Lifting Universal Masking in Schools - Covid-19 Incidence among Students and Staff.

BACKGROUND: In February 2022, Massachusetts rescinded a statewide universal masking policy in public schools, and many Massachusetts school districts lifted masking requirements during the subsequent weeks. In the greater Boston area, only two school districts - the Boston and neighboring Chelsea districts - sustained masking requirements through June 2022. The staggered lifting of masking requirements provided an opportunity to examine the effect of universal masking policies on the incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in schools. METHODS: We used a difference-in-differences analysis for staggered policy implementation to compare the incidence of Covid-19 among students and staff in school districts in the greater Boston area that lifted masking requirements with the incidence in districts that sustained masking requirements during the 2021-2022 school year. Characteristics of the school districts were also compared. RESULTS: Before the statewide masking policy was rescinded, trends in the incidence of Covid-19 were similar across school districts. During the 15 weeks after the statewide masking policy was rescinded, the lifting of masking requirements was associated with an additional 44.9 cases per 1000 students and staff (95% confidence interval, 32.6 to 57.1), which corresponded to an estimated 11,901 cases and to 29.4% of the cases in all districts during that time. Districts that chose to sustain masking requirements longer tended to have school buildings that were older and in worse condition and to have more students per classroom than districts that chose to lift masking requirements earlier. In addition, these districts had higher percentages of low-income students, students with disabilities, and students who were English-language learners, as well as higher percentages of Black and Latinx students and staff. Our results support universal masking as an important strategy for reducing Covid-19 incidence in schools and loss of in-person school days. As such, we believe that universal masking may be especially useful for mitigating effects of structural racism in schools, including potential deepening of educational inequities. CONCLUSIONS: Among school districts in the greater Boston area, the lifting of masking requirements was associated with an additional 44.9 Covid-19 cases per 1000 students and staff during the 15 weeks after the statewide masking policy was rescinded.

Occupational groups and lower urinary tract symptoms: A cross-sectional analysis of women in the Boston Area Community Health Study.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to inform our hypothesis that the workplace toileting environment may impact lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS); we examined the prevalence of LUTS across occupational groups in the Boston Area Community Health Survey. METHODS: At baseline, women (n = 3205) reported their occupation and frequency of 15 LUTS. Using the US Department of Labor's Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system, we categorized women into 11 standard occupational groups. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were calculated by log-link generalized linear models, adjusting for age, race, education, fluid intake, and parity. Women classified in Office and Administrative Support were used as the reference group given their potential for fewer workplace toileting restrictions. RESULTS: Of the 3189 women with complete data, 68% of women reported any LUTS, ranging from 57% to 82% across the SOCs. Relative to women in Office and Administrative Support (n = 576), women in Computing, Engineering, and Science (n = 64) were more likely to report any LUTS (PR = 1.2, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.0-1.4) and urinating again in <2 h (PR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.4-2.2), and women in Education, Legal, Community Service, Arts, and Media (n = 477), as well as Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Occupations (n = 162), were less likely to report perceived frequent daytime urination (PR = 0.6, 95% CI: 0.5-0.9 and PR = 0.6, 95% CI: 0.4-0.9, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our cross-sectional findings suggest that urination frequency varies across understudied occupational groups with various workplace toileting environments. Future studies should examine this relationship prospectively to inform the influence of workplace toileting environments on urination frequency, as well as the development and/or worsening of LUTS.

COVID-19 Economic and Academic Stress on Mexican American Adolescents' Psychological Distress: Parents as Essential Workers.

