim are experimenting with a new type of transnational strategic alliance (TSA). By sharing complementary resources and capabilities across borders—and splitting the costs and risks—these TSAs can take advantage of market opportunities that most firms dare not grasp for on their own. They represent radical departures from traditional joint ventures in terms of the objectives, perspectives, and relationships of alliance partners.
The aim of this paper is to show the connection between spiritual capital and practical wisdom with moral virtue as the link of both concepts.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to show the connection between spiritual capital and practical wisdom with moral virtue as the link of both concepts.
Design/methodology/approach
The concept of spiritual capital will be explained using the well known concept of social capital and practical examples for virtues.
Findings
Spiritual capital has an impact on business like other forms of capital.
Originality/value
The paper discusses the development of the concept of spiritual capital.
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For years, critics have warned that organizational research does not take race seriously enough. Fortunately, this situation has improved as scholars in the 2000s and 2010s have…
Abstract
For years, critics have warned that organizational research does not take race seriously enough. Fortunately, this situation has improved as scholars in the 2000s and 2010s have produced scholarship that explores how race defines and shapes organizations. In this chapter, I briefly review the intersection of the sociology of race and institutional theory and suggest questions for future research.
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Little is known about actual organisational experiences and challenges with using e-HRM. The focus of this chapter is on the challenges that Australian HR professionals face in…
Abstract
Purpose
Little is known about actual organisational experiences and challenges with using e-HRM. The focus of this chapter is on the challenges that Australian HR professionals face in using e-HRM and achieving e-HRM outputs.
Methodology
Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with five HR professionals in different Australian organisations. Content analysis was applied to analyse the transcribed interviews.
Findings
Potential of e-HRM to bring efficiency, access to HR data, reporting, as well as contributions to the overall business strategy are thwarted by three groups of e-HRM challenges that HR professionals experience: e-HRM technical issues, HR issues, and e-HRM development issues.
Research limitations/implications
Findings are based on the five interviews with HR professionals in Australian organisations only. Line managers, employees, and managers from other business functions as well as small businesses have not been included in the research sample.
Practical implications
By addressing the e-HRM challenges, HR professionals can achieve e-HRM benefits and enhance their contribution to the overall business.
Originality/value
A major contribution is to show that the HRM literature barely considers the e-HRM challenges facing HR professionals. Another contribution is to provide an understanding of e-HRM challenges in the Australian context.
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Nikos Drosos and Menelaos Theodoroulakis
Although work has a fundamental role in the individual’s psychological well-being, the vast majority of mental health service users are not in employment. This is the result of…
Abstract
Although work has a fundamental role in the individual’s psychological well-being, the vast majority of mental health service users are not in employment. This is the result of various barriers that impede their work re-integration process despite their desire to work. Apart from the illness’ symptoms, these barriers are strongly associated with the negative effects of long-term unemployment, the negative stereotypes and attitudes towards mental health service users and the fear of losing disability benefits. There are several occupational intervention models aiming at vocational rehabilitation of mental health service users. Arguably, the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of supported employment has proved to be more effective compared to other models. This chapter presents an innovative career counselling approach that combines elements from the IPS model and from the newly emerged career theories that have been developed to address today’s world of work challenges. This model was developed by the Pan-Hellenic Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Work Integration (PEPSAEE) in Greece during the recent major economic crisis. Further implications of the model’s implementation regarding vocational rehabilitation of mental health users as means for social inclusion are discussed.
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By Mirowski's own description, this book is a collection of essays that dwell in the interstices of scientific disciplines and established fields of inquiry: “this book sets out…
Abstract
By Mirowski's own description, this book is a collection of essays that dwell in the interstices of scientific disciplines and established fields of inquiry: “this book sets out to explore that no-man's land at the borders of science and economics with attendant emotions pitched somewhere beyond the thrill of spelunking and the delectation of trespass” (p. 4). With his body armor and some extra clips for his rifle, he charges headfirst into this no-man's land with his sights set on what he calls “the twentieth century science-economy problematic” (p. 6). Some scholars often utilize economic principles (especially neoclassical ones) to characterize the structure and processes of science (ever heard of the “marketplace of ideas?”) while pulling out all the stops in claiming economics to be a rigorous scientific enterprise (on par with the pinnacle – physics, of course). In short, Mirowski is troubled that critical analysis of such academic pursuits seems to be verboten.