Cultural differences on work relations in Chinese companies operating in Ghana: A cross-cultural study of Chinese and Ghanaian workers.

Employees' cultural values and characteristics have a significant impact on work values and outcomes. Due to the strong economic ties between China and Ghana, several Chinese companies establish their branches in Ghana and employ Ghanaians to work with them. However, the role of cultural values in Chinese-Ghanaian work relationships have not been investigated. Through a qualitative lens, we investigated the cultural influence on the working relationship between Ghanaians and Chinese at a Chinese company in Ghana. The study was conducted at Asogli Thermal Plant using a case study. This is one of the biggest Chinese companies in Ghana and has a large proportion of both Chinese and Ghanaian workers. A total of 18 participants were interviewed, and data were analysed thematically. We found that Ghanaians and Chinese staff at the Thermal Plant are sometimes unable to have a collective discourse on their needs due to language barriers. Also, cultural interpretation of politeness denied them many avenues to form a strong workers' cooperation to seek their mutual needs. These differences affect their collaboration and bonding as co-workers. To foster collaborations and good cooperation between Chinese and Ghanaian co-workers, management of such companies are advised to implement an intentional mechanism that reduces the impact of cultural differences on work relations. Such organisations need to train all staff intermittently on diversity, inclusion, and cultural values of Ghana and China in order to help staff cultivate versatility, awareness, and acceptance of alternative values.

Work design, employee well-being, and retention intention: A case study of China's young workforce.

China's growing workforce of young employees has propelled its economy towards becoming a global power. However, with evolving workplace difficulties and uncertainties, the rate of employee turnover is also rising, which affects every department in companies, in addition to impacting costs and finances. This study explored the influences of five core job characteristics, work relationships, and work conditions on young Chinese employees' retention intentions, mediated by employee well-being. Using a quantitative cross-sectional approach, 804 responses were obtained from young Chinese workers. We also employed partial least squares structural equation modeling to analyze and forecast the extent of the impact of this study's independent variables. The empirical findings revealed that job autonomy, skill variety, task significance, feedback, work relationships, and work conditions indirectly influenced the retention intentions of young workers in China, with employee well-being acting as a mediator. However, the impact of task identity on employee well-being and retention intentions was insignificant. Our study contributes to the literature on employee retention intentions by demonstrating the importance of young employees' perceptions of work design-related aspects and extending the application of the job characteristics model.

An Explanatory Model of Work-family Conflict and Resilience as Predictors of Job Satisfaction in Nurses: The Mediating Role of Work Engagement and Communication Skills.

BACKGROUND: The Job Demands and Resources (JD-R) model is used to examine predictors of well-being, work engagement, and individual or organizational outcomes. According to the model, work engagement and communication skills play a mediating role between work-family conflict and resilience to job satisfaction in nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted considering 431 Peruvian nurses of mean age (M = 40.31 years; SD = 10.94) ranging from 22 to 68 years working in public hospitals in the Lima region. Data were collected using a self-reported form of the Job Satisfaction Scale, communication skills, work engagement, work-family conflict, and resilience. The theoretical model was evaluated using structural equation modeling (SEM). RESULTS: A theoretical model with adequate fit was obtained [χ2(2) = 6.0, P < .001, CFI = 0.995, RMSEA = 0.068, SRMR = 0.015]. Results indicated an inverse relationship between work-family conflict with communication skills (ß = -.24, P < .001) and work engagement (ß = -.10, P = .003). Likewise, resilience had an influence on communication skills (ß = .55, P < .001) and work engagement (ß = .33, P < .001). In addition, the model explains 71% of job satisfaction. Also, the results indicate the influence of work-family conflict and resilience through the mediating role of work engagement and work-family conflict on job satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The model confirmed that work engagement and communication skills are valid moderators to mitigate work-family conflict and strengthen resilience that favors job satisfaction in nurses.

