Work integrated learning for employee health in schools

2020

IJWHM

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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine gender differences regarding the experience of workplace health and quality management. In this context, we include some factors of work environment that have previously been shown to be related to health such as workplace learning, stress, flow and sense of coherence.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire based on previous research was constructed. It was delivered to a population of Swedish upper secondary school teachers. Three hundred eleven responses were returned. They were analysed for gender differences with t-tests and chi-square tests.FindingsThe results show that women's experience of their health is worse than men's despite having a generally better experience of the quality management values, workplace learning and flow. Moreover, women experience more stress, and they are more often subjected to sexual harassment while men more frequently had been exposed to physical violence.Research limitations/implicationsThe study has implications for research in that it indicates that although women have better experiences of many of the factors that previous research has shown to be related to workplace health, their health is actually worse. A limitation is that the response rate was low.Practical implicationsThe findings should be useful for managers attempting to improve the workplace health of their staff. The finding that women report less health than men even though experiencing quality management values more, means that women's health need a particular focus in secondary schools.Originality/valueThe connection between health and quality management has not been previously studied from a gender perspective.

Section: The Connection Between Quality Management and Healthmentioning

confidence: 88%

Gender, quality and health – a study of Swedish secondary school teachers

2020

IJWHM

Self Cite

“…Moreover, these dimensions were also found to be related to leadership behaviours, values and practices in successful organizations that have achieved good workplace health, such as excellence in leadership, good work environment, co-worker health and co-workership, along with improved profitability (Bäckström, 2009). Also, the work-integrated learning index (Lagrosen and Lagrosen, 2014) is considered to be relevant to include, as the literature review indicates that specifically work-integrated learning is important for sustainable workplace learning. It includes two items, such as "We have competence development which leads to increased understanding of the work situation" and "The management actively promotes learning".…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, the flow dimension is considered to be included with three items. It was included in a recent study and shown to be correlated with work-integrated learning and employee health (Lagrosen and Lagrosen, 2014). Dewey's view of experience is very similar to people in "flow" described by Csíkszentmihályi (Park Dahlgaard, 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a preparatory study, an index of work-integrated learning has been developed based on Theliander et al (2004). Recently, this index has been shown to significantly correlate with employees' perception of flow and underlying dimensions of quality management values related to employees' health (Lagrosen and Lagrosen, 2014). Especially the quality management values "leadership commitment" and "participation of everybody" have been found to be related to health of the employees (Lagrosen et al, 2007) as well as to good work environment (Bäckström, 2009).…”

Section: Relevant Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developing a neuropsychological measurement to capture workplace learning

Travis

2016

JM2

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Purpose The purpose of the paper is to examine variables to be included in a measurement instrument which measures workplace learning related to recent research into quality management and brain functioning. Design/methodology/approach A literature review was conducted, investigating measures of workplace learning as well as the connections between brain functioning and management. Further studies will use the brain integration scale to compare levels of brain integration with measures of workplace learning. Findings The variables “empathy”, “presence and communication”, “continuity”, “influence”, “development”, “work-integrated learning” and “flow” were found to be relevant from the literature review to be tested for inclusion in the measurement instrument. A measurement model with these variables included has been developed. Research limitations/implications This paper is conceptual in its nature. Empirical studies are needed to validate the propositions. Practical implications The proposed measurement instrument can be used by managers to gain insight into underlying mechanisms in the organizational culture that influence employees’ learning and potential for development. Thus, it can aid managers to achieve profound learning in their organizations, which is necessary for continuously maintaining high quality of products and services. Social implications For society, the implementation of the proposed measurement instrument in companies could lead to better health and higher job satisfaction among employees. Originality/value Traditional ways of measuring working environment are rarely connected to brain functioning of the employees. Only requiring small resources, this approach adds to an understanding of underlying mechanisms.

“…They contained constructs of the six values presented above consisting of three items each, as developed in previous research (e.g. Lagrosen & Lagrosen, 2014). The index regarding customer orientation had to be edited somewhat since the word customer is rarely used in schools.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Workplace stress and health – the connection to quality management

Total Quality Management & Business Excellence

2020

Self Cite

Stress and bullying create severe pressure on workplace health. Although the connection between quality management and health is beginning to be well established, the association to workplace stress and workplace bullying has not been previously studied. The purpose of the paper is to examine associations between quality management values, workplace health and workplace stress. A questionnaire based on theory and previous research was constructed and delivered to a sample of Swedish secondary school teachers. The questionnaire included previously developed constructs of quality management values and workplace health. In addition, constructs measuring stress, demand, control and bullying were included. Correlation analyses and cluster analysis were carried out. The findings confirm the connection between quality management and workplace health that previous research has identified. In addition, the results indicate that quality management can increase the level of control that the employees have over their work situation, thereby alleviating some of the effects of workplace stress. Furthermore, the results show an association between quality management and workplace bullying. Moreover, control but not demand was found to be related to workplace health. Four clusters of employees with different quality management, stress and health profiles were identified.