The purpose of this study was to explore the career and life paths of male and female Senior Student Affairs Officers (SSAOs). The study used Super’s components of Work Salience and Career maturity to examine gender differences and commonalities of individuals in their climb to a SSAO position. Specifically, the study examined the role of family and personal life and the intersection with career. Employing qualitative methods in the form of semi-structured interviews, this study investigated the following research questions: 1. How do female SSAOs describe their life and career development according to Super’s factors of Work Salience and Career Maturity? 2. How do male SSAOs describe their life and career development according to Super’s factors of Work Salience and Career Maturity? 3. How do male and female SSAOs life and career development experiences compare to one another according to Super’s factors of Work Salience and Career Maturity? The transcripts were analyzed using open and focused coding to find themes present in the data. The coding process was reviewed by a peer as well as a panel of experts to ensure trustworthiness. The findings of the study indicated themes regarding caregiving, work experience, leisure activities, marital status, scheduling, and career planning. / Ph. D.

The study’s aim is to explore and explain the strategies working women without children use to manage their work-life balance. In order to do this, the study utilizes border theory to explain how the women handle the borders between the domains of their private life as well as their work. To complement this, the theory of doing gender is also utilized to explain why certain strategies are needed and used, as well as what obstacles the women may face and why. The study uses a qualitative approach and consists of seven interviews with working women over 30 who do not have children. The study showed that women without children primarily utilize the strategy of regulating their time borders in order to maintain a satisfactory work-life balance. Furthermore, their colleagues and managers served as important border keepers who ensured that the interviewees did not work more than they ought to. The results also showed that the interviewees did gender through fulfilling the ideal of the male worker, but that this ideal also was rejected and actively worked against. The ideal of the male worker was fulfilled primarily through adapting to expectations, both from managers and colleagues, of availability and priorities. These ideals acted as obstacles in the work towards a good work-life balance, and the women used strategies to reject the ideals and protect their private spheres. Furthermore, the results show that an absence of children does not necessarily mean that work-life balance is achieved more easily. Instead, a new set of challenges present themselves and require specific strategies for defining and maintaining borders.

The purpose of this study is to explore job satisfaction among pre-tenured faculty. More specifically I was interested in examining demographic and personal fit factors, fit with the norms and values of the institution among pre-tenured faculty in different institutional types. The sample for the study included all pre-tenured faculty members who completed the COACHE 2009- 2010 job satisfaction survey. The COACHE survey was administered to pre-tenured faculty at 149 four-year colleges and universities in 2009-2010. The conceptual framework for this study is grounded in a modified version of the structural model of job satisfaction by Olsen et al., (1995). The application of exploratory factor analysis followed by stepwise multiple-regression was used to construct and discover dimensions or factors that predict global job satisfaction affecting pre-tenured faculty members. The results of the stepwise multiple-regression revealed that the three constructs of variables differ by institution type. A combination of five variables: effectiveness of work-life balance policies, satisfaction with time available for faculty work, satisfaction with tenured collegiality, satisfaction with autonomy of faculty work, satisfaction with compensation, and satisfaction with support services were the most significant predictors of job satisfaction for pre-tenured faculty members. Institutional fit variables were stronger significant predictors of fit and job satisfaction compared to demographic and personal fit variables. The findings of this study underscore the importance of university administrators to pay particular attention to extrinsic dimension of the faculty work to job satisfaction to fulfill institutional mission. / Ph. D.

This study examined three broad areas which related to plant level productivity in two apparel manufacturing plants. First, external factors, specifically unemployment and seasonal cycles, were examined. Second, internal organizational factors involving the size of the organization over time and the absenteeism rate within the company were studied. Finally, after holding constant the effects of the above factors, this study examined the impact of two types of positive incentive programs on employee productivity. It was hypothesized that there would be a positive relationship between unemployment and plant productivity. Partial support was found in one plant. A relationship between productivity level and seasonal cycles was also hypothesized. Generally, season was related to productivity, although the patterns for these relationships were very plant specific. The hypothesis that there would be a negative relationship between productivity rate and absenteeism rate received support in one plant only. It was further hypothesized that there would be a negative relationship between productivity level and size of the plant over time. The results for both plants were very different; however neither were in support of the hypothesis in the predicted direction. To evaluate the impact of the two productivity improvement programs, mean differences (adjusted for covariates and autocorrelation) were compared for three time periods: before, during, and after program implementation. In the Salem plant the time periods before and during the program had significantly higher productivity rates when compared to the period after the program ended. In the Jefferson plant the productivity level was slightly higher during program implementation when compared to the time period before the program. No other significant differences were found. / M.S.