OBJECTIVES: In a sample of Mexican American adolescents (N = 398; 51% females; aged 13-17), we examined the associations between psychological distress, COVID-19 household economic stress, COVID-19 academic stress, and whether these associations varied by adolescents' gender and by parents/caregivers' essential worker status. METHOD: First, linear regression models assessed the main effects of household economic and academic stress on psychological distress. Second, the moderating effects of gender and parents/caregivers' essential worker status on the association between household economic and academic stress, and psychological distress were examined. Third, the three-way interaction effect of household economic stress, gender, and parents/caregivers' essential worker status on psychological distress as well as the three-way interaction effect of academic stress, gender, and parents/caregivers' essential worker status on psychological distress were calculated. RESULTS: Household economic and academic stress were associated with psychological distress. However, these associations did not vary based on adolescents' gender or parents/caregivers' essential worker status. The three-way interaction for household economic stress, parents/caregivers' essential worker status, and gender for psychological distress was significant. Specifically, the effects of household economic stress on psychological distress was worse for boys than girls whose parents/caregivers were essential workers. Furthermore, the three-way interaction among academic stress, parents/caregivers' essential worker status, and gender was significant. Particularly, the effects of academic stress when grades were worse on adolescents' psychological distress was worse for boys than girls whose parents/caregivers were essential workers. CONCLUSION: Parents/caregivers' essential worker status was salient among Mexican American adolescents' mental health outcomes during COVID-19, particularly for adolescent boys.

Risk factors for clinical stages of COVID-19 amongst employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) worldwide over a period of 12 months.

BACKGROUND: Essential workers carry a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 mortality than individuals working in non-essential activities. Scientific studies on COVID-19 risk factors and clinical courses for humanitarian aid workers (HAW) specifically are lacking. The nature of their work brings HAW in proximity to various populations, therefore potentially exposing them to the virus. The objective of this study is to assess severity degrees of COVID-19 in relation to multiple risk factors in a cohort of HAW. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of data collected by the Staff Health Unit of the International Committee of the Red Cross, over 12 months (February 2021 - January 2022). Prevalence of demographic and health risk factors and outcome events were calculated. Factors associated with disease severity were explored in univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Resulting OR were reported with 95%CI and p-values from Wald Test. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: We included 2377 patients. The mean age was 39.5y.o. Two thirds of the patients were males, and 3/4 were national staff. Most cases (3/4) were reported by three regions (Africa, Asia and Middle East). Over 95% of patients were either asymptomatic or presented mild symptoms, 9 died (CFR 0.38%). Fifty-two patients were hospitalised and 7 needed a medical evacuation outside the country of assignment. A minority (14.76%) of patients had at least one risk factor for severe disease; the most recorded one was high blood pressure (4.6%). Over 55% of cases occurred during the predominance of Delta Variant of Concern. All pre-existing risk factors were significantly associated with a moderate or higher severity of the disease (except pregnancy and immunosuppression). CONCLUSIONS: We found strong epidemiological evidence of associations between comorbidities, old age, and the severity of COVID-19. Increased occupational risks of moderate to severe forms of COVID-19 do not only depend on workplace safety but also on social contacts and context.

The coverage of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and the willingness to receive the SARS-CoV-2 variant vaccine among employees in China.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19, which is caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a major global health threat. The dominant variant of SARS-CoV-2 has changed over time due to continuous evolution. We aimed to evaluate the coverage of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among employees in China, explore their willingness to receive the SARS-CoV-2 variant vaccine and examine the potential factors influencing vaccination coverage and willingness. METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological survey was conducted online from January 1, 2022, to January 30, 2022. The information collected in the survey included sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, vaccination coverage, willingness to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 variants and the reasons for vaccination and willingness. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of potential factors with the rate of vaccination and the willingness to be vaccinated. RESULTS: Among 62,395 eligible participants, the coverage of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was 98.9% for at least one dose and 70.1% for a booster. The great majority of vaccinated individuals (94.4%) voluntarily received the vaccine. A total of 60,694 respondents (97.7%) were willing to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 variants, mainly due to confidence in the effectiveness of vaccines (92.8%). A total of 1431 respondents were unwilling to be vaccinated, mainly because of concerns about the adverse effects of vaccines (77.6%). Longer education duration was associated with a higher rate of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and willingness to be vaccinated. General or poor health status and having no history of influenza vaccination were associated with a lower rate of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and willingness to be vaccinated. Additionally, we observed a significant positive association of abuse experience with the willingness to be vaccinated. CONCLUSION: Although the rate of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and the willingness to be vaccinated were relatively high in the study population, there were still some respondents with vaccine hesitancy. Relevant strategies based on significant related factors should be developed and implemented to encourage vaccination.

