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Human resource (HR) managers hire conscientious employees because they are both productive and are viewed as upholding high ethical standards due to their propensity to engage in voice. Organizations may strive to create a work context conducive to all employees acting ethically, not just conscientious ones, by centralizing decision‐making authority and promoting formalization through a higher hierarchy of authority. Yet, we propose that from the social information processing perspective, in higher hierarchy of authority contexts, peers may view their highly conscientious colleagues as less ethical. We hypothesize these effects through the lens of trait activation theory, according to which in a higher hierarchy of authority context, others are less likely to notice the voice behaviors of conscientious employees. Problematically, when others fail to notice conscientious employees' voice, they may perceive these workers as being less ethical. We tested our hypothesized moderated mediation model in a matched sample of employees (N = 820), their supervisors (N = 445), and peers (N = 529). As predicted, hierarchy of authority moderated the positive relationship between conscientiousness and voice, which in turn explained others' perceptions of their ethicality. Conscientiousness was positively related to peer assessments of ethicality via promotive (not prohibitive) voice when hierarchy of authority was lower (but not higher), partially supporting our hypotheses. These results suggest HR practitioners should be cognizant of the differential evaluations of highly conscientious employees in contexts with different levels of hierarchy of authority, and continuing challenges associated with balancing flexibility and formalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brokerage in intra-organizational networks is critical to performance, but women exhibit less brokerage in their social networks and receive lower performance returns to the brokerage they exhibit than men do. We uncover a condition under which the gender gaps in network advantage are entirely negated: mobility. When women move between units of the organization, they increase their brokerage more than mobile men do. Further, such mobility eliminates the gender gap in returns to brokerage. Using a rich dataset including the personnel records, monthly performance, and email communications of thousands of employees in a large financial institution, we find support for our arguments by comparing the networks and objective performance of those who changed jobs with matched non-movers prior to and following each job change. In probing why this might be the case, we find that women movers are more likely to maintain communication ties to colleagues from their previous roles and that these persistent ties give them a discernible and gender-role-congruent explanation for connecting otherwise disconnected units and benefiting from network brokerage. Our results illuminate important mechanisms by which social network dynamics and mobility affect gender inequality and performance in organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To operationalize the extent to which firms place a strategic emphasis on human capital and human resource management (HRM), we draw on the strategy field's dominant logic theory and on the emerging literature on executive compensation for the heads of major firm functions, such as HRM. Specifically, we investigate whether the pay of human resource executives (HREs) relative to other members of top management teams (TMTs) is related to firm performance. After controlling for the endogeneity of HRE status as one of the highest paid executives on the TMT, we find in a comprehensive sample of the largest US firms that HRE relative pay is positively related to firm financial performance, specifically Tobin's Q. We also find that the relationship of HRE relative pay with Tobin's Q is stronger in relatively smaller and younger firms in our sample. The findings suggest that a strategic emphasis on human capital and HRM leads to higher firm value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of internal labor markets are largest when they include industries that utilize similar worker skills, thereby facilitating cross-industry worker reallocation and collaboration. We show that diversifying acquisitions occur more frequently among industry pairs with higher human capital transferability. Such acquisitions result in larger labor productivity gains and are less often undone in subsequent divestitures. Moreover, acquirers retain more high-skill workers and more often transfer workers to jobs in other industries inside the merged firm. Overall, our results link human capital reallocation with the value created by corporate diversification and provide an explanation for seemingly unrelated acquisitions. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix , which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of warehouse expenses is driven by labour cost. Therefore, efficient management of labour resources is required. To do so, workforce planning is used to match the workforce capacity with the incoming workload. While doing so, it is often wrongly assumed that each worker has the same and constant capacity or performance. Addressing this, we build a model to predict the employee-based productivity of newly hired warehouse personnel that will support workforce planning by incorporating multiple data sources. To this end,wedevelop a framework to identify relevant variables in four categories: warehouse, operator, shift and product. We demonstrate that Extreme Gradient Boosting, using these variables may reduce the root mean squared error of the prediction by more than 50%. A comprehensive scenario analysis shows that improving productivity predictions translates into substantial cost savings. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis identifies which variable categories should be favoured in the data collection process to achieve the best prediction results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating the theory of workplace deviance with person–environment fit theory, we propose a two‐pathway model to explain why and how employees who feel overqualified engage in time theft behavior. Specifically, we anticipate that feeling overqualified will negatively influence focal employees' experienced authority fairness and erode their work meaningfulness, which in turn will lead to increased time theft behavior. Further, we argue that voice endorsement serves as a key boundary condition mitigating the negative effects of perceived overqualification. We conducted two multi‐waved and multi‐sourced field studies to test our proposed hypotheses. Study 1 (247 employees and 47 supervisors) revealed that perceived overqualification is associated with time theft behavior through the mediators of experienced authority fairness and meaningfulness. Study 2 (405 employees and 73 supervisors) replicated the findings of Study 1 and tested our full model. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the potential of language models such as ChatGPT to transform library cataloging. Through experiments with ChatGPT, the author demonstrates its ability to generate accurate MARC records using RDA and other standards such as the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set. These results demonstrate the potential of ChatGPT as a tool for streamlining the record creation process and improving efficiency in library settings. The use of AI-generated records, however, also raises important questions related to intellectual property rights and bias. The paper reviews recent studies on AI in libraries and concludes that further research and development of this innovative technology is necessary to ensure its responsible implementation in the field of library cataloging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of teams to self-organize and engage in spontaneous collaboration is crucial to 21st-century organizations. The large extent of nonroutine activities in such organizations hampers the effectiveness of traditional management instruments, such as monitoring effort and performance levels and exercising fiat—resulting in increasingly important self-organized collaboration. To explain how such collaboration is possible, we suggest a refinement of the psychological assumptions underpinning influential theories of the firm—specifically, concerning how people reason. We juxtapose "Nash reasoning" (the mode of reasoning underpinning organizational economic theories of the firm) with "virtual bargaining" (a more collaborative mode of reasoning drawing on recent research in cognitive science). Virtual bargaining enables individuals to establish, maintain, and abide by tacit "social contracts" of their team and organization—the (often-tacit) norms, rules, roles, and responsibilities governing how employees should behave (irrespective of their personal objectives). Thus, virtual bargaining helps individuals mitigate challenges of team production, such as shirking and hold-up, in a self-organizing and self-enforcing way. We analyze the conditions under which virtual bargaining leads individuals to coordinate on enhanced effort levels in organizationally relevant settings. We outline avenues for empirically testing virtual bargaining in organizations and discuss conceptual implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Controlling smartphone addiction and procrastination among nurses is crucial for enhancing the productivity of both nursing and the healthcare system. Critical care nurses are highly vulnerable to smartphone addiction and procrastination behaviors than other groups. They may purposefully delay their tasks, a practice known as active procrastination, or inadvertently delay them, a practice known as passive procrastination. Aim: This study was designed to assess the prevalence of smartphone addiction and procrastination behavior among nurses, examine the effect of smartphone addiction on the active and passive procrastination behaviors, and explore the correlation between active and passive procrastination behaviors among nurses. Method: This is a descriptive correlational exploratory study that was conducted at 23 critical care units of one large educational hospital in Egypt. Data were collected from 360 nurses who were conveniently selected using three tools: the Smartphone Addiction Inventory, the New Active Procrastination Scale, and the Unintentional Procrastination Scale. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to test the hypothetical relationship among the study variables. Results: This study revealed that 55.0%, 80.0%, and 45.3% of nurses had a moderate perceived level of smartphone addiction, active procrastination behavior, and passive procrastination behavior, respectively. There is a significant positive correlation between smartphone addiction and both nurses' active and passive procrastination behaviors. Smartphone addiction accounts for 25% of the variance in nurses' active procrastination behavior and 18% of the variance in their passive procrastination. Furthermore, there is a moderately significant negative correlation between nurses' active procrastination behavior and their passive procrastination behavior. Conclusion: Nurses are exhibiting moderate levels of smartphone addiction and procrastination, which is a significant threat to the healthcare industry and nursing productivity. This requires technological, educational, and organizational interventions that foster active procrastination and combat passive procrastination behaviors among nurses. Implications: Continuous training programs are required to enhance time management skills among nurses and increase the awareness of nurse managers with the symptoms of smartphone addiction among nurses. Nurse leaders should early detect and address the addictive use of smartphones among nurses, identify potential procrastinators, and provide counseling to eradicate these behaviors in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hearing loss is known to be a serious issue that impedes human communication. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 20 in 100,000 newborns demonstrate congenital hearing impairments, leading to severely impacted language, academic, and social abilities of these children. Objective: The reduced quality of life and work productivity among hearing-impaired individuals eventually affects societal outcomes and development. Since limited studies address the nature of hearing-impaired individuals in Jordan, this research aimed to define the prevalence and nature of hearing loss in Jordan, highlighting important facts about hearing loss epidemiology across Jordanians. Methods: The current research focused on assessing hearing function for 1000 individuals over 12 years to define the rate, most prominent configurations, and the most common characteristics of hearing difficulties in Jordan. Results: The results showed that sixty-three per 1,000 people have hearing loss, most frequently sensorineural hearing loss. The age range of people with hearing loss was 12 to 89 years old, with a median age of 51. The incidence of hearing loss appeared at a later age (33.33%, X2 = 15.74, p<0.05). The percentages of hearing loss were similar across the main Jordanian governorates (X2 = 7.14, p>0.05), with sensorineural hearing loss reported to be the most common type of hearing loss (N = 46, 73.00%), and mild is the most frequent severity (N = 25, X2 = 23.58, p<0.05). No statistical variation was reported in the prevalence of hearing loss based on gender. Conclusion: The rate of hearing loss in Jordan is higher than worldwide prevalence, which was assumed to be due to genetic factors impacting the auditory system. These findings will assist in creating effective hearing conservation programs to reasonably prevent or minimize the spread of hearing loss in Jordan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Lower limb osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent condition that has a profound impact on an individual's life in several domains, including occupational activities. The objective of this study was to systematically describe and compare work-related outcomes (e.g., employment status, absenteeism, and productivity loss) in individuals with and without lower limb OA. Materials and methods: Five databases were searched until 17 June 2023. