No description available.

Organisations throughout the world have to cope with an increasing rate of change. These organisational changes are due to a number of reasons, which include social, technological, economic and political reasons. These result in a change in government regulations. In South Africa, the changes include the merging of higher education institutions and changes in the educational landscape. The public higher education institutions were reduced by the Department of Higher Education and Training from 36 to 23. Same changes include new universities of technologies and mergers of other universities plus more comprehensive universities. Recently, government established two new universities, one in Mpumalanga and another in the Northern Cape. Job insecurity, job satisfaction, occupational stress, sense of coherence, and general health are key aspects of the higher education institutions during and after the transformation process. This study aimed to determine the relationship between job insecurity, job satisfaction, occupational stress, sense of coherence, and general health of employees in a higher education institution. The literature reviewed showed that job insecurity occurs as a result of a merger, which is one of the multiple antecedents in a job insecurity model. However, a merger, as an organisational condition, changes individual perceptions about job insecurity and its consequences. Job satisfaction, occupational stress, and general health are consequences of job insecurity. From the reviewed literature, it is clear that the employees’ lack of resources is a very serious challenge in their endeavour to perform their duties. Lack of resources results in the poor performance of employees and their inability to use their capabilities to deal with every day work-related challenges. A cross-sectional design with employees in higher education institution (N=229) was used. The Job Insecurity Inventory, Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, An Organisation Stress Screening Tool, Orientation to Life Questionnaire, and General Health Questionnaire, and a biographical questionnaire were utilised. Statistical analyses were carried out for the three articles in the study with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM-SPSS) program. Statistical methods used in this article consisted of descriptive statistics (for example, means, standard deviations and frequencies), Cronbach alpha coefficients, explanatory factor analyses, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, multiple regression analysis and mediation analysis (Omnibus procedure). The results of article 1 showed that job insecurity was statistically significantly related to general health (somatic symptoms, social dysfunction, hopelessness and worthlessness). This implies that employees who experience high job insecurity also experience problems with their health. General health had a practically significant negative correlation with sense of coherence. Literature reviewed states that a weak sense of coherence leads employees to perceive situations as threatening (that is, high job demands and low job resources), and could lead to ill health. The research findings clearly indicate that sense of coherence does not moderate the relationship between job insecurity and general health. Regarding the results of article 2, a practically significant negative relationship exists between occupational stress and job satisfaction (intrinsic, supervision, extrinsic). This means that employees with high levels of occupational stress display lower job satisfaction and vice versa. Occupational stress and general health have a negative relationship, implying that different occupational stress factors (work demands, insecurity and work relations) relate to the general health of employees. Employees, who experience high work demands, are insecure and experience poor work relations with their colleagues or supervisors, have problems with their health and do not enjoy normal day-to-day activities in the organisation. Job satisfaction displays a practically significant negative correlation with general health. This implies that employees who are not satisfied with the intrinsic satisfaction of their job and working environment experience headaches and lack physical energy. Such employees generally feel sick. They do not enjoy every day activities since they doubt their own competence and the meaning of life. Both occupational stress and job satisfaction are statistically significant predictors of general health. In conclusion, the results of this article report that job satisfaction mediates the relationship between occupational stress and the general health of employees in a higher education institution. The results of article 3 showed that practically significant positive relationships exist between sense of coherence and job satisfaction. Employees with a higher sense of coherence are more satisfied and motivated to work. They are more comfortable with other colleagues and the general working conditions. Employees with a strong sense of coherence are more resourceful in handling different work-related aspects, and they tend to experience higher job satisfaction. It was concluded that sense of coherence moderates the relationship between job satisfaction and some aspects of general health. The results imply that people with lower levels of sense of coherence are more dependent on job satisfaction to experience good health. This has direct implications for vocational and industrial psychologists, as well as higher educational institutions. Recommendations for future research were made. / PhD (Industrial Psychology) North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

