(Purpose) The purpose of this study was to explore reasons why many academics "hate" their jobs by examining the current state of the academy--its values, culture, and possibilities. (Methodology) Through pragmatic and philosophical argument, the authors contend that the academy fosters a pedagogy (defined broadly) of disengagement, and…

It is expected that by 1990 the majority of clerical and managerial workers in North America will use computers in their daily work. An integrative model was developed which views quality of work life as an ever changing dimension influenced by computerization and by perception of career success and non-work factors. To test this model, a study…

Examines retirement as a complex social process in Canada and the United States, focusing on social forces and trends leading society away from mandatory retirement and toward more flexible retirement. Functions that counselors can perform in preparing people for realities of retirement are suggested. Policy implications for Canada are indicated.…

A study examined community, workplace, and social issues faced by professionals in education, health, human services, and law enforcement in eight rural British Columbia (Canada) communities. Surveys and interviews with 36 professionals revealed a dissonance between views of rural issues in the literature and views of local practitioners. The…

The effects of three types of work-life conflict in Canada were examined by using data from a set of work and family studies that were conducted in 1991 and 2001. The studies focused on the effects of the following types of conflict: (1) work overload; (2) work-to-family interference (where work gets in the way of family); and (3) family-to-work…

Surveyed 229 American and 339 Canadian correctional officers so as to ascertain cross cultural similarities and differences. Results indicate that most of the similarities related to attitudes toward correctional work, such as job satisfaction, custody orientation, and quality of working life. Differences were related to administrative practices…

Technological innovation affects the structure and content of jobs. Research indicates that there is a need for a theory of technological innovation and strategic human resource management considering several factors, such as an employee's beliefs about the effect of technological innovations on the quality of work life and work content.…

Although employment can be an exciting challenge, it can also induce stress. This digest examines some of the characteristics of job-related stress. Three concepts characterize the association of work, mental health, and physical health. (1) Stress is an interaction between individuals and any source of environmental demand. (2) A stressor is an…

Today the auto industry is going through the most radical restructuring it has experienced since its birth. Included in this upheaval is a dramatic reorganization of the workplace, and technology has been both a catalyst and a central part of such change. The issues involved touch every facet of workplace life: job classifications and demarcation…

The quality of jobs in nonprofit organizations in Canada was examined through a review of data from Canada's Workplace and Employer Survey, which collected data from a nationally representative sample of Canadian workplaces and paid employees in those workplaces. Key findings of the analysis were as follows: (1) overall, compared to the for-profit…

The Changing Employment Relationships Project examined the importance of good employment relationships for workers, employers, and public policy. A nationally representative sample of 2,500 employed Canadians was surveyed, and 8 focus groups were conducted. The research findings were analyzed to explain the multidimensional nature of the…

The issue of increasing productivity was examined from an interdisciplinary perspective focusing on the impact of workplace practices on various productivity-related outcomes. First, the following methodological issues were discussed: defining workplace practices that affect productivity; linking employer behavior and organizational performance;…

This book contains nine papers devoted to the psychological experience of youth employment and its role in shaping future employment experiences and expectations. "Introduction" (Julian Barling, E. Kevin Kelloway) emphasizes the diversity of young people as a group and the diversity of individual youth's employment experience. "The…