Occupational Stress and Personality in Medical Doctors from Romania.

Occupational stress amongst doctors has been intensively studied as doctors are exposed to several stress factors daily. The purpose of this study was to investigate if there are associations between personality dimensions and the factors that generate stress at work. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 280 medical doctors from Romania between February 2021 and September 2021 who were evaluated using the DECAS and ASSET Scales. Our results showed that the agreeableness and emotional stability dimensions of personality, according to the Big Five model, were statistically associated with work relationships (A p < 0.0001; ES p = 0.0005), work-life balance (A p = 0.008; ES p = 0.01), overload (A p = 0.01; ES p = 0.001), job security (A p < 0.0001; ES p = 0.002), job control (A p = 0.001; ES p = 0.009), resources and communication (A p = 0.0002; ES p < 0.0001), and job conditions (A p = 0.005; ES p = 0.03). The conscientiousness dimension was statistically associated with job control (p = 0.02). Doctors from different specialties experienced stress differently, with psychiatrists and doctors from preclinical specialties reporting the lowest levels of stress. Internists and surgeons reported higher levels of stress. This study showed that the dimensions of agreeableness and emotional stability were both associated with variables indicative of the level of stress felt at work.

"How about We Give It a Go?": A Case Study on Supporting Breastfeeding Families in an Australian Child Care Centre.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continuation of breastfeeding for up to two years. Formal child care has an important role in supporting breastfeeding, as many Australian infants commence care before two years of age. Currently, little is known about support or barriers in child care contexts. The present qualitative instrumental case study explores practices which protect, promote and support breastfeeding at a child care centre located in the Australian Capital Territory's outer suburbs. Extending from a previously published collective case study, a cultural-institutional focus of analysis was used to explore the roles of proximity, flexibility and communication in supporting breastfeeding within a child care centre located close to an infant's home. Interviews with centre staff and mothers, triangulated with observations of the centre environment and policy documents provide insight into the environment. Affirming the roles of flexibility in routine and staff rostering and two-way communication, findings suggest longer-term benefits may be derived from selecting a child care centre close to an infant's home, provided mothers can overcome barriers to breastmilk expression in the workplace. The study recognises the role of non-lactating caregivers in the transition to formal child care, and of the support culture for educators who breastfeed. This study extends the knowledge base of breastfeeding support interventions in the child care setting to inform future research and policy.

Perioperative changes of the slope in the preload recruitable stroke work relationship by a single-beat technique after mitral valve surgery in functional mitral regurgitation with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES: The slope in the preload recruitable stroke work relationship is a highly linear, load-insensitive contractile parameter. However, the perioperative change of the slope has not been reported before. We examined the perioperative slope from a steady-state single beat in patients with functional mitral regurgitation and assessed the correlation with brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. METHODS: The study included 16 patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and refractory heart failure: 10 patients underwent mitral valve plasty and left ventricular plasty (MVP + LVP group) and 6 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement and papillary muscle tugging approximation (MVR + PMTA group). The left ventricular ejection fraction was assessed by the modified Simpson method; the slope was assessed by the single-beat technique using transthoracic echocardiography. BNP levels were measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay. RESULTS: The left ventricular ejection fraction and slope did not significantly change from pre- to early post-surgery in the MVP + LVP group. Both the left ventricular ejection fraction and slope significantly increased 6 months after surgery in the MVR + PMTA group. Postoperative BNP level was low in the MVR + PMTA group. While the postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction did not correlate with BNP levels, the postoperative slope significantly correlated with BNP level after surgery in the MVP + LVP group and in the total functional mitral regurgitation group. CONCLUSIONS: The change of slope was dependent on surgical procedures. In functional mitral regurgitation, the slope may be a more sensitive parameter in reflecting the left ventricular contractile function than the left ventricular ejection fraction.