The significant change that organisations must endure in order to survive, let alone prosper, has grown tremendously in the past two decades. The lack of talent, especially amongst the previously disadvantaged groups, is one of numerous challenges South African organisations are confronted with. Organisations are therefore required to determine indicators of intention to leave as it is argued to be the single most important predictor of actual quitting behaviour. Variables found to relate to intention to leave include a sense of powerlessness and a lack of engagement. The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between leadership empowerment behaviour, job insecurity, engagement and intention to leave in a petrochemical laboratory. The research method consisted of a brief literature review and an empirical study. A cross - sectional survey design was used. The entire population of employees working in a business unit of a petrochemical organisation, namely the Laboratory, was targeted. The Leader Empowering Behaviour Questionnaire, Job Insecurity Inventory, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and two questions measuring intention to leave were used. In addition, a biographical questionnaire was administered. The statistical analysis was conducted with the aid of the SPSS programme. The statistical method employed in the study consisted of descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, Pearson product-moment correlation and a multiple regression analysis. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to determine the significance of differences between the experience of leadership empowerment behaviour, job insecurity, engagement and intention to leave of demograpbic groups. Results indicated that leadership empowerment behaviour was negatively correlated with cognitive job insecurity and that a negative relationship existed between leadership empowerment behaviour and intention to leave. Leadership empowerment behaviour was found to be positively correlated with engagement. A positive relationship existed between cognitive job insecurity and affective job insecurity, as well as between cognitive job insecurity and intention to leave. Cognitive job insecurity was found to be negatively correlated with engagement. A negative relationship was established between engagement and intention to leave. All these correlations were found to be statistically and practically significant with a medium to large effect. Regression analysis indicated that leadership empowerment behaviour and affective job insecurity did not show a significant amount of predictive value towards intention to leave. Cognitive job insecurity and engagement were found to be indicators of intention to leave. With regards to experiencing leadership empowerment behaviour, engagement and intention to leave, no significant differences were found between demographic groups. Participants in middle non -management positions, however, experienced higher levels of affective job insecurity than those in senior management positions. Conclusions and limitations of the current research were discussed and recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2008.

The work environment in which South African employees have to function is highly demanding, offering them little in terms of job security, but simultaneously expecting them to give more in terms of inter alia flexibility, competency, and effort. Tracking and addressing chemical industry employees' functioning in areas that could affect their general health and consequent standard of service is essential. Job insecurity, work-based support, job satisfaction, organisational commitment and general health are specific focus areas in this research. It is important to use reliable and valid measuring instruments to measure these constructs. It appears that job insecurity results in reduced organisational commitment as well as reduced job satisfaction. In the long run all this may have a negative impact on the psychological well-being of employees. Therefore, the right kind of support h m the right kind of people can be of significant value in reducing occupational stress, improving health, and buffering the impact of stress on health. A lack of South African research exists regarding job insecurity, work-based support, job satisfaction, organisational commitment and general health - hence the importance of this research. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between job insecurity, work-based support, job satisfaction, organisational commitment and general health of Human Resources Professionals (N = 114) in a chemical industry. A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data. It was found that affective and cognitive job insecurity demonstrated a statistically significant negative correlation with emotional social support (supervisor and other), but practically and statistically negative correlation with intrinsic and extrinsic job satisfaction. With regard to affective and cognitive job insecurity and general health, a statistically significant positive correlation was obtained for somatic symptoms, social dysfunction and severe depression, and a practically and statistically significant correlation with anxiety and insomnia. Affective commitment demonstrated a statistically significant negative relationship with cognitive job insecurity. The regression analysis indicated that job insecurity has some predictive value with regard to the intrinsic and extrinsic job satisfaction and general health subscales, namely somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction and severe depression. With regard to the two components of job satisfaction, intrinsic and extrinsic, job insecurity predicted 14% and 5% respectively of the variance. No predictions were found between affective commitment and job insecurity. With regard to general health, job insecurity predicted 5% (somatic symptoms), 11% (anxiety and insomnia), 1 % (social dysfunction) and 8% (severe depression). Conclusions were made, limitations of the cumin research were discussed and recommendations for future research were put forward. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.