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they compared work-related outcomes between individuals with lower limb OA and healthy controls (e.g., people without OA or the general population). Results: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria of which two were included in a meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed that individuals with OA were less frequently in paid employment than control individuals (odds ratio: 0.25; 95% confidence intervals: 0.12, 0.53). Evidence from single studies indicated greater absenteeism and presenteeism and poorer functional capacity in people with lower limb OA compared to controls. Conclusions: This systematic review suggests that individuals with lower limb OA have poorer work-related outcomes than those without OA. Low study numbers and lack of consistency in the way work outcomes are defined and measured make accurate quantification of the impact of OA on work challenging. Prospero: registration number: CRD42020178820. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Individuals with lower limb osteoarthritis (OA) are less frequently in paid employment and experience greater absenteeism and presenteeism and poorer functional capacity than people without OA. For holistic management of lower limb OA, healthcare providers should have conversations about any difficulties experienced at work and include outcome measures related to work. Clinicians should work with individuals with lower limb OA and employers to develop interventions to maximize work participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with ureteral stones are often managed with a spontaneous trial of passage. While cost effective, the current literature has not examined the effects of a trial of passage on patients' work productivity. In this study, we aim to characterize work absence and productivity losses in a cohort of patients undergoing a trial of passage for ureteral stones. Actively employed patients aged 18 to 64 and discharged from Duke emergency departments without surgical intervention for ureteral stones ≤ 10 mm were contacted by phone four weeks after their presentation. Participants completed the Institute for Medical Technology Assessment Productivity Cost Questionnaire which assesses three domains: absenteeism — missed work; presenteeism —productivity when returning to work; and unpaid work — assistance with household work. Linear regression associated demographic and stone factors with productivity losses.109 patients completed the survey. In total, 67% of patients missed work, 46% had decreased productivity when returning to work, and 55% required assistance with unpaid work. 59% of patients with stones ≤ 5 mm missed work versus 84% with stones > 5 mm (p = 0.009). African American race (coefficient 23.68, 95% confidence interval 2.24–45.11, p = 0.031), first-time stone formers (coefficient 20.28, 95% confidence interval 2.50-38.07, p = 0.026), and patients with stones > 5 mm (coefficient 25.34, 95% CI 5.25–45.44, p = 0.014) were associated with increased productivity losses. The majority of patients miss work while undergoing a trial of passage and many have decreased productivity when returning to work. This information may help counsel patients in emergency departments, especially first-time stone formers, and prevent return visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are essential for understanding the effects of MS and its treatments on patients’ lives; they play an important role in multiple sclerosis (MS) research and practice. We present the protocol for an observational study to prospectively assess the effect of cladribine tablets on PROs and their correlation to disability and physical activity in adults with highly active relapsing MS switching from a first disease modifying drug (DMD) to cladribine tablets in routine clinical practice at study sites in Italy. The primary objective will be to evaluate changes from baseline in the impact of highly active MS on self-assessed physical functioning 52  weeks after the switch to cladribine tablets using the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale-29 (MSIS-29). Secondary objectives will include self-assessed psychological impact of highly active MS in daily life and general health after the switch to cladribine tablets as well as changes in cognitive function, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Additional PRO measures will include the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L), the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: Multiple Sclerosis (WPAI:MS), and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). Wearable devices will acquire activity data (step counts, walking speed, time asleep, and energy expenditure). Additional clinical, radiological, and laboratory data will be collected when available during routine management. The findings will complement data from controlled trials by providing insight from daily clinical practice into the effect of cladribine tablets on the patient’s experience and self-assessed impact of treatment on daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate how remote work affects job performance. It suggests that factors such as the work environment, employee productivity, and work-life balance play a role in mediating this impact. The study also explores how remote work influences employee performance through these variables. The findings of this research have practical implications for businesses looking to evaluate the effectiveness of their remote work policies, especially during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. One distinctive feature of this study is its questionnaire, which has been specifically designed to capture the effects of COVID-19. Data were collected through an online survey distributed to workers in Syria. The survey, which utilized a Likert scale, was sent via email to around 2650 employees and was also shared on social media platforms. A total of 300 respondents took part in the survey. To address the research questions, structural equation modelling was employed in this study. The results indicated that remote work resulted in increased enjoyment, satisfaction, and motivation among employees, ultimately improving job performance. It is worth noting that while this research focuses on examining these benefits within the context of Syria, there is potential for external validity among other countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To reveal the clinical features and assess risk factors linked to brain fog and its societal implications, including labor productivity, providing valuable insights for the future care of individuals who have experienced coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Methods: We analyzed a comprehensive cohort dataset comprising 1,009 patients with COVID‐19 admitted to Japanese hospitals. To assess brain fog, we analyzed patients who responded to a questionnaire indicating symptoms such as memory impairment and poor concentration. Results: The prevalence of brain fog symptoms decreased 3 months posthospitalization but remained stable up to 12 months. Neurological symptoms such as taste and smell disorders and numbness at hospitalization correlated with a higher frequency of identifying brain fog as a long COVID manifestation. Our findings indicated that advanced age, female sex, a high body mass index, oxygen required during hospitalization, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and elevated C‐reactive protein and elevated D‐dimer levels were risk factors in patients exhibiting brain fog. Additionally, we demonstrated the negative impact of brain fog on labor productivity by presenteeism