Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to determine if accent related discrimination exists in the work place for persons who speak with an Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi accent. An additional purpose was to explore the participants’ knowledge and willingness to enroll in accent modification therapy and their general feelings regarding this type of therapy. Method: A 57 item survey that was developed to address our research questions was distributed through Survey Monkey to various listservs, organizations and personal contacts. These methods yielded a total of 279 participants, with 110 participants included in the present study. Results: Majority of participants reported that they do not think their accent is difficult to understand and also felt that their accent was accepted. No significant trends were found between length of time living and working in the United States and accent discrimination. However, per participant report, discrimination appears to be more prevalent in the initial part of the employment process (applying for a position and during the beginning portion of their employment). Most participants had never heard of and/or previously enrolled in accent modification therapy. In addition, approximately half said that they would not voluntarily enroll in accent modification therapy, but the remaining participants either responded that they would consider enrolling or they would definitely enroll. Further, half the participants reported that they would not have negative feelings if it was recommended by their employer that they enroll in therapy. Conclusions: This preliminary data suggests that accent discrimination towards individuals who speak with an Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi accent does exist in the workplace. Results also indicate a disconnect between existence of discrimination and awareness of discrimination, either due to the survey limitations or an emerging awareness on the part of the participants. Additionally, few participants reported knowledge of accent modification therapy. Negative feelings towards enrolling in accent modification therapy were within in minority. This data, in addition to reasons to enroll in therapy provided by participants, will aid speech-language pathologists in creating appropriate therapy programs for this unique population. / text

Avhandlingens formål var en kompetansekartlegging av helsefremmende tilnærming i kontakten med brukere og bedrifter for ansatte i trygdeetaten i Norge. Etaten er en regelstyrt offentlig organisasjon i endring. Ved innføringen av ”Intensjonsavtalen om et mer inkluderende arbeidsliv”(IA-avtalen), fikk trygdeetaten tildelt ansvaret for å bistå virksomheter i privat og offentlig sektor med implementering av målsettingen om et inkluderende arbeidsliv. Arbeidslivssentre ble etablert og rådgivere ansatt. I studien inngikk en spørreundersøkelse besvart av 25 rådgivere. Kommentarer i åpnespørsmål ble analysert med kvalitativ metodikk. Oppgaven belyserutfordringen med åimplementere helsefremmende holdninger og metoder blant ansatte i en regelstyrt offentlig etat som trygdeetaten. Kartlegging og tolkning avdekker rådgivernes manglende kunnskaper om folkehelsearbeid. De har liten oversikt over sammenhenger mellom disse teorier/metoderog bistanden til bedrifter/brukere for å oppnå et mer inkluderende arbeidsliv. En spesiell utfordring ser ut til å være trygdefunksjonærenes holdninger til helse og sykdom. Begrensninger, årsaker og diagnoser har tradisjonelt et sterkt fokus. Det synes å væremindre bevissthet på helse som ressurs og betydningen av medvirkning/empowerment. Det ser også ut til å være etstort behov for mer kunnskaper om salutogenesis, dvs. betydning av opplevelse av sammenheng, mestring og trivsel på tross av sykdom og begrensninger / The aim of this study was to evaluate the employees of the Norwegian National Insurance Service, NIS, in their knowledge and experience on health promotion. NIS is a strictly traditional Public Organization ongoing managing change with the newly introduced reform “Tripartite agreement on a more inclusive workplace”. On behalf of the Government, theNIS has got the responsibility of assisting and supervising the Private and Public Organizations to improve and reach the aimsset in the agreement. The National Insurance Services Workplace Centres were established and advisers were employed. This study includes questionnaires answered by 25 advisers. Data, specific from comments in open ended-questions were analyzed by qualitative methods. The study shows thechallenge of implementing attitudes and methods on Health Promotion in a strictly traditional Public Organization like NIS. Analyzing the data showes a lack of knowledge in the advisers competence on Public Health theories and methods. They do not use elements of Health Promotion towards leaders and clients in private and public Enterprises in their supervising on “Inclusive Workplace”. Aspecial challenge seemed to be the advisers own attitude towards health and disease As a result of the analyses, recommendations for the employees/advisers of NIS are the needof more knowledge on Health Promotion, Empowerment and Salutogenesis. / <p>ISBN 91-7997-107-5</p>