The work environment in which South African employees have to function in is highly demanding, offering them little in terms of job security, but simultaneously expecting them to give more in terms of inter alia flexibility, competency, and effort. Tracking and addressing government employees' functioning in areas that could affect their wellness and consequent standard of service is essential. Job insecurity, affectivity, burnout and work engagement are specific focus areas in this research. It is important to use reliable and valid measuring instruments to measure these constructs. It appears that job insecurity may affect employees' levels of burnout and work engagement and that affectivity may also influence the stress outcome relationship. A lack of South African research exists regarding job insecurity and wellness of employees, hence the importance of this research. The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship between job insecurity, affectivity, burnout, and work engagement of employees (N = 297) in a government organisation. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Constructs were measured by means of the Job Insecurity Inventory (JII), the Affectometer 2 (AFM 2), the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES). The research method for each of the three articles consists of a brief literature review and an empirical study. Exploratory factor analyses, as well as Cronbach's alphas were computed to assess the reliability and validity of the OLBI, UWES and AFM 2. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the construct validity of the JII, while alpha coefficients were computed to assess the internal consistency of its scales. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data and Pearson product moment correlation coefficients, as well as regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between the constructs employed in this research. Structural equation modeling results confirmed the two-factor structure of the JII, consisting of an affective and cognitive dimension, although a one-factor model also resulted in a good, but not superior fit. Exploratory factor analyses of the OLBI resulted in a two-factor model of burnout, consisting of exhaustion disengagement and engagement subscale and the UWES resulted in a one-factor model of engagement. Exploratory factor analyses of the AFM 2 resulted in a two-factor model, consisting of a negative and positive affect scale. All scales used in this research demonstrated adequate internal consistencies. It was found that white participants experience higher levels of cognitive job insecurity and lower levels of engagement (OLBI) compared to black participants. Shorter tenure was associated with increased engagement (OLBI). It was furthermore found that participants who had been working in the organisation for less than one year and those who worked for two to five years demonstrated higher levels of positive affect compared to employees who had been working in the organisation for 11 years and longer. Regarding negative affect, it was established that participants with tenure less than one year presented lower negative affect levels compared to participants who had been employed in the organisation for longer. Job insecurity and burnout were found to be statistically significantly correlated. Cognitive and affective job insecurity demonstrated a practically significant relationship with work engagement. Positive and negative affectivity showed a practically significant correlation with both the affective and cognitive job insecurity scales and work engagement. Positive affectivity partially mediated the relationship between cognitive job insecurity and exhaustion disengagement. Furthermore, both positive and negative affectivity partially mediated the relationship between cognitive job insecurity and work engagement. Conclusions are made, limitations of the current research are discussed and recommendations for future research are put forward. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

This paper discusses and aims to give the reader a greater understanding of how police cadets experiencing stress in relation to their employment status and a gender perspective on male and female cadets experience different demands and expectations. As scientists, we will also study how aspirants handle stress and how they experience the benefit of the work. This is because the one who is rejected by the aspirant will lose all possibilities of becoming a police officer. The essay will primarily highlight the impact of employment status have on stress according to police cadets and how gender can affect the stress. During the research process, the researcher will have worked through qualitative semi-structured interviews with six respondents who work as police cadets. We have analyzed our material by Karasek and Theorell of requirements, control and support model that is about the extent of demand and control individuals have the work-related aspects. We also give examples of how the requirements and control support model works for police cadets in the field with the help of research addressing the topic. The other theoretical starting point is an occupational stress research of Kelloway, Hurrel & Days (2008). Data collection shows, and supported by our theory that the form of employment is creating concerns over future work, and that perceived stress is equal for both men and women. / Polisyrket är ett skiftande arbete som ställer enormt höga krav på varje polis. I jämförelse med andra yrken har polisen en viktig roll i samhället. Polisens huvuduppgift är att göra skillnad i samhället. Att vara polis innebär att samhället förväntar sig att denne ska ingripa i en situation där ingen annan kan eller får ingripa. Situationer som omfattar allt från brottslighet, våld, sorg och kris. Polisen har oftast tillträde till situationer och områden som ingen civilperson har rätt till. Det finns relativt många studier som handlar om olika anställningsformer i relation till stress och osäkerhet, dock upplever vi som forskare att det råder brist på studier som berör polisaspirantens anställningsform. Vi finner därmed ett starkt intresse att forska kring det ämnet.   Nyutbildade poliser sätts på prov under sex månader genom att vara anställd som polisaspirant, detta innebär att man är provanställd. Hur upplever polisaspiranter sin anställningsform i relation till stress? Detta är en fråga som vi forskare kommer att lägga stor vikt på under forskningsprocessen. Polisaspiranten får ingen fastanställning först denne blivit godkänd efter dessa sex månader. Vi har under studiens gång undersökt hur denna form av anställning påverkat polisaspiranten negativt, genom upplevd stress och osäkerhet. Tack vare vårt empiriska material kan vi konstatera att en osäker anställningsform skapar negativ stress som påverkar aspiranten psykiskt då kraven är höga och prövningen lång.

Dissertation submitted to the Department of Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts. / The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate a process model linking stressful environmental change, perceived job insecurity and stress reactions, A review of the literature revealed that stressful changes in the environment are linked to individual stress reactions, Stress theory has also recognised that appraisal of a stressful situation leads to stress reactions, Moreover, the literature has identified job Insecurity as a form of appraisal in that it is an internal event reflecting a transformation of beliefs about what 's happening in the organisation and environment. Job insecurity in turn has been shown to result in various stress reactions in individuals, Based on such research and theorising, a causal model was developed and tested using structural equation modeling techniques, It was assessed whether: stressful environmental change impacted upon stress reactions and job insecurity; job insecurity impacted upon stress reactions; and whether Job insecurity operated as a form of appraisal in mediating the relationship between stressful environmental change and stress reactions, The Independent variable, stressful environmental change, was specified as a common factor of the measured variables, political change, social change and organisational change, The proposed mediator variable, job insecurity, was specified as a common factor of the measured variables perceived threat to total job multiplied by powerlessness, and perceived threat to job features multiplied by powerlessness, The dependent variable, stress reactions, was specified as a common factor of the measured variables psychological distress, job dissatisfaction and reduced organisational commitment. The model was tested empirically using a combined sample of 267 subjects from three organisations, Results indicated that all relationships In the proposed model were confirmed, and that a reasonable fit was demonstrated between the empirical data and the theoretical model. Stressful environmental change was causally related to both stress reactions and Job insecurity, Job Insecurity was causally related to stress reactions, and in addition operated as a partial mediator between stressful environmental change and stress reacdons. Conceptual and methodological reasons for the findings are discussed, as well as some theoretical and practical implications, Limitations in the methodology are identified and future considerations of research are suggested, / AC2017

A era do downsizing (CALDAS, 2000) se alastra sobre o jornalismo brasileiro. De forma cíclica e ininterrupta desde 2012, jornalistas são expulsos dos empregos e do mercado de trabalho na área – seja em reduções cirúrgicas de gastos ou em demissões coletivas, conhecidas no jargão de classe como “passaralhos”. O grande êxodo das redações, fenômeno que atinge todo o mundo (REINARDY, 2016) e levou à demissão milhares de profissionais da imprensa no país, é uma das evidências de um setor que tenta se adaptar às transformações do cenário instável da era informacional (CASTELLS, 2011), com alterações profundas na produção e no consumo de notícias. Falências, fusões e enxugamento organizacional se incorporam à rotina da imprensa e mudam as vidas tanto dos que são demitidos quanto dos que continuam em atuação, com insegura e sobrecarga de trabalho. As escolhas da imprensa são mudar ou morrer (TANDOC, 2014), em um processo cada vez mais evidente, para os trabalhadores, de destruição e reconstrução de saberes, práticas e valores de ofício. Apesar de o jornalismo estar em uma espiral da morte (MCCHESNEY, 2016) e seu fenômeno lembrar o desmonte do trabalho bancário (OLTRAMARI, 2010), é irrisória a produção acadêmica brasileira sobre a situação desse contingente ocupacional expulso de sua atividade. Em busca do entendimento dessas mudanças, esta dissertação investiga como a era do downsizing impacta a percepção dos jornalistas em relação a sua profissão, a seu trabalho e a seus planos de continuar na atividade. Para tanto, este estudo qualitativo básico, de natureza exploratória e interpretativa, realizou investigação empírica por meio de três grupos focais (MORGAN, 1996, 1997) na cidade de Porto Alegre. Selecionados por meio da técnica de snowball, foram ouvidos 18 jornalistas que foram vítimas ou sobreviventes da demissão coletiva. Em atenção à necessidade de conciliar informações multiníveis ao estudar ocupações e estruturas de trabalho em conflito (ABBOTT, 1993), são abordados os níveis macrocontextual, do sistema produtivo e do mundo do trabalho na pós-modernidade (FARIA, 2003, 2009; HARVEY, 1998); mesocontextual, da indústria e da profissão jornalística (FONSECA, 2005; MARCONDES FILHO, 2000; NEVEU, 2006; SCHUDSON, 1978; WAISBORD, 2013), e microcontextual, a respeito dos efeito do downsizing sobre os indivíduos (GREENHALGH; ROSENBLATT, 2010; NOER, 2009). Em consonância com a literatura adotada e a análise de conteúdo dos grupos focais (BARDIN, 2011), identificou-se que a vivência do downsizing provoca nos jornalistas a percepção de que as relações de trabalho foram intensificadamente precarizadas; há uma desesperança em relação às organizações empregadoras; tem-se a sensação de destruição e reconstrução de valores e práticas do ofício; e o exercício laboral causa exaustão e insatisfação. O downsizing é percebido como expressão de um declínio organizacional irreversível, no qual a demissão parece ser irremediável. As condições no presente levam os trabalhadores a projetarem o futuro em duas direções: a desistência, a partir da evasão da profissão; e a resistência, por meio da retomada de valores basilares, com a reafirmação da função social e da credibilidade; ou pela adaptação ao mercado em mutação, adquirindo novas qualificações e reinventando como fazer e “vender” o trabalho. / The era of downsizing (CALDAS, 2000) is spreading over Brazilian journalism. Cyclically and uninterrupted since 2012, journalists are expelled from jobs and from their professional area - whether in surgical spending cuts or collective layoffs, known in the class jargon as "passaralho." The great exodus of newsrooms is a worldwide phenomenon (REINARDY, 2016) and it has forced thousands of media professionals to resign, as the industry tries to adapt to the transformations of the unstable scenario of the information age (CASTELLS, 2011) when the changes in news production and consumption are profound. Bankruptcies, mergers and organizational downsizing are commonplace into the press routine and change the lives of both those who are fired and those who continue to work with insecure and overworked conditions. The choices of the press are to change or die (TANDOC, 2014), in an increasingly evident process for the workers of destruction and reconstruction of knowledge, practices and values of office. Although journalism is in a spiral of death (MCCHESNEY, 2016) and its phenomenon reminds the dismantling of banking work (OLTRAMARI, 2010), the is no relevant Brazilian academic production about the journalists who are expelled from their jobs and profession. In order to understand these changes, this dissertation investigates how the era of downsizing impacts the perception of journalists in relation to their profession, their work and their plans to continue in the activity. For this purpose, this basic qualitative study, of an exploratory and interpretative nature, carried out empirical research through three focus groups (MORGAN, 1996, 1997) in Porto Alegre city. Selected by snowball technique, were heard 18 journalists victims or survivors of layoff. It was analyzed the macro-contextual, productive and labor-based levels of postmodernity (FARIA, 2003, 2009, HARVEY, 1998); (1998), and in the literature on the effects of downsizing on individuals (GREENHALGH and ROSENBLATT, 2010; NOER, 2009). Interpreted from the content analysis (BARDIN, 2011), the results showed that the layoff experience made journalists perceive intensely precarious working relationships, and they feel hopeless that the employers' organizations succeed. They also feel there are destruction and reconstruction of values and practices of the craft, and the workload causes exhaustion and dissatisfaction. Downsizing is seen as proof of an irreversible organizational decline, in which being dismissed will be inevitable one day. The present leads the workers to project the future in two directions: leaving journalism; or resist, either through the recovery of basic values, such as social function and credibility; either by adapting to the changing market, acquiring new skills and reinventing how to do and "sell" the work.