Stress, anxiety and depression in clinical nurses in Vietnam: a cross-sectional survey and cluster analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hospital nurses are exposed to various work-related factors that may be associated with increased risk of developing different mental disorders. Empirical evidence on the prevalence and correlates of individual mental health problems such as stress, anxiety and depression is widely reported, while a combined pattern of these conditions is unknown. This study aims to examine the co-occurrence of stress, anxiety and depression among clinical nurses, and to explore socio-demographic characteristics of, and working conditions experienced by, nurses that may be associated with these three mental health conditions. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was implemented in one tertiary hospital in Hanoi city, Vietnam, from May to September 2015. A self-reported questionnaire including a short version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale 21 items and questions on demographic and work-related characteristics was delivered to 787 registered nurses. 600 completed questionnaires was used in the final analysis (76.2% response rate). The two-step clustering analysis was performed to identify sub groups. Chi square test and post hoc ANOVA analysis with Bonferroni correction were used to examine differences in psychological status, demographic characteristics and working conditions among the clusters (two-tailed p < 0.05). RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported stress, anxiety and depression were 18.5%, 39.8% and 13.2%, respectively. 45.3% participants reported symptoms of at least one mental disorder, 7.3% had all three. Nurses in the first cluster (high prevalence of mental disorders), had high task demand and conflict at work with low job control and reward. The second cluster nurses (moderate percentage of mental strain) were significantly older and in marital relationship, high task demand and job control, and presence of chronic diseases. The lowest proportion of self-perceived mental disorders were observed in the cluster three who were younger and had fewer years of services, moderate task demand and low job control and better physical health in comparison with those in the other two clusters (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Stress, anxiety and depression were prevalent among clinical nurses. Heterogeneity in demographic characteristics and working conditions were observed across clusters with different patterns of mental disorders. Institutional effort should be emphasized to support nurses in their career development to reduce psychological strains.

Sentidos do trabalho na percepção de pessoas que exercem trabalho comum / Meaning of work in the perception of people who carry out common work

O trabalho comum é entendido como algo repetitivo, maçante, muitas vezes perigoso, penoso, sujo e fisicamente esgotante. Diante dessas características, ele passa despercebido pela sociedade frente à invisibilidade pública e ao desprestígio social que lhe é atrelado. Para tanto, este estudo busca analisar os sentidos do trabalho para aqueles que exercem esses trabalhos. Por meio de uma pesquisa qualitativa, foram realizadas 32 entrevistas com trabalhadores que exercem trabalhos comuns na região Norte do estado do Rio Grande do Sul. As entrevistas foram realizadas com base em um roteiro semiestruturado, gravadas, transcritas e analisadas por meio da técnica de análise de conteúdo, com o auxílio do software Max-Qda. O trabalho apresentou-se como central na vida dos pesquisados, estando relacionado à sobrevivência, inserção social e ao prazer em realizar as atividades que lhes são atribuídas. Para tanto, independentemente da função que ocupam e do nível de instrução que possuem, o trabalho que exercem tem uma finalidade e um valor para sociedade.

Common work is understood as repetitive, dull, often dangerous, painful, dirty, and physically grueling. In face of these characteristics, the common work goes unnoticed by the society in front of the public invisibility and the social discredit that is attached to it. Therefore, this study seeks to analyze the meaning of work for professionals who carry out common work. Through a qualitative research, 32 interviews were carried out with workers who performed common work in the northern region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Interviews were conducted based on a semi-structured script, recorded, transcribed and analyzed using the analysis technique with the help of Max-Qda software. The work presented as central in the life of the researched ones, being related to the survival, social insertion and pleasure in carrying out the activities that are attributed to them. For doing so, regardless of the function they occupy and the level of education they have, the work they carry out has a purpose and a value for society.