Psychological improvement in Employee Productivity by Maintaining Attendance System using Machine Learning Behavior.

For a very long time, researchers, educationists, practitioners, and psychologists have tried to conduct extensive research on employee productivity at the workplace. It was firmly believed that positive traits of the employees positively affect the performance of employees at the workplace and, at the same time, increase the productivity of the organization. A few organizations have changed their organizational policies to improve employee performance by identifying individuals' positive traits. Positive psychology (PS), unlike traditional psychology, focuses on the positive traits of the individuals rather than on their negative aspects. Hence, this paper intends to analyze the important role of PS in improving employee productivity as well as analyze the psychological improvement in Employee Productivity by Maintaining Attendance Systems, Implementing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR activities), Entrepreneurial Intentions (EI), and Machine Learning Behavior (MLB). This study paper investigates the role of attendance systems, CSR, EI, and MLB in enhancing the employees' productivity in a positive manner, which will eventually increase organizational productivity. This study proposes a research framework and hypothesis that explains the relationship between employee productivity and organizational attendance system, CSR, EI, and MLB. For this study, a questionnaire was prepared and distributed among the employees working in the selected organizations. These data verify the validity of the proposed hypothesis and research framework. Statistical approaches were employed to analyze the results of the proposed hypothesis. Results of the study found that by maintaining an attendance system, implementing CSR, EI, and MLB, employee performance can be improved positively, thereby increasing organizational productivity.

Association of indoor noise level with depression in hotel workers: A multicenter study from 111 China's cities.

Several studies have elucidated the link between outdoor noise and depression, but the relationship between indoor noise levels and depression symptoms in residential and public places remains unclear. This study was a multicenter observational study with a cross-sectional design. In 2019, a total of 10 545 indoor noise levels on-site and 26 018 health data from practitioners were collected from 2402 hotels in 111 cities. Indoor daily noise data levels were detected, and PHQ-9 questionnaires were used to collect health data. Logistic analysis was used to determine the association between depression score and noise level, negative binomial regression was used to determine potential risks. The geometric mean indoor noise level was 38.9 dB (A), with approximately 40.9% of hotels exceeding the 45 dB value (A). Approximately 19.1% of hotel workers exhibited mild and above depressive symptoms. In addition to functional zoning, geographic location, central air conditioner, decoration status, and other factors had an impact on noise levels (p < 0.05). Results of logistic and negative binomial regression showed the following: (1) there was significantly positive association between indoor noise and high depression scores above 2 (OR = 1.007, 95% CI: 1.002, 1.012) and (2) some sub-groups were more susceptible to this effect, especially for the younger female workers working in the first-tier cities, having higher education level, lower level of income, smoking, and longer working hours. This study confirms an early potential effect of indoor noise on depression. It is recommended to implement evidence-based measures to control noise sources in hotels.

Good for you, bad for me? The daily dynamics of perspective taking and well-being in coworker dyads.

Perspective taking is encouraged by organizations as a form of supporting coworkers. Yet, its impact on employees' and coworkers' well-being is not well understood. We, therefore, take a dyadic approach to understand the daily dynamics of employees' perspective taking, its benefits for coworkers, and its costs for employees themselves. Specifically, we draw from self-regulation theory to examine the double-edged sword of perspective taking for one's own and one's coworker's well-being (reflected by subjective vitality). With regard to coworker well-being, we take an other-oriented resource lens and theorize that the focal employee's perspective taking increases the coworker's received support and well-being. With regard to the focal employee's well-being, we take a self-oriented resource lens and theorize that perspective taking increases the focal employee's self-regulatory resource depletion, which impairs their well-being. We examined our research model in a dyadic experience sampling study with three daily measurement occasions over 2 working weeks in a sample of 89 coworker dyads (178 individuals). Multilevel analyses showed that perspective taking had a positive indirect effect on coworker well-being via received coworker support, while it had a negative indirect effect on the focal employee's well-being via self-regulatory resource depletion. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Tracking bioaerosol exposure among municipal solid waste workers using hematological and inflammatory biomarkers.

