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Work Patterns (work + pattern)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	40%
Business, Economics, Finance and Accounting	40%

Selected Abstracts

Flexible work bundles and organizational competitiveness: a cross-national study of the European work context

JOURNAL OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR, Issue 8 2005
Eleni T. Stavrou
The present study explores the categorization of flexible work arrangements (FWAs) into bundles and their connection to organizational competitiveness in the European Union. The measures of competitiveness were performance, turnover, and absenteeism. Four moderators were used in the study, organization sector, industry sector, organization size, and organizational women-supportiveness. The analyses revealed four FWA Bundles, namely Non-Standard Work Patterns, Work Away from the Office, Non-Standard Work Hours and Work Outsourced. Non-Standard Work Patterns were found to be related to decreased turnover (in the private sector), while Work Away from the Office was related to improved performance and reduced absenteeism. Non-Standard Work Hours and Work Outsourced (within the public sector) were positively related to turnover, suggesting that these types are possibly not being used as true flexibility arrangements. Finally, post-hoc analysis revealed that Non-Standard Work Hours was related to increased performance only among Swedish organizations. Implications for management and future research are discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Social Change and Social Policy in Japan

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF JAPANESE SOCIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
Masayuki Fujimura
Abstract This paper aims to present and discuss social change and social policy in Japan after the mid-20th century from a sociological viewpoint. Japanese social change and social policy from the mid-20th century onward can be categorized into three models in chronological order: escape from mass poverty by means of industrialization, improvement of the social security system to establish a welfare state, and parallel progress of aspiration for a welfare society and workfare. Defined concretely, these are (1) the period that established and improved social security, which started immediately after the end of World War II and ended in 1973, when Japan began to suffer from low growth after enjoying high growth; (2) the period in which finance for social security was adjusted, halfway through which the country experienced a bubble economy; and (3) the period after the 1990s, in which the structural reform of social security went hand-in-hand with labor policy and the advent of globalization. In each of the three periods, the direction of social policy was affected by factors that caused changes in such areas as industrial structure (the decline of agriculture), demographic structure (an aging society), and family structure and work pattern (the growing trend of nuclear families, single-person households, and irregular employment). In Japan, life security now attracts increasing attention, and employment security rather than social security has been the central issue. As it is greatly affected by globalization, employment security grows less conspicuous and makes the vulnerability of social security grow more conspicuous. Social policy has the potential to become an area with which to struggle for national integration and fissures between social groups. [source]

Burnout and stress amongst old age psychiatrists

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 8 2002
Susan M. Benbow
Abstract Objective To investigate the relationship between work patterns, burnout and stress in consultant old age psychiatrists. Methods We sent a postal survey to all old age psychiatrists on the Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry, Royal College of Psychiatrists, list. Participants completed a workload questionnaire, the Stress Checklist and the Maslach Burnout Inventory during a specified week. Results Burnout scores were unaffected by gender and team working, but old age psychiatrists scoring within the high burnout range were younger, scored highly on stress, spent less time on research, study and audit, and more time travelling. The whole group scored highly on emotional exhaustion. Conclusions Job plans should encourage research/study and audit, and cut down travelling. The finding related to age is not fully understood, but suggests consideration of support groups for new consultants and review of whether current training programmes adequately prepare people for work as a consultant. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

A goal programming model for crew duties generation

JOURNAL OF MULTI CRITERIA DECISION ANALYSIS, Issue 3 2001
Sydney C.K. Chu
Abstract An Erratum has been published for this article in Journal of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis 10(5) 2001, 285. This paper proposes a model for the generation of daily work duties of airside crew (being bus drivers) at the Hong Kong International Airport. The results can be adopted as a good crew schedule, in the sense that it is both feasible, satisfying requirements of various work conditions, and ,optimal' in minimizing overtime shifts. It is formulated as a goal programme, specifically designed to cater for the manpower planning issues to handle frequent changes of flight schedules by flexibility in work patterns of driver duties. Illustrative results from an actual case study are given. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Changing work patterns for benign upper gastrointestinal and biliary disease: 1994,2007

ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 7-8 2010
Alexander P. M. Jay
Abstract Background:, The evolution of surgical technology has impacted on surgical practice. We determined trends in surgical caseload for common benign biliary and uppergastrointestinal conditions in Australia over the last 15 years. Methods:, Using the Medicare Australia web site, the use of Medicare item numbers specific to gall stone, bariatric and anti-reflux procedures were determined nationally and for each Australian state for each year from 1994 to 2007. Rates of operative cholangiography, laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy conversion and bile duct exploration were calculated. Per capita use of bariatric procedures was also determined. Anti-reflux surgery was analysed as total and specific subgroups of anti-reflux procedures. Results:, The use of intra-operative cholangiography has increased over time, and the conversion to open cholecystectomy and application of common bile duct exploration both decreased. A rapid increase in restrictive bariatric procedures has occurred, and this has been followed by a similar increase in revision bariatric surgery and lap band adjustments. The application of anti-reflux surgery has also increased significantly with the repair of large hiatus hernia accounting for most of the increase over the last five years, whereas revision anti-reflux surgery remains uncommon. Conclusions:, These data demonstrate significant increases in the application of some laparoscopic surgical techniques, particularly for morbid obesity. Future health-care planning will need to consider the impact of these changes. [source]