Explored relationship between employees' participation in quality circle activities and perceptions of the influence they have on their job, characteristics of their jobs, and overall job satisfaction. Involvement in a quality circle was significantly related to employees' perception of influence, and some job characteristics, but not to job…

The Occupational Work Ethic Inventory was completed by 1,151 workers from a broad spectrum of occupations (62.6%). Factor analysis yielded four constructs that define attributes measured by the instrument: interpersonal skills, initiative, dependability, and a combination of the negative items on the inventory. (SK)

Two studies involving 265 participants were conducted to assess the content and range of strategies used by employees to age successfully in the workplace. Study 1 included 64 individuals ranging in age from 23 to 61. These individuals were asked to list up to five activities they have pursued in five potentially important areas of development.…

A study of 319 human service organization workers was used to analyze the effects of multiple predictors (job, organization, and worker characteristics) on job satisfaction and commitment. Results show that skill variety and role ambiguity are the best predictors of satisfaction, while leadership and the organization's age are the best predictors…

Reasons for 107 job separations of competitively employed mentally retarded persons were analyzed. Employee-related reasons (e.g. attitude problems, skill or behavioral deficits) were responsible for 50% of separations with reasons outside of employee control responsible for the rest. Employee-related reasons were more probable for higher I.Q.…

A study compared attitudes of 20 incumbent fire captains and 11 supervisors about critical aspects of a fire captain's job. Results showed that they agree substantially about the criticality of tasks and moderately agree about Fire Captain attributes. (Contains 41 notes and references.) (JOW)

This article reviews three recent studies that identify the competencies necessary for successful employment, summarizes those that the studies identified as most critical, and offers suggestions for aiding young people to develop these competencies. Results show that employees need to have social skills, positive attitudes about work, and basic…

Although the three-component model of organizational commitment by Meyer and Allen (1991) posits that an employee can experience the three components concurrently, previous research has been largely variable-centered, looking at the antecedents and outcomes of each component separately. Two studies explored how the three components combine to…

There are three generations that exist in the workplace today: baby boomers, Gen X, and Gen Y. Each generation shows an entire spectrum of human values, attitudes and beliefs. This article describes the characteristic attitudes and expectations of each generation. The author examines the differences that cause conflict and describes coping…

Conducted a survey to identify skills and characteristics of high school graduates perceived most valuable by employers. The general skills of reading, listening, and speaking received the highest ratings, whereas specific job-related skills were rated lowest. Attitudes perceived as highly important included being dependable, staying with a task,…

Supervisory skills for dealing with rehabilitated mentally ill employees are suggested, including (1) criticize the performance, not the person; (2) couch corrective criticism in nonjudgmental terms; (3) discuss grievances immediately; (4) be consistent; (5) be relaxed; and (6) be an example for staff. (CT)

This article explores the role of the trainer in relation to the management of stress and its prevention and considers some of the available research in order to put the problem into perspective. (Author)

A study involved analysis of reading levels of occupational materials in a paper mill, a survey of employees' basic skill needs, and Test of Adult Basic Education scores for 196 workers. Materials were too difficult for one-third to read; however, many workers did not acknowledge they lacked reading skills necessary for their job tasks. (SK)

In an article reporting the results of a questionnaire, it was found that secretaries' knowledge of computers is bringing them expanded duties and higher-level responsibilities but not necessarily higher pay. It was found that secretaries are performing duties previously performed by managers. (CT)

The author explores some of the likely characteristics of our economy and the forces shaping jobs in the future; proposes a framework for thinking about what it will take to perform those jobs; and responds to the question "What skills will we need to survive and succeed in the future?" (CT)