Manuela Morf

Job satisfaction among chairs of surgery from Europe and North America

BACKGROUND Strong evidence exists associating job satisfaction and risk of burnout with productivity, efficiency, and creativity in many organizations. However no data are available assessing chairs of surgery. This study assessed job satisfaction and risk for burnout of surgical chairs from Europe and North America and identified contributing factors. METHODS A survey among 650 chairs in surgery from 23 European and 2 North American countries was conducted in 2012. Satisfaction at work was analyzed using the validated Global Job Satisfaction (GJS) instrument and the abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory. Additional items targeting personal and environmental factors were included. RESULTS The rate of chairs reached successfully was 86%, the overall response rate was 29% (188/650), with 1% female. Median age was 58 years. 11% of chairs were dissatisfied with work. Younger age and being fewer years in practice as a chair was associated with higher job satisfaction (P = .054 and P = .003). Surgical specialty with the greatest median GJS score was hepatopancreatobiliary, whereas vascular surgery scored lowest. Chairs desire to devote 20% more of their time on research. Clerical support as well as the ability to be innovative was suggested by 51% and 45%, respectively, to improve job satisfaction. Compared with Europeans, North American chairs were overall more satisfied and would recommend their job to their children. CONCLUSION North American chairs seem to be more satisfied at work and at less risk for burnout than European chairs. The overall job satisfaction was greater among chairs compared with previously published reports of young, board-certified surgeons or residents (89% vs 87% and 66%, respectively). The superior satisfaction in chairs is strongest related to career achievements, innovation, and lifestyle.

The double psychological contracts of temporary agency workers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how temporary agency workers’ job attitudes are influenced by the fulfilment of the psychological contract; a set of employees’ expectations, formed with the temporary work agency and its client: the host organisation. Design/methodology/approach – The paper estimated moderated regressions with data collected through an online survey of 352 temporary agency workers employed by a large temporary work agency in Switzerland. Findings – Results suggest that temporary agency workers’ job satisfaction, commitment towards the host organisation, and intentions to stay with the temporary work agency relate positively to the fulfilment of the psychological contract by both organisations. Additionally, reported spill-over-effects imply that the fulfilment of the psychological contract by one organisation moderates job attitudes towards the other organisations. Research limitations/implications – Results of the explorative study reveal that future research should ...

Task variety and counterproductive work behavior

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between task variety and counterproductive work behavior (CWB) and the relationship between change in task variety and change in CWB. CWB is proposed as being a behavior that serves as an outlet by which employees can express displeasure and acts as a substitute for a lack of interest when task variety is low. Design/methodology/approach This study analyzed survey data that were collected at two points in time (T1 and T2) from 515 employees with different occupations working in Switzerland. Findings Task variety at T1 negatively related to organizational CWB (CWB-O) at T2 and interpersonal CWB (CWB-I) at T2. Task variety at T1 was also related to a change in CWB-O and a change in CWB-I. However, change in task variety showed a non-significant relationship to change in CWB-O and change in CWB-I. Research limitations/implications Results indicated that employees tend to respond with CWB when task variety is permanently low and that CWB may even increase over time. Further studies that examine the dynamics between task variety and CWB are therefore recommended. Practical implications Findings inform the practice on the potentially harmful effects of unstimulating work designs and therefore have implications for how to better prevent CWB. Originality/value The two-wave data collection allowed for differentiation between the effect of the baseline level of task variety at T1 on CWB at T2 and the effect of a change in task variety on a change in CWB.

Effects of Underload and Overload on Job Satisfaction and Stress: How Important is Job Tenure?

Using experiential learning theory and human capital theory, we propose that job tenure influences individuals’ interpretations of and reactions to an increase in underload (i.e. abilities of a person exceed demands of a job) and overload (i.e. demands of a job exceed abilities of a person). Specifically, we examine job satisfaction and stress as outcomes. To do so, we analyse two-wave survey data from 810 military professionals of the Swiss Armed Forces. Results show that respondents with short job tenure report lower job satisfaction when perceiving an increase in underload. Respondents with long job tenure react with higher stress when perceiving an increase in overload. Overall, findings suggest that whilst an increase in underload, which restricts opportunities to learn new skills, is more negatively perceived earlier on in a job, an increase in overload, which hinders full skill use and the potential benefits of full skill use, is more negatively perceived later.