High levels of bioaerosols may exist in the air of municipal solid waste (MSW) management facilities, constituting a significant occupational hazard for workers. In this study, we investigated the potential association between exposure to bioaerosols and inflammatory biomarkers among municipal solid waste workers (MSWWs) at both the landfill site and the municipal solid waste transfer station (MSWTS), in comparison to a control group without exposure. Air sampling was conducted at six points around the landfill, two points at the MSWTS, and one point in a public park (as a control area) during the spring and summer of 2019. The results of our study revealed that airborne pathogens were highly prevalent at the sampling points, especially in the active zone and leachate collection pond. Aspergillus species were the predominant fungal species detected in this study, with the highest occurrence observed for Aspergillus flavus (83.3%), Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus fumigatus (75.0%). Furthermore, Staphylococcus species accounted for over 75% of the total bacterial bioaerosols detected across all study areas. The blood test results of workers revealed a significant increase in platelets (PLT), immunoglobulin G (IgG), white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils, basophils, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) compared to the control group. Conversely, platelet distribution width (PDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR) in the exposed subjects exhibited a decreasing trend compared to the control group. These findings suggest a potential association between exposure to bioaerosols, particularly in the vicinity of open dumpsites, and elevated levels of hematologic and inflammatory markers in circulation. Furthermore, the influence of smoking status and confounding factors appears to be significant in both the control and exposure groups.

Application of machine learning for risky sexual behavior interventions among factory workers in China.

Introduction: Assessing the likelihood of engaging in high-risk sexual behavior can assist in delivering tailored educational interventions. The objective of this study was to identify the most effective algorithm and assess high-risk sexual behaviors within the last six months through the utilization of machine-learning models. Methods: The survey conducted in the Longhua District CDC, Shenzhen, involved 2023 participants who were employees of 16 different factories. The data was collected through questionnaires administered between October 2019 and November 2019. We evaluated the model's overall predictive classification performance using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. All analyses were performed using the open-source Python version 3.9.12. Results: About a quarter of the factory workers had engaged in risky sexual behavior in the past 6 months. Most of them were Han Chinese (84.53%), hukou in foreign provinces (85.12%), or rural areas (83.19%), with junior high school education (55.37%), personal monthly income between RMB3,000 (US$417.54) and RMB4,999 (US$695.76; 64.71%), and were workers (80.67%). The random forest model (RF) outperformed all other models in assessing risky sexual behavior in the past 6 months and provided acceptable performance (accuracy 78%; sensitivity 11%; specificity 98%; PPV 63%; ROC 84%). Discussion: Machine learning has aided in evaluating risky sexual behavior within the last six months. Our assessment models can be integrated into government or public health departments to guide sexual health promotion and follow-up services.

Proactive champions: how personal and organizational resources enable proactive personalities to become idea champions.

In investigating the relationship between employees' proactive personality and idea championing, this study addresses how this relationship might be augmented when employees can draw from pertinent personal resources (persuasion self-efficacy and job enthusiasm) and organizational resources (social interaction and organizational support for change). Two-wave survey data, collected among employees in a banking organization, show that employees' proactive personalities increase the likelihood that they mobilize support for innovative ideas, especially if they (1) feel confident that they can defend these ideas successfully, (2) experience their jobs as sources of personal fulfillment, (3) maintain informal relationships with peers, and (4) believe their organizations embrace change. For managers, these findings indicate that employees will leverage their positive energy, derived from their desire for initiative taking, into enhanced change-oriented championing activities if they also can draw from pertinent resources that enhance their ability or motivation to engage in those leveraging efforts.

Are proactive employees proactive performers? the moderating role of supervisor-subordinate marital status similarity.

In accordance with the similarity attraction paradigm, this paper investigates when and how proactive employees can be rated as proactive performers by proposing supervisor-subordinate marital status similarity as a relational moderator and leader-member exchange as the mediator. It therefore advances understanding of performance evaluation of proactive employees. Data from a sample of 471 Chinese employees and their 161 supervisors are used to examine the models hypothesized. The results show that LMX mediates the interaction effect between a proactive personality and supervisor-subordinate marital status similarity on supervisors' evaluations of proactive performance. When proactive employees and their supervisors have similar (dissimilar) marital status, the indirect relationship between proactive personality and supervisor-rated proactive performance via LMX is stronger (weaker). Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Influence of skill relatedness on the location choice of heterogeneous labor force in Chinese prefecture-level cities.