This study examined the concept of organizational uncertainty and the involvement of public relations practitioners. Understanding organizational uncertainty is imperative to the success of an organization, but the effects of uncertainty have been relatively undertheorized within public relations. To close the gap, this study blended multidisciplinary theories pertaining to uncertainty with a triangulated methodological approach. First, this study took a macro-organizational look at uncertainty by analyzing trends in the literature and conducting qualitative in-depth interviews with members of management and employees in an organization. The results of this portion of the study found uncertainty to be multi-layered and the most common causes of uncertainty to be organizational changes, unclear policies, job insecurities, and the external environment. This data was then used to conduct a micro-organizational analysis of uncertainty. Therefore, the second step of this study expanded on the organizational findings to look at the role of public relations in uncertainty management. Through this study, a valuable survey instrument was created containing five significant factors of: job insecurities, the external environment, organization uncertainty, practitioner perceived involvement, and practitioner feelings. It was administered, primarily through use of the Internet, to members of the Public Relations Society of America (N=1,135), yielding a response rate of 31.8 percent. The results of this study indicated that public relations practitioners do not perceive four main causes of uncertainty, but instead they perceive two: job insecurities and the external environment. The results also suggest that public relations practitioners personally have low feelings of uncertainty, although they believed their organizations have moderate levels of uncertainty. Additionally, this study found that practitioners reported being moderately involved in the management of uncertainty, with the level of involvement most influenced by job insecurities. Finally, the results found that public relations practitioners most frequently used electronic communication to help employees cope with organizational uncertainty pertaining to organizational change, policies, and the external environment. However, with job insecurities, interpersonal communication was the most popular communication strategy. Overall, the results of this study bring us a step closer in establishing a framework for public relations practitioner involvement in the management of organizational uncertainty.

Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.