Effect of Increased Alcoholism and Substance Abuse on Work-fromHome and other Non-standard Job Behaviors During Covid-19

Covid-19 pandemic is a unique situation which has paused the life of individuals all across the globe. The current world crisis has rendered unique experiences for everyone in education, childcare, healthcare, and work culture. As the health departments issued stay-at-home orders for reducing Covid infection risks non-essential organizations quickly shifted to remote working models for cutting down the costs of administrative and infrastructural functioning [1,2]. However, work-from-home (WFH) has also given the scope and freedom for distraction and health hazard, which includes alcoholism and substance abuse. Studies have reported a 54% increase in sales of alcohol commencing March 2020, and online sales from substance purchases have also surged by 262% since 2019 [1]. While some people are taking up excess alcoholism or substance abuse as a defense mechanism for psychological distress caused by the uncertainties of work and life, others are abusing the remote working scenario to indulge in alcohol and addictive substances during work hours. Substance abuse during work can actually pose additional challenges for organizations, H.R. policies, or management. It can have negative impacts on employees’ performance, deliverance, and employability, which consequentially affects their social and personal lives. Additionally, consuming alcohol or other substances can induce health risks in employees. This paper attempts to understand the effects that excess alcohol/substance consumption can have on the job behaviors and performance of employees working from home during Covid. Also, we will attempt to analyze how increased substance abuse can affect the personal health and personal lives of these people during a pandemic situation.

Effect of Increased Alcoholism and Substance Abuse on Work-fromHome and other Non-standard Job Behaviors During Covid-19

Covid-19 pandemic is a unique situation which has paused the life of individuals all across the globe. The current world crisis has rendered unique experiences for everyone in education, childcare, healthcare, and work culture. As the health departments issued stay-at-home orders for reducing Covid infection risks non-essential organizations quickly shifted to remote working models for cutting down the costs of administrative and infrastructural functioning [1,2]. However, work-from-home (WFH) has also given the scope and freedom for distraction and health hazard, which includes alcoholism and substance abuse. Studies have reported a 54% increase in sales of alcohol commencing March 2020, and online sales from substance purchases have also surged by 262% since 2019 [1]. While some people are taking up excess alcoholism or substance abuse as a defense mechanism for psychological distress caused by the uncertainties of work and life, others are abusing the remote working scenario to indulge in alcohol and addictive substances during work hours. Substance abuse during work can actually pose additional challenges for organizations, H.R. policies, or management. It can have negative impacts on employees’ performance, deliverance, and employability, which consequentially affects their social and personal lives. Additionally, consuming alcohol or other substances can induce health risks in employees. This paper attempts to understand the effects that excess alcohol/substance consumption can have on the job behaviors and performance of employees working from home during Covid. Also, we will attempt to analyze how increased substance abuse can affect the personal health and personal lives of these people during a pandemic situation.

A Study on Impact of Stress towards Work Related Behavior among Secondary School Teachers in Malawi

This investigation conducted on impact of stress towards work behavior among secondary school teachers in Mangochi, Malawi. 200 secondary school teachers were randomly chosen to form as participants for the investigation. Data were collected by using research questionnaire titled “stress management in educational sector”. The purpose of this study was to identify the various impacts of stress towards work related behavior among secondary school teachers. This study reported that teachers were encountered impacts on job related behaviors such as losing interest in teaching, committing a lot of errors in work, Not attending to students’ needs, transferring of aggression to students, increasing Absence. Male teachers encountered more impacts in job related behaviors compared to female teachers. There was positive correlation between age of the respondents and respondents encountered in job behaviors. Master degree holders encountered more job-related impacts compared to all other teachers who are all secured certificate, diploma and Bachelor degree. Teachers who are having experience between 11–15 and 16–20 years encountered more stress impact on job behavior compared to teachers who are having experience in teaching between 0 to 10 years.

Assessment of behavior-based performance in banking and insurance sector

PurposeAlthough individual work performance (IWP) has been the subject of research by many authors, most of them have explored work performance as an outcome. However, IWP can also be viewed as conducive job behaviors. On the other hand, as employee behavior is contextual, it must be analyzed from various angles, especially in regard to a national culture of employees. In line with that, the purpose of this study was to explore the behavior-based IWP in the banking and insurance sector in New Delhi (India) by testing the original tool and modifying it into a proposed instrument for its assessment in a Hindi–English environment.Design/methodology/approachUsing a quantitative approach and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, specific items for the work performance assessment were selected. The specific steps involved in these processes and resulting item inclusion are discussed in detail.FindingsAlthough employees display a positive behavior-related work performance, there is a difference between private and public company workers. The study proposes modification to the original scale used.Originality/valueThe originality of the study is the assessment of IWP as a result of job behaviors in the non-Western context, in banking and insurance companies. The study has both theoretical and practical value.

How peers’ updates on social media influence job search

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the ways in which social media content via social contagion may affect the job behaviors of employed individuals. Specifically, by integrating the unfolding model of voluntary turnover and social comparison theory, this paper explores whether receiving an update about a peer’s career advancement on professional social networking sites (SNSs) increases an individual’s propensity to engage in job search. Design/methodology/approach In this analysis, the authors matched individuals’ survey data (n=125) with information received from a recruiting agency on employees’ subsequent job search behavior (i.e., sending a resume to the agency). Findings The results indicate that the relationship between career advancement updates on SNSs and job search behavior was stronger for employees with higher perceived employability and, contrary to our hypothesis, for those more embedded within the organization. Practical implications More employable and more embedded individuals perceive social cues from social media, and these cues positively relate to their job search behaviors. To address this trend, organizations could develop a social media strategy and implement retention measures to prevent the job search (and thus potential turnover) of employable and embedded individuals. Originality/value This research contributes to the job search literature by examining the role of professional SNSs in driving job search behavior among employed individuals.

The Overlooked Perspective of Police Trust in the Public: Measurement and Effects on Police Job Behaviors

Many studies have looked at the public’s trust in the police, but very few have examined police trust in the public. Based on Mayer, Davis, and Schoorman’s model of trust, we conducted two studies. The first study created scales measuring the antecedents of trust and assessed police trust in the public based on a survey of 990 police officers from across the United States. The second study used the trust measures developed in the first study, as well as supervisors’ evaluations and archival performance data, in a study of the job performance of 135 police officers. We found that officers who had greater trust in the public engaged in more proactive policing and made more arrests. We discuss the implications of these findings, including what they mean for police officers and the communities they serve.