The impacts of COVID-19 on workers and workplaces across the globe have been dramatic. This broad review of prior research rooted in work and organizational psychology, and related fields, is intended to make sense of the implications for employees, teams, and work organizations. This review and preview of relevant literatures focuses on (a) emergent changes in work practices (e.g., working from home, virtual teamwork) and (b) emergent changes for workers (e.g., social distancing, stress, and unemployment). In addition, potential moderating factors (demographic characteristics, individual differences, and organizational norms) are examined given the likelihood that COVID-19 will generate disparate effects. This broad-scope overview provides an integrative approach for considering the implications of COVID-19 for work, workers, and organizations while also identifying issues for future research and insights to inform solutions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Implementing collaborative robots in warehouse operations requires employees to engage in order picking alongside robots, which raises concerns about employees' perception of being 'robotised'. This study explores the interplay between workload and autonomy in the context of Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV)-assisted order picking, aiming to understand their joint impact on employees' boredom and performance. In a unique controlled laboratory experiment conducted within an experimental warehouse environment, 352 order pickers interacted with an actual AGV to retrieve items from various aisles and deliver them to a depot station. Using a 2 × 2 between subject design, participants were assigned to either pick 77 products (low workload) or 231 products (high workload), and to walk behind the AGV (low autonomy) or walk in front of the AGV (high autonomy). Participants in the high-workload low-autonomy condition were less bored but performed poorer than those in the low-workload low-autonomy condition. No significant differences in boredom and performance between the low-workload high-autonomy condition and the high-workload high-autonomy condition were found. Our findings emphasise the importance of considering the effects on employees when implementing AGV-assisted order picking. To alleviate boredom among order pickers due to such tasks, it is important to provide autonomy while carefully managing workload levels to maintain optimal performance.
Purpose This study adopts a person-centered perspective to explore how entrepreneurs combine multiple proactive behavioral strategies across the business, personal and business-environment domains. We research whether certain combinations of proactive behavioral strategies (i.e. seeking resources, optimizing demands, seeking challenges, idea generation, environmental exploration, network crafting, self-insight and boundary management) relate to well-being and business performance. Moreover, we investigate whether entrepreneurs’ daily use of these strategies aligns with their general profiles. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 286 Dutch entrepreneurs participated in a general survey study. Moreover, 49 of these entrepreneurs also participated in a six-day diary study ( N = 255). Latent profile analysis was used to find specific profiles and multilevel regression to understand the daily patterns. Findings We uncovered four meaningful profiles: the minimum business effort entrepreneurs, the solid and self-caring entrepreneurs, the needy and self-ignorant entrepreneurs and the proactive business entrepreneurs, each with different outcomes in business performance and well-being. Daily proactive behavior showed stability, suggesting a foundation deeply rooted in their general proactive behavior. Originality/value The study highlights the value of proactive strategies across all life domains, as profiles encompassing this combination show greater entrepreneurial success.
The psychometric qualities of measurement instruments in diary studies: an illustration on the basis of the work engagement scale The psychometric qualities of measurement instruments in diary studies: an illustration on the basis of the work engagement scale Despite the emerging popularity of diary studies, until now little attention has been paid to the psychometric properties of measures used in diary studies. When the time frame of questionnaires in diary studies is adapted, it is important to examine whether the factor structure remains the same. The aim of this article is to introduce a method to examine the factor structure of daily variables. This method will be illustrated by performing a multilevel confirmative factor analysis on the questionnaire used to measure daily work engagement. The results showed that daily work engagement can be measured by adapting the time frame of the questionnaire to measure enduring work engagement, although it is eligible to replace one of the nine items.
The purpose of this volume is to showcase alternative theoretical and methodological approaches to work and family research, and present methodological alternatives to the widely known shortcomings of current research on work and the family. In the first part of the book contributors consider various theoretical perspectives including: Positive Organizational Psychology System Theory Multi-Level Theoretical Models Dyadic Study Designs The chapters in Part Two consider a number of methodological issues including: key issues pertaining to sampling, the role of diary studies, Case Cross-over designs, Biomarkers, and Cross-Domain and Within-Domain Relations. Contributors also elaborate the conceptual and logistical issues involved in incorporating novel measurement approaches. The book will be of essential reading for researchers and students in work and organizational psychology, and related disciplines.