scores. Interpretations: This study clarified the clinical characteristics of patients experiencing brain fog as a long COVID manifestation, specifically emphasizing neurological symptoms during hospitalization and their correlation with brain fog. Additionally, the study identified associated risk factors for its onset and revealed that the emergence of brain fog was linked to a decline in labor productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Presenteeism occurs when employees attend work despite experiencing problems and ill-health that require sick leave. This study examined whether presenteeism worsened following COVID-19 infection. Methods: We used the DeSC, a large health insurance claims database. Participants were 9241 individuals who responded to questionnaires at baseline (June 2020) and 6 months later, had been continuously insured for at least 6 months prior to baseline, and reported being employed. Propensity score matching was performed. Adjusted multiple logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of worsening presenteeism from baseline according to COVID-19 infection compared with noninfection. Results: Conditional logistic regression analysis showed that the adjusted OR for presenteeism in the COVID-19-infected group was 1.555 (95% confidence interval, 1.086-2.225). Conclusions: The findings suggest that COVID-19 infection affected worsening of presenteeism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To understand the experiences of adolescent and adult patients living with alopecia areata (AA) in Australia regarding symptom severity and the impact on psychosocial well‐being and work/classroom productivity. Materials and Methods: A cross‐sectional online patient survey among adolescent and adult patients diagnosed with AA was recruited via the Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation. Patient‐reported outcomes were also assessed. Results: A total of 337 patients (49 adolescents; 288 adults), with a mean ± standard deviation age of 14.7 ± 1.55 and 38.9 ± 13.31 years for adolescents and adults, respectively, were included. In the group with extensive hair loss (Scalp Hair Assessment Patient‐Reported Outcome, categories 3 + 4, n = 172), we observed higher emotional symptom and activity limitation scores (Alopecia Areata Patient Priority Outcomes, emotional symptoms: adults 2.5 ± 1.03, adolescents 2.2 ± 1.15; activity limitations: adults 1.4 ± 1.15, adolescents 1.2 ± 0.99). Additionally, in adults, the Alopecia Areata Symptom Impact Scale global score was 4.0 ± 2.10 (symptoms subscale score 4.1 ± 1.91; interference subscale scores 3.8 ± 2.73). Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores were high across participants, irrespective of hair loss extent (adults: anxiety 9.2 ± 3.85, depression 6.6 ± 3.95; adolescents: anxiety 9.7 ± 4.65, depression 5.2 ± 3.59). Work and classroom productivity were substantially impaired due to AA, with 70.5% of adults and 57.1% of adolescents reporting activity impairment, and overall work/classroom impairment reported at 39.2% and 44.9%, respectively. Conclusions: AA impacts the physical, emotional and psychosocial well‐being of both adult and adolescent patients. More extensive hair loss more profoundly impacts those living with AA. Patients may benefit from patient‐centred care approaches addressing the impact of hair loss on mental and emotional well‐being, daily activities and work productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The inclusion of production losses in health care priority setting is extensively debated. However, few studies allow for a comparison of these losses across relevant clinical and demographic categories. Our objective was to provide comprehensive estimates of Norwegian production losses from morbidity and mortality by age, sex and disease category. Methods: National registries, tax records, labour force surveys, household and population statistics and data from the Global Burden of Disease were combined to estimate production losses for 12 disease categories, 38 age and sex groups and four causes of production loss. The production losses were estimated via lost wages in accordance with a human capital approach for 2019. Results: The main causes of production losses in 2019 were mental and substance use disorders, totalling NOK121.6bn (32.7% of total production losses). This was followed by musculoskeletal disorders, neurological disorders, injuries, and neoplasms, which accounted for 25.2%, 7.4%, 7.4% and 6.5% of total production losses, respectively. Production losses due to sick leave, disability insurance and work assessment allowance were higher for females than for males, whereas production losses due to premature mortality were higher for males. The latter was related to neoplasms, cardiovascular disease and injuries. Across age categories, non-fatal conditions with a high prevalence among working populations caused the largest production losses. Conclusions: The inclusion of production losses in health care priority debates in Norway could result in an emphasis on chronic diseases that occur among younger populations at the expense of fatal diseases among older age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Office well-being aims to explore and support a healthy, balanced and active work style in office environments. Recent work on tangible user interfaces has started to explore the role of physical, tangible interfaces as active interventions to explore how to tackle problems such as inactive work and lifestyles, and increasingly sedentary behaviours. We identify a fragmented research landscape on tangible Office well-being interventions, missing the relationship between interventions, data, design strategies, and outcomes, and behaviour change techniques. Based on the analysis of 40 papers, we identify 7 classifications in tangible Office well-being interventions and analyse the intervention based on their role and foundation in behaviour change. Based on the analysis, we present design considerations for the development of future tangible Office well-being design interventions and present an overview of the current field and future research into tangible Office well-being interventions to design for a healthier and active office environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crafting quality assessment questions in medical education is a crucial yet time-consuming, expertise-driven undertaking that calls for innovative solutions. Large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer), present a promising yet underexplored avenue for such innovations. This study explores the utility of ChatGPT to generate diverse, high-quality medical questions, focusing on multiple-choice questions (MCQs) as an illustrative example, to increase educator's productivity and enable self-directed learning for students. Leveraging 12 strategies, we demonstrate how ChatGPT can be effectively used to generate assessment questions aligned with Bloom's taxonomy and core knowledge domains while promoting best practices in assessment design. Integrating LLM tools like ChatGPT into generating medical assessment questions like MCQs augments but does not replace human expertise. With continual instruction refinement, AI can produce high-standard questions. Yet, the onus of ensuring ultimate quality and accuracy remains with subject matter experts, affirming the irreplaceable value of human involvement in the artificial intelligence-driven education paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile health (mHealth) screening tools for autism are gaining in prevalence, and have benefits such as video content and direct resources linkage. However, it is unclear whether such tools will ameliorate autism inequities or will help only those already advantaged in autism care. To investigate this issue, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 18 primary care and Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education providers in six US states. Providers were given hypothetical scenarios in which a family presents to care with results from one of 9 mHealth autism screening tools. Providers discussed their clinical approach and assessed the tool's fit with their patient/client population. Each transcript was audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded; a phenomenological approach was used to develop key themes. 4 themes and 18 subthemes emerged. These included Clinical and business factors (e.g. scope of practice concerns and clinical efficiency), Validity and trustworthiness (e.g. familiarity, data privacy/security), Family interaction quality (e.g. supporting family advocacy, provision of information, affecting family anxiety, and emotional support), and Accessibility (e.g. English proficiency/language issues, cultural inclusivity, and literacy/educational level). Providers suggested modifications to enhance equity, such as portraying diverse families, reducing the reading level of text, and making tools shorter to better fit clinical context. Families may find information about autism online, and health care and education providers may use online tools to screen for autism. However, we do not know if online autism screening tools are easily used by families and providers. We interviewed primary care and educational providers, asking them to review results from online tools that screen for autism. Providers had concerns about how usable and accessible these tools are for diverse families and suggested changes to make tools easier to use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in interventional radiology (IR) will bring about new challenges and opportunities for patients and clinicians. AI may comprise software as a medical device or AI-integrated hardware and will require a rigorous evaluation that should be guided based on the level of risk of the implementation. A hierarchy of risk of harm and possible harms are described herein. A checklist to guide deployment of an AI in a clinical IR environment is provided. As AI continues to evolve, regulation and evaluation of the AI medical devices will need to continue to evolve to keep pace and ensure patient safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on the implementation of social policies in São Paulo (Brazil) during the 2000s, this article critically examines the commodification of poverty. The article explores the impact of the introduction of market logics and privatization as shaped in respect to social protection in a context where the informalization of labour is growing. The text begins with a discussion of social citizenship in Brazil and its transformation over time. Thereafter, the article unpacks the 'commodification processes' of social policies during the 2000s to unfold how this influences the organization of a competitive and social labour market outsourced especially to NGOs and associations. The creation of indicators of productivity and 'social participation' as well as the introduction of measures to incentivize entrepreneurship, the article suggests, become entries into accessing social rights. The ways in which social workers and beneficiaries experience processes of financialization and monetarization of social aid, the article shows, indicate changing understandings of social citizenship and its implications for the poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State socialist Vietnam formally embraced market reforms in the mid-1980s, and since then advancing marketization under the undisrupted rule of the Communist party. As marketization deepens, the party state's legitimacy continues to rest on socialist practices of governance, structures of feeling and visions of a class-free society. This political-economic context gives rise to struggles between market and socialist logics over the social question in an economy that now powers global production with raw material and cheap labour, much of which is migrant labour. This article highlights these struggles through an analysis of the public debates around the regulation of overtime work during the revision of the 1994 Labour Code by Vietnam's National Assembly in 2019, which foresees limiting it to ensure workers' well-being. While parties to the debate position themselves as pro-business or pro-workers, they all evoke socialist narratives of nation-building, solidarity and care while emphasizing the market ethos of competitiveness and productivity. In arguing for removing the limit, the pro-business camp highlights the workers' responsibility to contribute to the competitiveness of the country and their employers by working overtime to make up for their low productivity. In contrast, the pro-worker camp pleads for limiting overtime work on the grounds of workers' poor health and difficult family lives, portraying their sufferings as deserving compassion. Despite these contrasting justifications, both arguments are characterized by the assumption of self-responsibility as the mainstay of well-being and failure to acknowledge the deeper societal problems posed by the commodification of labour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Researchers sought to examine experiences of stress, mental health, and work outcomes for those in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: Graduate students and professors completed an online survey in June 2020 (N = 1,794). Methods: Participants completed measures of stress, depression, and anxiety as well as items related to work quality, productivity, and fulfillment. Results: 70% of graduate students reported higher than normal levels of anxiety, depression, and stress according to the DASS-21. Nearly half of professors reported higher than normal levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. Multiple linear regression analyses found that higher levels of work fulfillment predicted greater productivity (f2grad =.15; f2prof =.08) and quality of work (f2grad =.10; f2prof =.12). Conclusions: Individuals in higher education are struggling with their mental health and considerations need to be made to help this group. Additionally, we discuss the implications of self-determination theory on work fulfillment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effectiveness and safety of upadacitinib for managing axial spondyloarthritis. Four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science) were applied to search randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for assessing upadacitinib treatment for axial spondyloarthritis published until January 2024. Five RCTs involving 1,246 participants were included. The upadacitinib group had significantly higher percentages of participants achieving Assessment of spondyloarthritis international society (ASAS) 20, ASAS40, ASAS partial remission, Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) 50, Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) low disease activity, ASDAS inactive disease, ASDAS clinically important improvement, and ASDAS major improvement, except for Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) absenteeism. Obvious improvements were observed in the upadacitinib group for ASDAS (CRP), BASDAI, Modified BASDAI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Canadian Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium (SPARCC) MRI spine, SPARCC MRI sacroiliac joint, Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoLS), ASAS Health Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES), Total Back Pain, Nocturnal Back Pain, WPAI overall work impairment, WPAI presenteeism, and WPAI activity impairment. Adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) incidence rates showed no significant difference differ between upadacitinib and placebo groups. Subgroup analysis revealed that disease subtype and age did not significantly affect efficacy, and upadacitinib demonstrated comparable efficacy to adalimumab for axial spondyloarthritis. Upadacitinib exhibited satisfactory efficacy in treating axial spondyloarthritis, reducing disease activity and significantly enhancing patients' physical function, emotional well-being, and social engagement. This meta-analysis offers robust evidence supporting upadacitinib as a new treatment for axial spondyloarthritis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic cough (persisting for ≥ 8 weeks) is a common disorder that includes refractory chronic cough (RCC; cough that persists despite treatment of underlying disease) and unexplained chronic cough (UCC; cough with no identifiable cause). We evaluated self-reported health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) and work/activity impairment associated with RCC/UCC in Canada. Methods: Our exploratory study included Canadians in the Leger Opinion Panel with RCC or UCC. Key entry criteria were ≥ 18 years of age, cough for ≥ 8 weeks, not currently smoking/quit ≥ 1 year ago, no serious respiratory disease or lung cancer, and not taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Respondents completed a 30-min online survey with general and cough-specific HR-QoL questionnaires, including the EuroQol (EQ) visual analogue scale (VAS), EQ-5-dimension 5-level (EQ-5D-5L), cough severity VAS, Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment-Specific Health Problem (WPAI-SPH). Results: Of 49,076 individuals who completed the chronic cough screening questionnaire (July 30-September 1, 2021), 1,620 (3.3%) met entry criteria for RCC/UCC and 1,046 (2.1%) completed the survey. The mean age of respondents was 45 years and 61% were female. Respondents reported impairments in global HR-QoL (EQ-VAS 73.8, 61% with anxiety/depression on the EQ-5D-5L) and cough-specific HR-QoL (mean cough severity VAS score 29.7, LCQ index 15.2). Work and non-work activities were reduced by 34% and 30%, respectively, on the WPAI-SPH. Conclusion: RCC/UCC is prevalent in Canada and associated with impaired HR-QoL, particularly in mental health domains. Additional support and management options may be required to fully address this burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on persons with disabilities has laid bare the link between health and economic outcomes. This article reviews the legal and policy framework impacting economic outcomes for persons with disabilities in India against the backdrop of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on poverty, economic growth, and productive employment. It offers a policy framework for realizing the human rights of persons with disabilities by advancing their inclusion in India's economic development. People with disabilities have not benefited as much from India's economic development as non-disabled persons. The UN disability rights treaty may oblige India to ensure that people with disabilities are included in its economic development. Historically, India's laws and public policies addressing people with disabilities have not always supported them as intended. For India to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, a set of global goals for UN member states, it will need to protect the human rights of people with disabilities by creating policies to address their intersectional needs. Policy creating economic participation opportunities, recourse from unfairness and discrimination, and effective safety nets may improve outcomes for people with disabilities in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the dual nature of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, emphasizing both its potential to revolutionize emergency medicine through improved triage, diagnostics, and administrative tasks, and the risks associated with techno-solutionism and medico-legal concerns. It highlights the importance of structured and ethical AI implementation in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, noting the current lack of a comprehensive AI policy among most specialist medical colleges.

Summary: Numerous studies have reported the negative impacts of poor sleep on work productivity in the general population. However, despite the known sleep issues that individuals living with neurological conditions experience, no study has explored its impact on their work productivity. Sleep health is a concept that includes multiple domains of sleep, measured with a combination of objective and subjective measures. Therefore, this study aimed to ascertain the associations between sleep health and its domains and work productivity in individuals with neurological conditions. Sleep health domains were determined through actigraphy data collected over 1 week and sleep questionnaires. Work productivity was assessed via the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire. A comparison of sleep health scores between demographic variables was performed using Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Associations between the sleep health domains and work productivity were performed using linear regression models. There were no significant differences in sleep health scores between sex, smoking status, education level, employment status or any work productivity domain. Individuals with non‐optimal sleep timing had greater absenteeism (22.99%) than the optimal group. Individuals with non‐optimal sleep quality had an increase in presenteeism (30.85%), work productivity loss (26.44%) and activity impairment (25.81%) compared to those in the optimal group. The findings from this study highlight that self‐reported sleep quality has the largest impact on work productivity. Improving individuals' sleep quality through triage for potential sleep disorders or improving their sleep hygiene (sleep behaviour and environment) may positively impact work productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a vigorous public health discussion has arisen over indoor air quality and ventilation. In popular press articles, bestselling books, and the US Environmental Protection Agency's recently announced Clean Air in Buildings Challenge, scholars and policy experts have claimed that improved ventilation systems can lead to better productivity and performance. By reevaluating those claims in light of the history of public health in Great Britain and the United States, we found that better ventilation has frequently been proposed as a cost-effective and nonintrusive means of improving health in institutions experiencing structural and environmental public health problems. Furthermore, our examination of efforts to provide ventilation for enslaved people, incarcerated people, and the urban poor revealed a consistent lack of government regulation and a disassociation of air quality concerns from broader environmental, social, and economic realities. By continuing to ignore these broader contexts, current ventilation efforts risk repeating this pattern. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(8):798–804. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307670) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the effect of fezolinetant treatment on health‐related quality of life using pooled data from SKYLIGHT 1 and 2 studies. Design: Prespecified pooled analysis. Setting: USA, Canada, Europe; 2019–2021. Population: 1022 women aged ≥40 to ≤65 years with moderate‐to‐severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS; minimum average seven hot flushes/day), seeking treatment for VMS. Methods: Women were randomised to 12‐week double‐blind treatment with once‐daily placebo or fezolinetant 30 or 45 mg. Completers entered a 40‐week, active extension (those receiving fezolinetant continued that dose; those receiving placebo re‐randomised to fezolinetant received 30 or 45 mg). Main outcome measures: Mean changes from baseline to weeks 4 and 12 on Menopause‐Specific Quality of Life (MENQoL) total and domain scores, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire specific to VMS (WPAI‐VMS) domain scores, Patient Global Impression of Change in VMS (PGI‐C VMS); percentages achieving PGI‐C VMS of 'much better' (PGI‐C VMS responders). Mean reduction was estimated using mixed model repeated measures analysis of covariance. Results: Fezolinetant 45 mg mean reduction over placebo in MENQoL total score was −0.57 (95% confidence interval [CI] −0.75 to −0.39) at week 4 and −0.47 (95% CI −0.66 to −0.28) at week 12. Reductions were similar for 30 mg. MENQoL domain scores were also reduced and WPAI‐VMS scores improved. Twice as many women receiving fezolinetant reported VMS were 'much better' than placebo based on PGI‐C VMS assessment. Conclusions: Fezolinetant treatment was associated with improvement in overall QoL, measured by MENQoL, and work productivity, measured by WPAI‐VMS. A high proportion receiving fezolinetant felt VMS were 'much better' based on PGI‐C VMS responder analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Bangladesh, improving the productivity of ready-made garment (RMG) factory workers has always been an uphill task, and this has assumed greater proportions after the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study explores the effect of welfare facilities and human resource management practices on the motivation and productivity of RMG workers during the pandemic. On the basis of an advanced statistical analysis, the study accepted all hypotheses proposed to highlight the significant impact of human resource management practices and welfare facilities on the motivation and productivity of workers. Both of these factors showed an association with employee productivity through employee motivation, which proved to be a partial mediator. Moreover, the authenticity of the study was supported by the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the structural equation model (SEM), which were represented based on model fit exponents, composite reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity. The study helps develop an understanding of theoretical and managerial implications, which can assist RMG factory owners, managers, stakeholders and policymakers to motivate workers and improve their productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to re-examine the relationship between financial accessibility and performance of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries using a large database. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses cross-sectional firm-level data from the World Bank Enterprises Survey database collected under Wave II from 2006 to 2019. Controlled for firm level and country level factors, OLS and instrumental variable regressions have been used for analysis. Firm performance has been measured in terms of labour productivity. Findings: The study observes a positive association between access to finance and MSME performance measured in terms of sales and value-added per worker. Along with firm characteristics (like size, age and managerial experience), country's development level, institutional quality (i.e. corruption and regulations) and economic openness also impact MSMEs' productivity. Practical implications: Strengthening the financial system to allow the financial sector to meet the requirements of MSME finance is very important. Better access to external finance will enable MSMEs to invest in upgrading technology and expanding operations, thus improves their labour productivity. As the MSME sector is vulnerable to economic shocks, policies facilitating their access to formal credit during crises could strengthen resilience. Social implications: Credit constraint to MSMEs is a multi-stakeholder problem. It requires a coordinated approach from MSME owners, financial institutions and policymakers to address it and enhance the credit flow to the MSME sector. Timely research inputs from academia, research institutions and think tanks may help assess MSMEs promotion policies and their revision if needed. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that examines the effect of access to finance on the labour productivity of MSMEs in developing countries. Given the mixed results in the recent past between access to finance and firm performance, it highlights the critical role of financial accessibility in improving their labour productivity and thus enabling MSMEs to realise their full potential in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can we associate globalization with converging productivity levels of different countries? Are developing countries catching up? This paper provides answers to these questions by studying the convergence of labor productivity with the Penn World Table 10.0. I utilize standard β - and σ -tests and the new σ -test Kong et al. (J Econom 209(2):185–207, 2019) propose. Furthermore, I propose using a time-series trend test to further study the underlying process of σ -convergence. The tests support convergence in the country groups of OECD, EU, APEC, Europe, and Asia. Contrary to the current belief that the income gap between rich and poor countries is not closing, I find σ -convergence in a group that excludes only African countries. More so, even the group of all countries seems to converge from the year 2000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural change has long been at the core of economic development debates. However, the gender implications of structural change are still largely unexplored. This paper helps to fill this gap by analysing the role of structural change in the gender distribution of sectoral employment in sub‐Saharan African countries. I employ aggregate and disaggregate measures of gender sectoral segregation in employment, which measure the difference between the gender distribution across sectors with respect to the overall participation of women and men in the labour market. I build a panel database consisting of 10 sectors and 11 countries during 1960–2010. Fixed effects and instrumental variables' regression models show a significant, nonlinear link between labour productivity and gender segregation. Increasing labour productivity depresses gender segregation at initial phases of structural change. However, further productivity gains beyond a certain threshold of sectoral development increases gender segregation. Country‐industry panel data models complement the analysis showing that relative labour productivity has a nonlinear impact in gender segregation: Initial increases in relative productivity increases feminization but further relative productivity gains foster the masculinization of sectors. The estimates suggest that manufacturing, utilities, construction, business, and government services are key to correct gender biases in employment along the process of structural change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: People seeking care at primary healthcare centres may be exposed to work-related stress, increasing the risk of future sick leave. Thus, it is important to identify work-related stress, and to explore how stress relates to work ability and health. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between work-related stress and a) work ability, and b) self-rated health, among working women and men seeking care for physical or mental health complaints. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed baseline data (n = 232) from a randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of a brief intervention to prevent sick leave. Data regarding work-related stress, work ability and self-rated health were analyzed using binary logistic regression models. RESULTS: In models adjusted for age, gender and education, high work-related stress measured by the Work Stress Questionnaire was significantly associated with low work ability. The highest odds ratio (OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.66–6.42) was found between the domain "interference between work and leisure time" and work ability, suggesting a more than three times higher odds for low work ability when perceiving that work interferes with leisure time. No significant association was found between work-related stress and self-rated health. CONCLUSION: Health professionals should explore patients' work-related stress when they seek care for physical or mental complaints in primary healthcare. Patients' perceived balance between work and leisure time seems particularly important to address. Increased awareness might facilitate timely, relevant strategies to reduce stress and promote work ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to emphasize integrating training for organizational sustainability with the United Nation's (UN's) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It shows how SDGs can be included in the training, development programs and incentives to promote sustainable practices. It guides organizations to set long-term sustainability objectives to stay competitive and adapt to changing conditions. Design/methodology/approach: The paper conducts a review of the literature on the topic of integrating training for organizational sustainability with the SDGs. The research includes investigating the 17 SDGs and their specific areas of improvement, the benefits and challenges of integrating training for organizational sustainability with the SDGs and the best practices of organizations that have successfully integrated training for organizational sustainability with the SDGs. Findings: The findings of this study were obtained through a systematic review of literature on the topics of human resource development, corporate social responsibility, organizational sustainability and the integration of training to promote sustainable and ethical behavior. A total of 36 articles were selected from a pool of 120 articles identified through a comprehensive search of electronic databases such as Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. The selected articles were analyzed in detail, and information from the UN was also incorporated into the analysis. The review focused on examining the impact of integrating sustainability training with the SDGs on organizational sustainability. The results of this analysis suggest that integrating sustainability training with SDGs has a positive impact on organizations. This impact includes promoting sustainable practices, improving employee satisfaction and productivity, reducing environmental impact and enhancing the organization's reputation. The study found that regular progress reviews and long-term objectives are essential for organizations to remain competitive and adapt to changes. Originality/value: This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the 17 SDGs and how they can be integrated with training for organizational sustainability. It provides practical guidance for organizations on effectively incorporating the SDGs into their training and development programs, performance evaluations and incentives. The paper also includes case studies and best practices of organizations that have successfully integrated training for organizational sustainability with the SDGs, making it an original and valuable resource for organizations looking to promote sustainable practices within their operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the main characteristics of employment in Russia, considers the peculiarities of their development. The dynamics of labor productivity and the structure of the employed population are analyzed in the sectoral context and taking into account international comparisons. The forecast of sectoral dynamics in labor productivity is evaluated depending on the speed and quality of economic growth. Here, the quality of economic growth is associated with the level and dynamics of technological development. The paper considers scenarios for medium-term development of the Russian economy and the forecasts of sectoral productivity for primary resources (as an indicator of technological changes in industries) and labor productivity achieved on their basis. The transition to forecast estimates of the number of employees was made taking into account the prospects for the country's demographic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outdoor agricultural workers often work in harsh environmental conditions, including high temperatures and poor air quality. This paper studies how these factors impact worker productivity, which can have implications for worker health, well‐being, and income as well as farm payroll, production, and profitability. Our analysis uses 6 years of payroll records of harvesters on two large farms combined with pollution and weather monitor data from multiple sources. We address simultaneity issues by exploring pollution measurements from nearby upwind and downwind monitors and incorporating an alternative PM2.5 measure that better captures ambient or regional concentration. Across all specifications, results suggest that heightened concentrations of ground‐level ozone and PM2.5 are associated with reduced productivity. In our main specification, we find that one standard deviation increases in ozone and PM2.5 are associated with reductions in productivity of 2% and 1.1%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]