High-quality regional development should be promoted by facilitating inter-regional mobility of heterogeneous labor force to optimize its spatial allocation. This study incorporates skill relatedness into spatial categorization and selection effects, and explores how skill-relatedness affects the location choice of heterogeneous labor force. To do so, we use labor force migration data and employee data by occupation subcategory from the 2000 National Population Census and 2015 National Population Sample Survey. The empirical evidence provides three major findings. First, there are significant regional differences in labor migration rates by the occupational group between cities in China, and the trend is increasing. Regional concentration of location choice is increasing and six significant agglomerations are formed. Second, skill relatedness positively affects the location choice of the heterogeneous labor force in Chinese cities. When cities' skill-relatedness is more robust, influence on labor location choice is more remarkable. In cities with high-size classes, the effect of high-skill relatedness on labor location choice is higher. Third, labor force with solid skill relatedness with regional employment moves to the location owing to the spatial sorting effect. Labor force without skill relatedness or weak relatedness moves out or does not move to the location owing to the spatial selection effect.

Shelter Worker's Experiences and Perceptions of Capacity for Care (C4C).

Capacity for Care (C4C) is a shelter management strategy which utilizes managed intake to optimize in-shelter populations based on housing capacity and available resources. The purpose of this study was to 1) understand staff experiences using managed intake, 2) explore staff perceptions of how the C4C model has been regarded by other staff at their facility, and 3) explore the response of community members who are attempting to relinquish their cats, as perceived by the staff who are communicating with cat owners and scheduling relinquishment. Participants recruited from shelters who practiced C4C participated in a semi-structured interview and completed a written survey to share their experiences and perceptions of C4C. Based on the perceptions of the participants, evidence suggests the waitlist may decrease the admission of owned cats to the shelter as a result of advising cat owners about alternatives to relinquishment. The findings suggest that more research is needed to understand the potential impacts of managed intake, as an element of C4C, on the welfare of cats in the community who are waiting to be admitted to a shelter.

Effect of yoga on cardiovascular functions and psychological aspects of people on public service-related work: an exploratory study.

OBJECTIVES: Yoga is increasingly being introduced in workplace settings to improve health and well-being. However, there is a lack of studies reporting the effect of yoga in people on public service-related work, who are at high risk for various health-related problems. Thus, the objective of this study was to find the effect of yoga on cardiovascular functions and psychological (stress, anxiety, and depression) aspects of people on public service-related work. METHODS: A single-group pre-test and post-test experimental study design was adopted. Eighty-two participants aged 41.52 ± 7.44 years who are working in the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission were undergone 1-h of yoga (under the supervision of a yoga & naturopathy doctor) a day, 5-days a week for a period of 1-month at their office. Cardiovascular functions such as systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse rate (PR) were measured using an automatic BP monitor. Psychological variables such as stress, anxiety, and depression were measured using Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS) before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Results of this study showed a significant reduction in body mass index, SBP, DBP, PR, mean arterial pressure, rate pressure product, and double product. Though results showed insignificant (just missed the statistical significance [p=0.056]) reduction in anxiety, it showed clinical improvement (i.e. the mean anxiety score has reduced from moderate category to mild category). However, there is neither statistically significant nor clinical difference in stress and depression. None of the participants reported any untoward events during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that yoga might improve the cardiovascular functions and anxiety of people in public service-related work. However, no such significant improvement was noted in their stress and depression levels. However, a randomized controlled trial is required to warrant the results of this study.

