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Class of 2005 Abstract / Objectives: To evaluate potential productivity differences among working-age individuals with arthritis in the United States, and to determine the costs associated with these differences. Methods: Health risk assessment survey data was obtained through the You First internet survey group. Five hundred seventy-nine individuals with and 579 without arthritis, matched for age, were evaluated for differences in survey responses. The arthritis group was also evaluated to determine the association of pain severity level and activity limitations with work days missed. Results: Arthritis respondents were found to have significantly more work days missed, emergency room visits, hospital visits, and physician visits than respondents without arthritis. Arthritis respondents missed 6.14 more work days in the 12 months before taking the survey than non-arthritis respondents, costing US $12.9 billion in the United States each year. Arthritis respondents were significantly more limited in their activities than non-arthritis respondents. Arthritis pain and activity limitation were found to be positively correlated with work days missed. Implications: The data from this study demonstrate that work productivity is impaired in individuals with arthritis, pain and physical activity limitations are positively correlated with missed work days, and missed work days constitute a substantial annual cost to employers. Given the evidence of costly productivity impairment in arthritis patients vs. a general population, lost productivity should be included with direct medical costs in studies determining the burden of arthritis in the United States, especially from the employer’s perspective.

Background: Endometriosis is a common condition in women of reproductive age, causing pelvic pain and subfertility, but little is known about its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and work productivity worldwide. Methods: In 10 countries across five continents, this study recruited 1,418 women, aged 18-45, without a previous surgical diagnosis of endometriosis, scheduled to undergo a laparoscopy to investigate symptoms suggestive of endometriosis or to be sterilised. Pre-operatively, women completed a standardised questionnaire assessing symptoms, diagnostic delay, HRQoL and work productivity using validated instruments. Surgeons completed a standardised questionnaire incorporating findings at laparoscopy including endometriosis stage according to revised American Fertility Society criteria. Results: There was a mean delay of 9.2 years (SD 8.8), principally in primary care, between the onset of symptoms and diagnostic laparoscopy. This diagnostic delay was longer in centres where healthcare was predominantly state-funded (12.8 vs. 7.6 years; p<0.001). In multivariate analyses, the delay was positively associated with the number of pelvic symptoms (chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea, dyspareunia and heavy periods; p<0.001) and a higher body mass index (p<0.001). Physical HRQoL was significantly reduced in affected women compared to those with similar symptoms and no endometriosis (p=0.012). Not being in paid employment, severe pelvic pain and moderate-severe disease were associated with reduced physical HRQoL (all p<0.001). Each affected woman lost on average 10.0 hours (SD 10.6) of work weekly, due mainly to reduced effectiveness while working. The annual indirect cost of endometriosis associated with work productivity loss ranged from US$399 per woman in Ibadan (Nigeria) to US$18,586 per woman in Boston (USA). Conclusions: Endometriosis significantly impairs HRQoL and work productivity across countries and ethnicities, yet women continue to experience diagnostic delays in primary care. A higher index of suspicion is needed to expedite specialist assessment of symptomatic women. Future research should seek to clarify pain mechanisms in relation to endometriosis severity.

This experiment investigated how different percentages of incentive pay affected performance on a number-entering task. It was hypothesized that the critical factor in incentive pay systems was the absolute amount of money that could be earned in an incentive pay paradigm. A counterbalanced single-subject reversal design was employed to examine effects of incentives on performance. Twelve subjects were used in the experiment with three subjects assigned to one of four experimental paradigms. Two of the experimental paradigms incorporated 10% and 100% incentive pay conditions, while the other two experimental paradigms incorporated absolute pay conditions equal to the 10% and 100% incentive pay conditions. Results indicated that similar trends in productivity occurred across subjects in all four experimental paradigms.

Mental health problems are associated with significant losses in work productivity and, consequently, have significant ramifications for business entities and the general economy. Several instruments have been developed to measure productivity-related constructs such as absenteeism and presenteeism. The current study examines the utility of the Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ), a commonly used mental health questionnaire, in predicting work productivity. This relationship is explored as a preliminary step in assessing the degree to which changes in mental health brought about by psychotherapy will improve work productivity. Forty-nine participants were recruited from a call center in a small market research firm based in the Western United States. Work productivity was measured using four subscales of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire as well as an objective measure. The OQ and WPAI were administered on a weekly basis over the course of five weeks. Participant characteristic variables and work-time variables were also measured. A mixed models analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with repeated measures showed that the Social Role (SR) Scale, a subscale of the OQ, was a significant predictor of Presenteeism, Overall Work Impairment, and Activity Impairment subscales. Latent growth modeling (LGM) was used to examine the relationship between the variables while accounting for individual trajectory differences. Although the results suggested that an unconditional model of Overall Work Impairment with SR as a time-varying covariate provided a good fit for the data, standardized regression weights between the variables were not significant. Implications of findings, limitations, and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Introduction: The purpose of this research was to assess the relationship between the degree of incontinence severity and treatment seeking behavior, healthcare utilization, and work productivity; and to compare overactive bladder (OAB) related disease burden from a global perspective. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was administered to eligible participants with idiopathic OAB residing in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States. Participants were categorized into subgroups with dry, mild (1 leak/per day), moderate (2 leaks/day), and severe (3 leaks/day) urinary incontinence (UI) severity groups. Results: A total of 1,334 participants completed the survey. Persons with more severe urinary incontinence symptoms related to OAB consumed more healthcare resources, had a higher occurrence of OAB related clinical consequences, and higher work productivity loss compared to individuals with less severe symptoms. Even though OAB is associated with significant disease burden, many patients do not seek treatment.

The aim of this research revolved around the following issues: *What is the nature of motivation and morale? *What external factors play a role in determining motivation and morale? *How do certain factors influence Afrikaans-speaking educators to cause a negative attitude towards their profession as well as creating a low morale? In order to attain the above aim, a literature and empirical study was undertaken. The literature study was done by using primary and secondary sources. In the first instance it was necessary to investigate the meaning of the concepts motivation, work motivation, work satisfaction, morale, organisation climate, work performance, work productivity, stress, and change. It was found that these concepts are interdependent, creating a complete picture. After the nature and factors of motivation and morale had been identified and discussed, a questionnaire was compiled. Schools in the North West and Northern Cape provinces were involved to complete the questionnaire. The information thus assembled was statistically analysed by means of the SAS computer programme and interpreted. From the data, findings were reported and recommendations made. The empirical investigation indicated that Afrikaans-speaking educators are currently motivated to a certain degree, although there are factors that cause these educators to be unmotivated towards their work. These factors are among others the unrealistic demands made by Curriculum 2005, work overloading and undisciplined learners. Based on the empirical investigation, recommendations were made in conclusion. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

The aim of this research revolved around the following issues: *What is the nature of motivation and morale? *What external factors play a role in determining motivation and morale? *How do certain factors influence Afrikaans-speaking educators to cause a negative attitude towards their profession as well as creating a low morale? In order to attain the above aim, a literature and empirical study was undertaken. The literature study was done by using primary and secondary sources. In the first instance it was necessary to investigate the meaning of the concepts motivation, work motivation, work satisfaction, morale, organisation climate, work performance, work productivity, stress, and change. It was found that these concepts are interdependent, creating a complete picture. After the nature and factors of motivation and morale had been identified and discussed, a questionnaire was compiled. Schools in the North West and Northern Cape provinces were involved to complete the questionnaire. The information thus assembled was statistically analysed by means of the SAS computer programme and interpreted. From the data, findings were reported and recommendations made. The empirical investigation indicated that Afrikaans-speaking educators are currently motivated to a certain degree, although there are factors that cause these educators to be unmotivated towards their work. These factors are among others the unrealistic demands made by Curriculum 2005, work overloading and undisciplined learners. Based on the empirical investigation, recommendations were made in conclusion. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Según Krugman (2011), en su libro La era de las expectativas limitadas: "La productividad no es todo, pero en el largo plazo es casi todo. La capacidad de un país para mejorar sus condiciones de vida depende mayormente de su habilidad para elevar la producción por trabajador" (p. 21). En este sentido, el coworking representa una oportunidad que fomenta mayor eficiencia, lo cual implica una valiosa contribución a la mejora de resultados. En primer lugar, en el Capítulo I, se desarrollará el marco teórico que empieza con definir los conceptos de Coworking y Productividad para luego hablar de su evolución, importancia, ventajas, así como los factores en donde se desarrolla cada variable. En segundo lugar, en el Capítulo II, se detallará el plan de trabajo especificando cual es el problema por investigar dentro del área abordada además de especificar la relevancia, objetivos e hipótesis de la investigación. En tercer lugar, en el Capítulo III, se desarrollará y especificará la metodología de investigación a utilizar definiendo el alcance, enfoque, diseño de investigación e instrumentos de medición para obtener información. En cuarto lugar, en el Capítulo IV, se desarrollará la metodología de investigación que posee enfoque mixto. En quinto lugar, en el Capítulo V, se presentará un análisis de los resultados obtenido en el capítulo anterior. Finalmente, se presentarán las conclusiones y recomendaciones que nos deja la investigación. / The thesis formulated by Krugman (2011), in his book The Age of Limited Expectations: "Productivity is not everything, but in the long term it is almost everything. Given the complexity of the analysis of the interrelationship between economic growth and employment, what is evident is the positive long-term relationship between employment growth and productivity; specially, the total productivity of the factors” (p. 21). Taking this into consideration, coworking represents an opportunity that improves networking and encourages open and frank discussion that leads to greater efficiency. First, in Chapter I, the theoretical framework that begins with defining the concepts of Coworking and Productivity to then narrated their evolutions, importance, advantages and the dimensions in which each variable is developed. Secondly, in Chapter II, the plan will be detailed specifying what the problem is to be investigated within the area addressed as well as specifying the relevance, objectives and hypothesis of the investigation. Thirdly, in Chapter III, the research methodology to be used will be developed and specified, defining the scope, focus, research design and measurement instruments to obtain information. Fourth, in Chapter IV, the research methodology will be developed with a mixed approach (quantitative and qualitative). Fifth, in Chapter V, an analysis of the results obtained in the previous chapter will be presented. Finally, the conclusions and recommendations that the investigation leaves us will be presented. / Tesis

The research examines the relationship between cyber addiction (excessive use of the Internet, CA), information overload (IO), and assesses their impact on workplace productivity. A multi-methods approach is used employing the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and a quantitative survey design to assess and test the stated hypothesis. The study used random sampling methods targeting 150 respondents from different information technology departments of various organizations. The study hypothesizes that CA and IO have a reciprocal association, which adversely affects workplace productivity and employee performance. From the findings, IAT scores increase with an associated possibility of reporting burnout, fatigue, and other components associated with CA and IO. Also, CA and IO were significantly correlated, as evaluated by the chi-square test, although the same approach did not yield significant associations between CA and perceived internet dependence. Other findings CA components, such as social media use, significantly associated with task postponement and burnout. As well, CA affected IO with substantial impacts on workplace productivity. The paper highlights managerial aspects that organizations should consider in optimizing the output of their staff. Recommendations include wellness programs, altering the leadership and management styles, and sensitizing the employees on the adverse effects caused by the two variables.