Cinco temas centrais na constituição da relação educação-trabalho no brasil / Five central themes in the constitution of the education-work relationship in brazil

RESUMO: Apresentando cinco temas centrais no debate sobre a relação educação-trabalho no Brasil, este artigo dá relevo ao fundamento sobre o qual eles estão assentados. Tais temas - a teoria do capital humano; a escola como reprodução; a dualidade estrutural da educação; a perspectiva marxista sobre o papel do trabalho na escola; e a crise do trabalho - ganham evidência a partir da década de 1970 fundados numa nova possibilidade que emerge no discurso educacional: o mundo do trabalho pode, ou deve, impor demandas à escola nacional, alterando sua organização e suas práticas. A tese defendida circunscreve o objeto partilhado por este campo e diz que a possibilidade mencionada é precisamente aquilo a que se dá o nome de educação para o trabalho.

ABSTRACT: Presenting five central themes in the debate about the education-work relationship in Brazil, this paper highlights the foundation over which they are seated. These themes - the human capital theory; school as reproduction; education's structural duality; the work crisis - gain evidence in the 1970s, founded by a new possibility that emerges from educational discourse: the work world can, or must, impose demands to national school, altering its organization and practices. The thesis defended here circumscribes the object shared by this field and states that the mentioned possibility is precisely what is called education for work.

Treinamento de habilidades sociais: avaliação de um programa de desenvolvimento interpessoal profissional para universitários de ciências exatas / Social skills training: evaluation of an interpersonal professional development program for undergraduates of exact Sciences cources

The importance of interpersonal work relationships has brought new demands for the professional development of college students, specifically, in relation to the teaching and development of interpersonal skills coupled with academic and technical skills. This study evaluated a social skills training program with students from Exact Sciences careers. Participants were 35 undergraduates, 23 males and 12 females, distributed in three different groups of consecutive interventions. The students were evaluated with Social Skills Inventory (IHS) before, in a intermediate session, immediately after and three months after the intervention program. The analysis in group and individually showed significant acquisitions in social skills and their maintenance, especially in the total score and F1 - Self-affirmation when coping with risk and F4 - Exposure of self with strangers and in new situations subscales of social skills. These results indicated the efficiency and effectiveness of an interpersonal professional development program for undergraduates in transition to labor market and suggest new research questions

The importance of interpersonal work relationships has brought new demands for the professional development of college students, specifically, in relation to the teaching and development of interpersonal skills coupled with academic and technical skills. This study evaluated a social skills training program with students from Exact Sciences careers. Participants were 35 undergraduates, 23 males and 12 females, distributed in three different groups of consecutive interventions. The students were evaluated with Social Skills Inventory (IHS) before, in a intermediate session, immediately after and three months after the intervention program. The analysis in group and individually showed significant acquisitions in social skills and their maintenance, especially in the total score and F1 - Self-affirmation when coping with risk and F4 - Exposure of self with strangers and in new situations subscales of social skills. These results indicated the efficiency and effectiveness of an interpersonal professional development program for undergraduates in transition to labor market and suggest new research questions

O agir do profissional de saúde potencializado pelo coletivo de trabalho

Considerando a centralidade do trabalho na vida dos sujeitos e o papel do trabalho como determinante da saúde, realizou-se um estudo qualitativo com profissionais de saúde da enfermaria de Pediatria do Instituto Nacional de Traumatologia e Ortopedia, que conta com equipe multidisciplinar. Este estudo analisou as reuniões semanais, denominadas na pesquisa conversas sobre a atividade, que tiveram a intenção de potencializar a interação da equipe, partindo da complexidade da relação entre saúde e trabalho assumindo como categoria fundamental o processo de trabalho. Inspirou-se na concepção de saúde defendida por Canguilhem, que afirma a capacidade dos sujeitos de se reinventarem diante das infidelidades do meio. Baseou-se em conceitos trazidos pelo campo da Saúde do Trabalhador, criado sob a influência do Modelo Operário Italiano, que marca a luta dos trabalhadores por melhores condições de trabalho e saúde. Trouxe a discussão sobre interdisciplinaridade e a importância da equipe no trabalho em saúde para que se reflita no cuidado integral. O objetivo geral foi analisar o agir dos profissionais de saúde, com enfoque na relação saúde trabalho: conhecer a concepção dos profissionais de saúde sobre a relação saúde e trabalho;identificar os desafios do trabalho em equipe e sua influência no ato de cuidar; analisar o potencial das reuniões interdisciplinares na construção de coletivos de trabalho e no aumento do poder de agir dos profissionais. O percurso metodológico se inicia com a revisão bibliográfica acerca da interdisciplinaridade, parte para a sistematização dos dados produzidos nas conversas sobre a atividade e se complementa com a realização de entrevistas com profissionais da equipe...

Considering the centrality of work in the subjects' lives and the role of work as adeterminant of health, a qualitative study was carried out with health professionals ofthe pediatric ward of the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, which hasa multidisciplinary team. This study analyzed the weekly meetings, called in theresearch conversations about the activity, that had the intention to potentiate theinteraction of the team, starting from the complexity of the relation between health andwork, assuming as a fundamental category the work process. It was inspired by theconception of health advocated by Canguilhem, which affirms the ability of subjects toreinvent themselves in the face of the infidelities of the environment. It was based onconcepts brought by the Occupational Health field, created under the influence of theItalian Worker Model, which marks the struggle of workers for better working andhealth conditions. It brought the discussion about interdisciplinarity and the importanceof the team in the health work so that it is reflected in the integral care. The generalobjective was to analyze the actions of health professionals, with a focus on the healthworkrelation: to know the conception of the health professionals about the relationhealth and work; Identify the challenges of teamwork and their influence on caring; Toanalyze the potential of interdisciplinary meetings in the construction of work groupsand in the increase of the professionals' power of action. The methodological coursebegins with a bibliographical review about interdisciplinarity, then makes thesystematization of the data produced in the conversations about the activity and iscomplemented by interviews with professionals of the team...

Work Characteristics and Fathers' Vocabulary to Infants in African American Families.

Fathers' vocabulary to infants has been linked in the literature to early child language development, however, little is known about the variability in fathers' language behavior. This study considered associations between fathers' work characteristics and fathers' vocabulary among a sample of employed African American fathers of 6-month old infants who were living in low-income rural communities. After controlling for family and individual factors, we found that fathers who worked nonstandard shifts and reported more job flexibility used more diverse vocabulary with their infants.

Minha família é legal? A família no imaginário infantil

Neste artigo analisa-se o olhar dos filhos sobre a família contemporânea. Objetiva-se compreender como a criança representa e vivencia sua família, e como percebe a articulação entre trabalho, família e seu mundo pessoal. Solicitadas a elaborar uma redação com o tema "Minha família", 52 crianças participaram de uma pesquisa exploratória. A análise de conteúdo das redações revelou seis categorias de significados atribuídos à família: conflitos, trabalho, lazer, valores, união familiar e desapego. Entre as soluções encontradas pelas crianças para fazer face aos fatores estressantes vinculados à vida familiar, destacaram-se o olhar favorável sobre o trabalho dos pais e a tendência infantil de aproveitar os pontos positivos da convivência familiar e enfatizar os fatores de suporte, mantendo sua família na função de continente para suas ansiedades. Fundamentado no imaginário infantil, o estudo contribui para uma melhor compreensão da dinâmica familiar e da estruturação do sujeito na atualidade.(AU)

The purpose of this paper is to analyze children's views concerning the contemporary family. The goal is to understand how children represent their families and how they perceive the links between work, family and their own personal worlds. Required to write an essay on the subject "My family", 52 children participated in this exploratory research. An analysis of the content of the essays revealed six categories of meanings ascribed to the family: conflict, work, leisure, values, family union and detachment. In order to cope with stressful family life, children provided several solutions. Greater emphasis was accorded to three of these solutions: a favorable view of their parents' work, the tendency to take advantage of the positive aspects of family companionship and emphasizing the supportive features. Thus, children kept their families functioning as a vessel for their anxieties. Based on the child's imaginary, this study contributes to a better understanding of family dynamics and the structuring of the subject in the present day.(AU)

Minha família é legal: A família no imaginário infantil / Is my family cool: The family in the child's imaginary

Neste artigo analisa-se o olhar dos filhos sobre a família contemporânea. Objetiva-se compreender como a criança representa e vivencia sua família, e como percebe a articulação entre trabalho, família e seu mundo pessoal. Solicitadas a elaborar uma redação com o tema "Minha família", 52 crianças participaram de uma pesquisa exploratória. A análise de conteúdo das redações revelou seis categorias de significados atribuídos à família: conflitos, trabalho, lazer, valores, união familiar e desapego. Entre as soluções encontradas pelas crianças para fazer face aos fatores estressantes vinculados à vida familiar, destacaram-se o olhar favorável sobre o trabalho dos pais e a tendência infantil de aproveitar os pontos positivos da convivência familiar e enfatizar os fatores de suporte, mantendo sua família na função de continente para suas ansiedades. Fundamentado no imaginário infantil, o estudo contribui para uma melhor compreensão da dinâmica familiar e da estruturação do sujeito na atualidade.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze children's views concerning the contemporary family. The goal is to understand how children represent their families and how they perceive the links between work, family and their own personal worlds. Required to write an essay on the subject "My family", 52 children participated in this exploratory research. An analysis of the content of the essays revealed six categories of meanings ascribed to the family: conflict, work, leisure, values, family union and detachment. In order to cope with stressful family life, children provided several solutions. Greater emphasis was accorded to three of these solutions: a favorable view of their parents' work, the tendency to take advantage of the positive aspects of family companionship and emphasizing the supportive features. Thus, children kept their families functioning as a vessel for their anxieties. Based on the child's imaginary, this study contributes to a better understanding of family dynamics and the structuring of the subject in the present day.

Trabalho noturno e o novo papel paterno: uma interface difícil / Working night shifts and the co-parenting role for fathers: a difficult balancing act

Aumentou a demanda por trabalhadores noturnos, ao mesmo tempo em que o papel masculino familiar se ampliou. Neste estudo, objetivou-se comparar as condições de trabalho, o bem-estar pessoal e o envolvimento familiar entre pais dos turnos diurno (n=36) e noturno (n=22), que preencheram um questionário composto por diferentes escalas. Comparados aos trabalhadores do turno diurno, os do noturno relataram ter maior apoio dos colegas de trabalho e dos supervisores, maior satisfação quanto aos benefícios e salário, menor freqüência de interrupções durante o expediente de trabalho, mas menor satisfação quanto ao turno em que trabalhavam e menos tempo com os filhos. Os dois grupos de trabalhadores apresentaram pontuação média no nível de Stress e na satisfação quanto ao envolvimento familiar. Apesar de condições de trabalho mais favoráveis, os pais do noturno estavam insatisfeitos com seu turno, aparentemente em função da falta de tempo com familiares.

The demand for night shift workers is increasing at the same time as the role of the father within the family has expanded. The objective of this study was to compare workplace conditions, personal well-being and family involvement between fathers working on the day shift (n=36) and on night shift (n=22). Workers completed a questionnaire that used various scales to evaluate these issues. Compared to the day shift workers, the night shift workers indicated that they received greater support from work colleagues and supervisors, felt more satisfied with their benefits and salary and had a lower frequency of interruptions during the workday, but felt less satisfied about the shift they worked and about spending less time with their children. With regard to family involvement, both groups experienced moderate to high levels of stress and only a moderate level of satisfaction. Despite the more favorable working conditions, fathers on the night shift were less satisfied with their work hours, seemingly due to the lack of time spent with family members.