O acúmulo de tarefas alheias ao ofício e o emergir de um gênero profissional invasivo / Accumulation of unrelated tasks and the emergence of an invasive professional genre

Este estudo aborda o fenômeno do acúmulo de tarefas em contexto da atividade de trabalho humana, a partir de operadores teóricos da clínica da atividade, como instâncias do ofício, estilo, gênero profissional, poder de agir e trabalho bem feito. Tomou-se como base material empírico referente a narrativas de trabalhadores participantes de pesquisa desenvolvida em um Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos (SVO), por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas e de instrução ao sósia, realizadas com técnicos em necropsia. O referido material discursivo possibilitou o entendimento de que as submissões desses trabalhadores à tarefas alheias a seu ofício fizeram com que eles precisassem recorrer ao gênero profissional inerente a outros cargos, e dele se apropriar, originando o que aqui propõe-se denominar gênero profissional invasivo. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste estudo foi estabelecer o diálogo entre o acúmulo de tarefas alheias ao ofício e um possível desenvolvimento do gênero profissional, em termos da produção de um gênero profissional invasivo

This study addresses the accumulation of tasks in the context of human work activity, based on theoretical operators from the clinic of activity, such as instances of professional practice, style, professional genre, power to act and work well-done. Analysis used empirical material related to narratives of workers participating in research developed in a Division of Postmortem Inspection (SVO), by means of semi-structured interviews and instruction to the double conducted with necropsy technicians. Results showed that the need to perform unrelated tasks made these workers appeal to the professional genre inherent to other jobs and appropriate it, giving rise to an invasive professional genre. Thus, the objective was to establish a dialogue between the accumulation of unrelated tasks and the possible development of a professional genre in terms of an invasive professional genre

Uma metassíntese das transformações no trabalho de taxistas em tempos de uberização / A metasynthesis of labor changes for taxi drivers in times of uberization

Este estudo parte da Psicologia Social do Trabalho e se propõe a analisar como são referidas nas publicações científicas latino-americanas as modificações no trabalho de motoristas de táxi em função da entrada no mercado do serviço de transporte de passageiros por motoristas de aplicativos, buscando mais especificamente discutir as diferenças e os elementos laborais comuns a essas duas categorias profissionais. Trata-se de uma metassíntese, para a qual quatro fases foram desenvolvidas: exploração, refinamento, descrição e análise. Inicialmente, as informações obtidas em uma busca sistemática foram organizadas em três categorias descritivas principais: informações metodológicas, perspectiva teórica adotada e principais temas abordados. Esse mapeamento auxiliou a compreender como se configuram as produções bibliográficas consideradas. Um resultado significativo encontrado na etapa de análise foi que o material localizado não abordou efetivamente as transformações no trabalho de motoristas de táxi. Desse modo, tornou-se imperativo ultrapassar as informações encontradas nesse material, sendo necessária sua articulação com outras obras que, em alguma medida, abordavam aspectos da atualidade do trabalho de taxistas, visando refletir sobre como tais aspectos podem estar relacionados às transformações recentes no mundo laboral, as quais encontram no fenômeno da uberização uma caracterização fulcral sobre o trabalho na contemporaneidade. Assim, foi propiciada uma ampliação do olhar reflexivo sobre o que é trabalhar como taxista atualmente, dado que as mudanças engendradas pelas novas tecnologias e seu uso em prol da criação de novas formas de precarização laboral incidem também sobre essa categoria profissional e produzem efeitos sobre seu cotidiano de trabalho e sua subjetividade

Based on Social Psychology of Work, this study analyzes how Latin American scientific publications refer to labor changes in taxi service given the entry of app drivers into the passenger transport service market, seeking to discuss the differences and labor elements common to these two professional categories. A metasynthesis was conducted in four phases: exploration, refinement, description and analysis. Firstly, data were systematically searched and organized into three main descriptive categories: methodological information, theoretical perspective and main topics found. Analysis went beyond the information found in the selected material, as it did not effectively address the labor changes in taxi service. As such, the authors sought to articulate other works that to somewhat addressed current aspects of taxi service work and reflect on how such aspects may be related to recent labor transformations, namely the phenomenon of uberization. This provided a broader reflective perspective on what it means to work as a taxi driver today, as the changes promoted by new technologies and their use in favor of creating new forms of precarious work also reflect on this professional category, affecting their daily work and