Because of the changing nature of our society, it is agreed by scholars and practitioners that both private and public organizations face many uncertainties. Diverse solutions have been advanced to remedy these organizational maladies. One of the most popular solutions, theoretical and applied, has been the utilization of Quality of WorkLife (QWL) interventions. The position taken in this dissertation is that in spite of the glowing testimonials about the effectiveness of QWL applications, it is still difficult to reach any definitive conclusions pertaining to the success(es) of this approach to the organizational change process. Previous research has offered little empirical data to support many of the theoretical assumptions QWL is based on. Furthermore, most organizations have utilized the human relations conceptual framework (i.e., satisfaction causes performance) to describe the implementation and diffusion of the QWL process. Indeed, the organization evaluated in this study utilized this approach in its QWL endeavor. However, this investigation endorses a different concept, subsystems congruence, to achieve the institutionalization of QWL. A growing body of research literature strongly suggests that this integrated approach offers the best model for successful QWL intervention. Enhancing our understanding of QWL applications and processes is the focus of this study. This knowledge is necessary so organizational leaders, consultants, and academicians will better understand the nature and complexity of implementing, evaluating and institutionalizing various QWL interventions. / Ph. D.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of recovery on various health aspects among olderemployees and how the different dimensions of recovery relate to health. The dimensions of recoveryinclude: psychological detachment, relaxation, mastery and control. Data were analyzed from twopublic organizations in northern Sweden, with survey responses from employees aged 55 years orolder. The methodology included factor-, mean- and regression analyses to identify the dimensions ofrecovery and understand their impact on health. The results of the study showed that psychologicaldetachment, mastery and control were positively associated with health whilst relaxation had anegative effect. Furthermore, associations were observed between health and control variables such asage, gender, education and the degree of influence in the workplace. Here, the results showed thatwomen generally reported worse health than men, a finding that is consistent with previous research.Older, highly educated individuals with high levels of influence reported better health compared toother studied groups. Respondents living together with a partner, and those that also had childrenreported better health. The study provided insights into the need for strategies when it comes topromoting health among older employees, emphasizing recovery and other factors. Limitationsincluded challenges with representativeness and difficulties in establishing causality. Further researchshould focus on gaining a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between recovery, healthand work-related factors- with a particular emphasis on investigating more organizations and sectors.

Denna uppsats syftar till att undersöka hur synen på en 4-dagars arbetsvecka ser ut i samband med upplevelsen av arbetskrav och work-life balance hos anställda inom spelutvecklingsindustrin. Denna industri är unik för sina olika arbetsrelaterade problem, som bland annat återkommande tidsperioder med en extrem överbelastning av arbete, där 4-dagars arbetsveckan har blivit omtalad runtom i världen och anses kunna förbättra många av de utmaningar inom arbetet som spelutvecklingsindustrin i nuläget har. För att samla in data distribuerades en enkät till 120 anställda i ett svenskt spelutvecklingsföretag. Skalor om work-life balance, arbetskrav och synen på 4-dagars arbetsveckan inkluderades i enkäten, samt demografiska frågor och frågor om boendesituation och crunch. Totalt deltog 58 respondenter i undersökningen, där en deskriptiv- och korrelationsanalys gjordes av datan. Resultatet visade på ett statistiskt signifikant samband mellan synen på 4-dagars arbetsveckan och work-life imbalance, samt mellan work-life imbalance och arbetskrav. Uppsatsen har bidragit med skapandet av ett nytt mått för synen på 4-dagars arbetsveckan och diskuterar metodologiska styrkor och begränsningar i samband med resultatet och framtida forskning.

Research Question: How does the availability of remote work options influence employee     motivation and subsequently impact employee performance in a hybrid workplace setting? Purpose: The purpose of this research is to delve into the dynamics involved in hybrid work environments and evaluate the factors that contribute to employee motivation and consequently, performance. The research aims to determine how intrinsic, extrinsic and other facilitators influence employee motivation in these recently implemented work environments. Additionally, it seeks to explore two perspectives: that from an employee perspective and from a managerial perspective.  Method: A qualitative research method was employed in this thesis, with empirical data being collected through semi-structured interviews with managers and employees who work in office-based roles. Additionally, this study examines the relevant motivation theories to help understand the interview findings, providing a comprehensive framework for analyzing employee motivation in the context of hybrid work.  Conclusion: The employee interview respondents indicate that fulfillment of autonomy,   relatedness and work-life balance are crucial for maintaining motivation in a hybrid work setting. Although overall performance levels did not experience significant changes, managers reported encountering delays and challenges during the initial transition to remote work. Competence was one of the basic needs with little to no evidence of being impacted, however work efficiency tended to decline in a remote setting.

I det moderna arbetslivet suddas gränsen mellan arbete och privatliv ut, samtidigt ökar stressrelaterade sjukskrivningar, särskilt för kvinnor. Syftet med studien var att undersöka vad kvinnor i arbetsledande roll behövde för att uppnå balans mellan arbete och privatliv samt vilka strategier som användes. 10 semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes och analyserades tematiskt. I analysen identifierades tre teman som var gynnande och fyra teman som var hindrande avseende balans mellan arbete och privatliv samt fem strategier som aktivt användes för att skapa en god balans. Resultatet visade att inflytande över och möjlighet till planering för det egna arbetet var av stor vikt och att aktiv fritid användes för återhämtning. En attraktiv arbetsgivare behöver ge stöd, struktur och tydligt ledarskap för att främja god balans. Studiens resultat stämmer väl överens med tidigare forskning inom området, men den bidrar med ökad förståelse kring självledarskapets betydelse avseende att stärka kvinnors egenansvar och förmåga att sätta gränser.

No / This article presents a vivid account of the day to day reality of a female manager in a busy UK city centre food retail store. Insights into some of the transformations in retail work are illuminated, namely restricted store budgets, lean staffing and a long-hours culture. The combination of these factors has resulted in increasing workplace demands and time pressures, with health and well-being consequences. This unique account enhances understandings of the twin challenges for managers in attempting to accommodate work-life balance for their staff and themselves personally. Despite these workplace pressures, the narrative is peppered with instances of practical and emotional concern and support.