Yesterday's workers in Tomorrow's world

PurposeThis study sought to examine the attitudes of blue-collar workers toward job automation. The study examined the relations between job automation, fear of job loss and self-actualization.Design/methodology/approachUsing mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative analysis) with 539 participants overall, we examined employees' attitudes toward job automation through two separate studies conducted in a large public organization that employs blue-, white- and pink-collar employees. The blue-collar workers who participated consisted of waste collectors, gardeners and parking supervisors whose work is at risk of job automation.FindingsWe found that 74% of the blue-collar employees described technology as a “replacer” that simplifies and reduces human work activities, while only 3% perceived it as an “enabler” that could enrich their jobs and expand human potential. Fifty-three percent of the employees in the white-collar professions described technology as a “replacer,” and 36% perceived it as an “enabler.” Among pink-collar workers, 51% perceived technology as an “enabler,” while only 14% perceived it as a “replacer.” A positive relationship between job automation and self-actualization was evident for pink- and white-collar workers, but not for blue-collar workers.Originality/valueThis study sheds light on how employees in different types of jobs perceive technological advancements at work. A classification of the perception of technology as an “enabler” vs a “replacer” is presented. The relationships between job automation and self-actualization in different job types are explored.

Influence of desynchronized circadian rhythm on working memory, concentration and divided attention on pink collar shift workers of a tertiary care hospital: A comparative cross-sectional study

Objectives: The objective of this study was to find the influence of desynchronized circadian rhythm on working memory, concentration, and divided attention among pink collar shift workers of KLE Hospital as offering 24-h emergency health-care services and hospital care for critical patients by working in shifts can lead to circadian misalignment which can further impair alertness and deteriorate the performance, increase the medical errors and can negatively impact shift workers' health and quality of patient care. Materials and Methods: Rey–Osterrieth complex figure test (ROCF) was performed to assess working memory by visual-spatial constructional ability and visual memory. Symbol digit modality test (SDMT) was conducted to assess concentration ability by divided attention, visual scanning, tracking, and motor speed. Following which, a recall test was conducted without any prior warning. Statistical analysis was performed by mean ± SD, unpaired t-test and P-value. Results: Shift workers’ and controls’ scores expressed as (mean score ± SD), respectively, were in ROCF copy test (33.52 ± 3.45) and (35.04 ± 3.45), in ROCF recall test (19.68 ± 3.71) and (26.6 ± 2.37), and SDMT correct scores were (49.16 ± 2.34) and (58.6 ± 4.11), SDMT error scores were (1.4 ± 2.32) and (1 ± 1.24), while SDMT total score was (50.56 ± 3.32) and (59.6 ± 5.65). Conclusion: Results obtained showed that the mean score for copy test in shift workers was comparatively low but not significant, while in recall test, it was significantly lower indicating lower accuracy to perform a task. Furthermore, their working memory was significantly affected. In the SDMT, the mean correct score was lower, the error score was slightly higher and the total score was significantly lower in shift workers, indicating lower accuracy to perform tasks involving concentration and attention, lower concentration and a significantly lesser speed while performing tasks.

Mulheres no comando

Os períodos de crises mundiais – como a que o mundo vive por conta da pandemia do Covid-19 – são relevantes encorajadores da ciência da Administração para conhecer, analisar e identificar novas possibilidades de lideranças. Destacou-se, neste artigo, a liderança feminina. Além disso, o fenômeno da liderança feminina demonstrou crescimento significativo em empresas privadas brasileiras e em trabalhos científicos. Assim, o objetivo da presente investigação é apresentar os resultados de uma revisão sistemática da literatura sobre liderança feminina no Brasil no campo do trabalho. Para tanto, este estudo foi realizado sob abordagem qualitativa, busca bibliográfica sistemática e análise de conteúdo. Foram selecionados 20 artigos publicados entre 2016 e 2020. Dentre os principais resultados, identificou-se que: a liderança feminina foi particularmente estudada no nível da média liderança (supervisoras e gerentes), no contexto das organizações privadas e com ênfase nas empresas do setor de serviços; dentre as abordagens teóricas, destacaram-se os estilos de liderança, glass ceiling, pink collar work, queen bee. Foram levantados problemas de pesquisa para orientar futuras investigações sobre a temática, seccionadas em níveis de análise (individual, grupal e organizacional). A maior contribuição deste artigo foi expandir conhecimento sobre o estado da arte da liderança feminina no âmbito do trabalho no Brasil.

The Effects of Job Insecurity on Employees’ Financial Well-Being and Work Satisfaction Among Chinese Pink-Collar Workers

This article examines the effects of job insecurity on employees’ financial well-being and work satisfaction. Based on a literature review on financial well-being, we proposed that financial well-being consists of two categories: personal financial well-being and family financial well-being. We developed a theoretical model that links job insecurity to employees’ personal and family financial well-being, and then to employees’ work satisfaction. Data were collected from 334 Chinese pink-collar workers in Macao. Results of the structural equation modeling showed that job insecurity negatively and significantly influenced employees’ personal financial well-being whereas employees’ personal financial well-being positively and significantly influenced work satisfaction directly and indirectly through employees’ family financial well-being. However, the direct relationships between job insecurity and employees’ family financial well-being and between job insecurity and work satisfaction were not significant.

Effects of Emotional Labor Factors and Working Environment on the Risk of Depression in Pink-Collar Workers

Analyzing men and women separately, we examined the associations between six key elements of the psychosocial work environment of pink-collar workers (n = 7633) and the risk of depression, using logistic regression analysis with data from the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) conducted in 2017. We assessed the risk of depression according to the presence of emotional display rules (EDR), health and safety information (HSI), and emotional labor. In males, the risk of depression increased when there were no EDR and they had to interact with angry customers (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.14–3.30). For women, the risk of depression increased if they had to interact with angry customers and EDR were present (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.00–3.00), and if they did not receive HSI but had to interact with angry customers (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.02–2.71), or hid their emotions and did not receive HSI (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.50–2.40). The risk of depression increased more in the presence of EDR among women who hid their emotions (OR 1.80, 95% CI, 1.40–2.31) compared to women who did not hide their emotions and in the absence of EDR. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the effects of gender-specific factors on the risk of depression and revise current guidelines accordingly.