The global move towards human rights, the publication of King 11 reports and the post democratic legislations coerced the South African mining industry to diversify its workforce. The Employment Equity Act was the major driving force behind this, aimed at eliminating discrimination in the workplace and implementing Affirmative Action measures so that the workforce would reflect the economically active population. The question remains as to whether it could achieve a representative workforce, since the Commission of Employment Enquiry reports (2009-2010) and the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (second quarter, 2010) indicated that progress is very slow throughout all the industries. The mining industry is still predominantly White-controlled and emphasis is being placed on stimulating Black empowerment in the industry. Since the early 1990s the industry has seen significant restructuring and changes, including the phasing out of the traditional mining houses and the incorporation of the designated groups (females and Blacks) in ownership and management. However, rising gold prices and pressures on the global economy have forced the industry to embark on measures which impacted badly on the employment equity, leading to measures such as downsizing both the operations and staff, limiting training, centralising and outsourcing through contractual work. Migrant labour still plays an integral part. In order to analyse the application of Employment Equity Act and workplace diversity in the mining industry, a literature review was conducted to conceptualise the major constructs, and a survey through a close-ended questionnaire was administered to establish the progress made in this regard. The questionnaire was divided into three sections: section A was a biographical/demographic analysis focussing on the personal attributes ranging from gender, age, race, education and job grade. Section B and C were in the form of five-point likert scale to analyse the extent of understanding and knowledge, as well as attitudes and behaviour of the respondents respectively. The results were compared to secondary data in the form of reports collected from the senior metallurgy human resource manager. The convenience sample was taken from a sample of employees staying in the mining complex known as the 'Quarters', which comprised 345 houses, of which a response rate was 54%. Findings from the primary data indicated some progress in changing the organisational culture, with the majority of the respondents giving positive perceptions towards gender, disability and language used, while they identified the following as barriers (negative perceptions): lack of commitment by management; unfair labour practices in recruitment, promotions, training and development; insufficient knowledge about EEA and diversity; racial discrimination; and negative turnover intentions. They believed that diversity could improve productivity. The secondary data revealed that there was slow progress in attaining the numerical targets, especially in the D-band upwards (senior and top management levels). The females and people with disability were under-represented in all categories. The majority of employees in the skilled (C-band), semi-skilled and unskilled (B1-B7) were terminating their services. It is suggested that training of personnel about EEA and diversity be considered to get their active support and to prepare them for the change from the status-quo, extensive development of management on labour relations and good practices, as well as formation of committees to steer and monitor the adherence to policies. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The global move towards human rights, the publication of King 11 reports and the post democratic legislations coerced the South African mining industry to diversify its workforce. The Employment Equity Act was the major driving force behind this, aimed at eliminating discrimination in the workplace and implementing Affirmative Action measures so that the workforce would reflect the economically active population. The question remains as to whether it could achieve a representative workforce, since the Commission of Employment Enquiry reports (2009-2010) and the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (second quarter, 2010) indicated that progress is very slow throughout all the industries. The mining industry is still predominantly White-controlled and emphasis is being placed on stimulating Black empowerment in the industry. Since the early 1990s the industry has seen significant restructuring and changes, including the phasing out of the traditional mining houses and the incorporation of the designated groups (females and Blacks) in ownership and management. However, rising gold prices and pressures on the global economy have forced the industry to embark on measures which impacted badly on the employment equity, leading to measures such as downsizing both the operations and staff, limiting training, centralising and outsourcing through contractual work. Migrant labour still plays an integral part. In order to analyse the application of Employment Equity Act and workplace diversity in the mining industry, a literature review was conducted to conceptualise the major constructs, and a survey through a close-ended questionnaire was administered to establish the progress made in this regard. The questionnaire was divided into three sections: section A was a biographical/demographic analysis focussing on the personal attributes ranging from gender, age, race, education and job grade. Section B and C were in the form of five-point likert scale to analyse the extent of understanding and knowledge, as well as attitudes and behaviour of the respondents respectively. The results were compared to secondary data in the form of reports collected from the senior metallurgy human resource manager. The convenience sample was taken from a sample of employees staying in the mining complex known as the 'Quarters', which comprised 345 houses, of which a response rate was 54%. Findings from the primary data indicated some progress in changing the organisational culture, with the majority of the respondents giving positive perceptions towards gender, disability and language used, while they identified the following as barriers (negative perceptions): lack of commitment by management; unfair labour practices in recruitment, promotions, training and development; insufficient knowledge about EEA and diversity; racial discrimination; and negative turnover intentions. They believed that diversity could improve productivity. The secondary data revealed that there was slow progress in attaining the numerical targets, especially in the D-band upwards (senior and top management levels). The females and people with disability were under-represented in all categories. The majority of employees in the skilled (C-band), semi-skilled and unskilled (B1-B7) were terminating their services. It is suggested that training of personnel about EEA and diversity be considered to get their active support and to prepare them for the change from the status-quo, extensive development of management on labour relations and good practices, as well as formation of committees to steer and monitor the adherence to policies. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

