Employee morale is a determinant of productivity and retention. This study explores relationships and morale levels between employees and supervisors in a large service industry. An open-ended questionnaire developed based on literature was created to assess morale and motivation, support, incentive, workplace environment, way of motivation, and job satisfaction. This survey was then piloted to managers of hourly product handlers working in a large North American distribution company. Data on existing status of employee morale and the factors influencing morale were collected from managers of three different departments responsible for supervising product handlers. The survey was administered using an online survey tool and answered by a sample of 44 respondents. Poor employee morale and negative attitudes toward their jobs were reported. Influencing factors included minimal pay and hours, lack of motivation, understaffed and unskilled labor, high physical workload, and poor supervision. Manager feedback indicated employees had a lack of understand of company mission and vision but also demonstrated a potential disconnect at the worker and manager ABOUT THE AUTHORThe authors of this paper performed a consultant role to the company described within this case study as part of a graduate-level Macroergonomic course at Mississippi State University (MSU). Macroergonomic methods can be used to aid employers as they pursue avenues that keep their workers happy, healthy, and effective. The company involved in this study understands the criticality of a physically and mentally healthy workforce and reached out to this team to assist their management in defining interventions for current and future workers. The lead researchers who performed this study are members of the Athlete Engineering research team at MSU and often work with the "industrial athlete"-workers who perform repetitive motion tasks-to assist employers in making informed decisions about health and safety.

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This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States l'repat'ed by Government. Neither tile United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their B, ]:, (Jl_re, 'l' V, V(L 1), (J, [-{arl'is(m employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsi. bility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise dees not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recom-P;:tcit'ic Nurthwest l_tbcwatcwy mendatJon, or favoring by the United States Government ur any agency thereof, The views Richland, WA 99352 and t_pil_ions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United _tates Government or any agency thereof. Prepared for Division of Radiation Protection and Emergency Preparedness ()fflee of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555 NRC FIN LI310 This information permits an inspector to concentrate on components important to the preventionof core damage, However, it is Importantto note that inspectionsshould not focus exclusivelyon these components, Other components which perform essential functions,but which are not included because of high reliabilityor redundancy,must also be addressed to ensure that degredation does not increase their failureprobabilities,and hence their risk importances.

This report describes the results of a study conducted by Pacific Northwest Laboratory to assist the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in evaluating the potential for recriticality in boiling water reactors (BWRs) during certain low probability severe accidents.ix

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