A percepção de graduandos sobre a psicologia organizacional e do trabalho / The perception of graduates on work and organizational psychology / La percepción de graduandos sobre la psicología organizacional y laboral

A Psicologia Organizacional e do Trabalho (POT) é permeada por uma série de julgamentos negativos e estigmas, principalmente acerca de seu papel intermediador de relações de exploração sofridas pelo trabalhador. Investigar as percepções que graduandos têm sobre a área pode trazer acesso ao que há de central entre as diversas formas de pensar o tema. Este trabalho buscou analisar as percepções de 100 graduandos de duas instituições de ensino superior (IES) do Centro-Oeste Paulista, uma pública e outra privada, acerca da importância da atuação do psicólogo em POT e o interesse desses discentes em atuarem futuramente na área, estabelecendo uma comparação entre os resultados com base nas IES e entre primeiro e quinto ano da graduação. Os graduandos responderam a dois questionários estruturados com perguntas abertas e fechadas. Os resultados apontaram uma maior valorização da área de POT na IES privada e no quinto ano. A maioria dos discentes do primeiro ano de graduação apresentou pouco conhecimento sobre a POT. Os estudantes da IES privada apresentaram maior interesse em atuar na área do que os discentes da IES pública. Quando perguntados se houve uma mudança de opinião após a realização das disciplinas, 49 alunos do quinto ano responderam positivamente e apenas um respondeu negativamente. As respostas dissertativas se dividiram entre visões positivas, neutras e negativas sobre a POT. Os resultados permitiram avaliação das percepções da POT entre os graduandos, bem como das transformações ocorridas pelo impacto das experiências acadêmicas vivenciadas.(AU)

Organizational and Work Psychology (OWP) is permeated by a series of negative judgments and stigmas, mainly about its role as an intermediary of relations exploiting workers. Investigating the perceptions undergraduates have about it can bring access to what is central among the different ways of thinking about the subject. This study sought to analyze the perceptions of 100 undergraduates from two higher education institutions (HEIs), one public and private in Midwestern São Paulo about the importance of psychologists' role in OWP and their interest in working in the area in the future, comparing the results per HEI and between the first and fifth year of graduation. Graduates answered two structured questionnaires with open and closed questions. Results pointed to a greater appreciation of OWP in the private HEI and in the fifth year. Most first-year undergraduate students had little knowledge about OWP. Students from the private HEI took greater interest in working in the area than students from the public HEI. When asked if taking the courses changed their opinions, 49 students responded positively and only one negatively. Participants' responses were divided into positive, neutra,l and negative views about OWP. Results evaluated the perceptions on OWP in undergraduates the changes due to the impact of academic experiences.(AU)

La Psicología Organizacional y Laboral (POT) está permeada por una serie de juicios negativos y estigmas, principalmente sobre su papel como intermediaria de las relaciones de explotación laboral. Investigar las percepciones que los estudiantes tienen sobre este campo puede brindar acceso a lo que es central entre las diferentes formas de pensar sobre el tema. Este estudio buscó analizar las percepciones de 100 graduandos de dos instituciones de educación superior (IES), una pública y otra privada, del medio oeste de São Paulo, acerca de la importancia del rol del psicólogo en POT y del interés por actuar en el área, estableciendo una comparación entre los resultados por tipo de IES y período del curso (el primer y quinto año de grado). Los graduandos respondieron a dos cuestionarios estructurados con preguntas abiertas y cerradas. Los resultados apuntan a una mayor valoración de POT en las IES privadas y en el quinto año. La mayoría de los estudiantes de primer año tenían poco conocimiento sobre POT. Los estudiantes de la IES privada estaban más interesados en trabajar en el área que los estudiantes de la IES pública. Cuando se les preguntó si hubo un cambio de opinión luego de cursar las asignaturas, 49 estudiantes del quinto año respondieron positivamente y solo uno respondió negativamente. Las respuestas del ensayo se dividieron en puntos de vista positivos, neutrales y negativos sobre POT. Los resultados permitieron evaluar las percepciones de POT entre los graduandos, así como evaluar los cambios ocurridos por el impacto de las experiencias académicas.(AU)