The purpose of this study was to determine managers' perceptions of the relationship between spirituality and work performance. The sample consisted of twelve senior managers from different organisations. Semi structured interviews were used to gather the data. The data was qualitatively analysed and themes were identified. The findings indicated that spirituality promotes the healthy development of individuals by assisting with their own self-awareness, helping them find inner peace and dealing with stress and depression. Respondents also felt that spirituality enhances teamwork and redefines the concept of success in terms of engaging in competition, having unselfish motives and encouraging honesty. Based on the findings, recommendations were made for practice and for future research. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

Dans cette thèse de doctorat, le sujet de la transformation de démarches de prévention des risques psychosociaux en outils de la préservation de la santé au travail est abordé sous le prisme des théories de l’auto-détermination et du sensemaking. Cette recherche consiste en une étude qualitative de différentes organisations publiques dans lesquelles des démarches de prévention des risques psychosociaux ont été mises en place et à la collecte et à l’analyse quantitative de 1373 questionnaires administrés aux employés d’une organisation publique. Les résultats obtenus soulignent le rôle de l’action créatrice de sens, de la motivation autonome et de la satisfaction des besoins d’autonomie, d’affiliation et de compétence comme des variables cruciales de la réussite de démarches de prévention de risques psychosociaux et de la mise en place de mécanismes de prévention primaire. La satisfaction des besoins d’autonomie, d’affiliation et de compétence joue aussi un grand rôle dans la réalisation du bien-être au travail. Cette recherche présente donc des apports théoriques nouveaux en gestion des ressources humaines qui peuvent aussi inspirer de meilleures pratiques organisationnelles. / This PhD thesis addresses the issue of the transformation of interventions destined to prevent psychosocial risks into more durable organisational changes that would increase the health and well-being of employees, analysed through the lens of the theories of self-determination and of sensemaking. This research consists in a qualitative case study of different public organisations in which such interventions have been conducted, and in the quantitative analysis of 1373 surveys collected in one public organisation. The results of this research highlight the importance of sensemaking, of autonomous motivation and satisfaction of the three fundamental needs for autonomy, relatedness and competence as major variables for the success of interventions for the prevention of psychosocial risks. Furthermore, helping their employees to fulfil their needs for autonomy, relatedness and competence is also linked to an increase in their well-being. This research introduces a new theoretical frame that can both benefit the academic field of human resources management and organisational practices.

