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Investigating the Impact of Flexible Work Schedules on Employed College Students
Get PDFAs flexible work schedules become the norm in modern workplaces, increased flexibility in work schedules allows employees more latitude in adjusting their work schedules to fit their personal and professional needs. Across a variety of traditional and non-traditional workplaces, flexible work schedules have been linked to decreased stress and burnout, increased job satisfaction, as well as greater workplace focus and productivity. From a business perspective, the popularity of flexible work schedules has increased as businesses seek to leverage the value of diversity and work-life balance across populations with multiple demands on their time. Once such population, employed college students, can directly benefit from flexible work schedules to better balance their professional and unique academic obligations. This proposed experimental study seeks to investigate the impact of flexible work schedules compared to traditional work schedules on employed college student job factors, job satisfaction and performance, and academic factors, academic satisfaction and performance. Furthermore, this current study seeks to identify the impact of different types of flexible work schedules (compressed workweeks, flextime, and remote work) on employed students’ well-being. Self-report questionnaires measuring job and academic satisfaction, job and academic performance, and well-being will be used to compare employed students working in traditional and flexible work schedules. ANOVAs will be used to compare participants\u27 scores across traditional and different types of flexible work schedules. Implications include the identification that flexible work schedules improve academic achievement, job satisfaction, and job performance by facilitating improved time management, and lowered stress levels in employed students. Additionally, the capacity to more efficiently balance personal, professional, and academic obligations may result in improved student mental well-being and overall achievement in both academics and the workplace
Understanding employee intentions to use AI from a job demands-resources perspective
Get PDFThis research integrates the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) with Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory to explore the factors influencing the intention to use artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. UTAUT (Venkatesh et al., 2003) lays the foundation that performance expectancy (i.e., the belief that using AI will improve their job performance) and facilitating conditions (i.e., organizational and technical infrastructure to support AI use) influence intentions to use AI. Applying JD-R theory (Bakker & Demerouti, 2017) further contextualizes these constructs in the work setting, positioning AI as a potential job resource that enhances performance by alleviating job demands. Thus, we predict employees’ performance expectancy will be positively associated with their intentions to use AI at work (H1). Employees with access to organization-level support for AI use, compared to those without access, may be better positioned to use AI and more willing to adopt it in their work. As such, facilitating conditions are expected to function as a moderating job resource. The positive relationship between employees’ performance expectancy and intentions to use AI at work will be stronger for employees with higher levels of facilitating conditions than those who report lower levels (H2). This study included three cross-sectional samples of working adults (two Prolific samples, N1 = 358, N2 = 692, one Meta sample, N3 = 178). The surveys measured performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, and intentions to use at work (all from Venkatesh et al., 2003) as well as control variables (gender, education, age). We tested regression and simple slope analysis in R. Both hypotheses were supported in all three samples. Performance expectancy was positively related to intentions to use AI at work (b1= .71, p \u3c .001; b2= .70, p \u3c .001; b3= .77, p \u3c .001), and facilitating conditions moderated this relationship as expected (b1= .11, p = .003; b2= .07, p = .004; b3= .10, p = .044). Our study replicated in three samples that perceiving AI will be beneficial for performance is positively associated with intentions to use AI in the workplace, especially for workers with facilitating conditions to better integrate AI. These findings suggest the value of employers providing organizational support and infrastructure for AI, highlighting an opportunity to become the employer of choice in the age of AI. This study demonstrates the theoretical value of bridging technology acceptance models with the organizational psychology literature to better understand AI implementation at work
Unlocking Employee Well-Being: The Mediating Effect of Diversity Climate in an Inclusive Workplace
Get PDFDiversity climate pertains to an employee’s perceptions of how well their organization demonstrates support and promotion to diverse employees (Leveson & Joiner, 2009; Tellur, 2023). The conceptualization of diversity climate is rooted in social identity theory (Stets & Burke, 2000) and organizational justice theory (Yean & