Measuring individual and work-related correlates of employees’ well-being with a short form of the psychological general well-being index: A pilot validation study in Slovenia

The Job Perception Inventory: considering human factors and needs in the design of human-AI work

Introduction

Artificial intelligence (AI) is seen as a driver of change, especially in the context of business, due to its progressive development and increasing connectivity in operational practice. Although it changes businesses and organizations vastly, the impact of AI implementation on human workers with their needs, skills, and job identity is less considered in the development and implementation process. Focusing on humans, however, enables unlocking synergies as well as desirable individual and organizational outcomes.

Methods

The objective of the present study is (a) to develop a survey-based inventory from the literature on work research and b) a first validation with employees encountering an AI application. The Job Perception Inventory (JOPI) functions as a work-analytical tool to support the human-centered implementation and application of intelligent technologies. It is composed of established and self-developed scales, measuring four sections of work characteristics, job identity, perception of the workplace, and the evaluation of the introduced AI.

Results

Overall, the results from the first study from a series of studies presented in this article indicate a coherent survey inventory with reliable scales that can now be used for AI implementation projects.

Discussion

Finally, the need and relevance of the JOPI are discussed against the background of the manufacturing industry.

Can we reduce psychosomatic symptoms and work presenteeism with physical activity?

BACKGROUND: Past studies have tended to consider the relationships between presenteeism, physical activity and psychosomatic symptoms in a partial manner and not as a whole. OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between physical activity, psychosomatic symptoms and presenteeism, in order to increase the visibility of presenteeism and promote workplace health. METHODS: Two questionnaires (Patient Health Questionnaire and Work Limitations Questionnaire) with a set of physical activity questions were administered on the sample of 514 employees. RESULTS: The results showed a statistically significant relationship between presenteeism and some variables of physical activity, as well as between presenteeism and psychosomatic symptoms. Further results showed a statistically significant association between psychosomatic symptoms and some variables of physical activity. General evaluation (adequacy) of physical activity, and lack of general, aerobic physical activity proved to be important predictors of presenteeism, while general, aerobic physical activity also predicted psychosomatic symptoms. Analysis of the results revealed that psychosomatic symptoms moderate the relationship between physical activity and presenteeism. CONCLUSIONS: The article points out that employees with health problems have a lower percentage of productive time than healthy employees. However, developing an active lifestyle can be a cost-effective measure to cope with presenteeism and promote psychophysical health among employees.

Feedback seeking and subjective well-being at work: The role of career adaptability and person-environment fit

BACKGROUND: With the acceleration of the pace of life and the fierce competition for talents, role Conflicts and pressures caused by work and family will not only affect employees’ performance, but also reduce their job satisfaction and subjective well-being. So, as an important field for individuals, workplace factor also has an important impact on individual subjective well-being. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, we explored the relationship between feedback seeking and subjective well-being and the role of career adaptability and P-E fit in this process. METHODS: In this study, we used a moderated mediation approach to test how employee’s workplace feedback seeking affect their subjective well-being and used a quantitative survey to measure these variables. RESULTS: The results showed that both feedback monitoring and feedback inquiry ultimately improve subjective well-being through positive prediction of career adaptability. In addition, we found the moderation effect of P-E fit, when P-E fit is low, the relationship between feedback seeking and career adaptability becomes stronger. CONCLUSIONS: As the results, feedback seeking has a positive impact on employees’ subjective well-being by increasing their career adaptability. In workplace, employees can actively seek for two kinds of feedback to improve their career adaptability and thus improve their well-being.

Back pain in a group of computer workers assessed in a physiotherapy unit

BACKGROUND: Modern society work implies computer-based activities generating back pain because of prolonged sitting positions and non-ergonomic postures. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyse the back-pain characteristics in a group of office workers in comparison with potential risk factors. METHODS: The design of the study was retrospective; a group of 109 computer workers with back pain was selected from a private physiotherapy unit between Jan 2018 - Dec 2019. Anthropometric, occupational and behaviour data, symptoms, the diagnosis on the first visit, previous medical diagnosis and specific physical activities were collected from medical records. RESULTS: The studied group (research sample) is formed of information technology operators, engineers and economists, had the mean age 38.91±10.25, with 14.04±9.12 years seniority at work. Most of them addressed to the physiotherapist directly, or they were referred by their family physician; 60% had MRI investigation on the first physiotherapy visit with no medical referral or diagnosis. The symptoms were not reported to the occupational physician. The back pain appeared independent of BMI; the low back pain had higher prevalence in males. Patients reported 6 months of back pain in 57,8% of all cases. The pain was favoured by continuous activity, more than 4 hours, in the sitting posture. CONCLUSIONS: A complex and interdisciplinary team that included an occupational physician, an ergonomist and a physiotherapist could prevent and control back pain in computer workers. Workplace conditions adaptation, proper physiotherapy and periodical medical check-ups could improve the health status of these workers.