Ledarskapet på arbetsplatsen ses som en av de viktigaste faktorerna för att reducera ohälsa och öka välbefinnandet på arbetsplatsen. Det finns också forskning som visar hur ledarskapskvalitén påverkar arbetsklimatet samt medarbetarnas hälsa och arbetsnöjdhet på arbetsplatsen. Detta tyder på att ledarskapet har en viktig roll i att främja hälsa på arbetsplatsen. Forskning menar att arbetsplatslärande och upprätthålla kompetensutveckling på arbetsplatsen visat sig vara effektivt för hälsan i arbetslivet. Syftet med denna studie är att ur ett pedagogiskt perspektiv belysa hur ledare uppfattar sitt ledarskap i att främja hälsan på arbetsplatsen. Studien grundar sig i åtta stycken semistrukturerade intervjuer med personer som alla besitter en ledarroll. Studien utgår ifrån ett hermeneutiskt perspektiv med en induktiv ansats där analysarbetet har utgått från en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Ledarna uppfattar situationsanpassat ledarskap som ett sätt att möta de anställdas behov samt utveckla dessa, för att nå ett ökat välbefinnande på arbetsplatsen. Vidare upplever ledarna att hälsan på arbetsplatsen främjas av formellt och informellt lärande. Ett ledarskap som bidrar till delaktighet och meningsfullhet, ökar individens påverkan av sin egen situation vilket bidrar till högre trivsel. Kommunikation, kompetensutveckling och tillgång till resurser lyfts fram som mycket betydelsefullt i ett hälsofrämjande ledarskap. Vad som framstår som ett återkommande hinder i ett hälsofrämjande ledarskap är tidsbrist, resurser samt begränsad ekonomi. Samtliga ledare uppfattar sitt ledarskap som hälsofrämjande, oberoende av vilka förutsättningar, ekonomi och resurser verksamheten har tillgång till. Ledarna menar att så länge tiden och resurserna disponeras rätt så finns alla möjligheter till att utöva ett hälsofrämjande ledarskap. / Leadership in the workplace is seen as one of the most important factors for reducing unhealth and increasing well-being at the workplace. There is also research that shows how leadership quality affects the working environment as well as employee health and work satisfaction at the workplace. This indicates that leadership has an important role in promoting health in the workplace. Research believes that job placement and maintaining skills development in the workplace proved to be effective for health in working life. The aim with this study is from an educational perspective that elucidates how leaders perceive their leadership in promoting health at the workplace. The study is based on eight semistructured interviews with people who all have a leadership role. The study is based on a hermeneutic perspective with an inductive approach in which the analysis work is based on a qualitative content analysis. Leaders perceived situations-oriented leadership as a way to meet the needs of employees and develop them, in order to achieve increased well-being at the workplace. Furthermore, leaders find that health at work is promoted by formal and informal learning. A leadership that contributes to participation and meaningfulness increases the individual's impact on their own situation, which contributes to greater well-being. Communication, skills development and access to resources are highlighted as very important in a health promotion leadership. What emerges as a recurring obstacle in a health promotion leadership is time shortage, resources and limited economy. All leaders perceive their leadership as health promotive, independent of the conditions, finances and resources the business has access to. The leaders argue that as long as the resources are disposed of correctly, there is every opportunity to practice a health-promoting leadership.

Companies of today tend to invest more and more in workplace health promotion measures to improve employees ́ health. These health promotion measures have in particular been consisted of physical training, while the mental training have not received equal attention. Furthermore, research shows that a big part of how employees describe their well-being is based on how they experience their work situation. A few factors that have been identified to affect the work situation is work-related relationships, work environment and work-related strains. The aim of this study is therefore to contribute to an increased understanding of how employees experience that workplace health promotion in form of mindfulness can affect their work situation. The study has its basis on the Social cognitive theory and Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). In order to answer the aim, six semi-structured interviews were conducted at a consulting company in the real estate industry in Stockholm. The result showed that conclusions can be drawn about that mindfulness as a workplace health promotion in this context has a positive impact on employees work situation. The respondents stated that their relationships, work environment and ability to handle work-related strains had improved thanks to the implementation of mindfulness at work. They also stated that factors as their presence, openness and the ability to find their values had improved. The result is also supported by previous research which says that mindfulness has a positive impact on how employees experience their work situation.

LL.M. (Labour Law) / Please refer to full text to view abstract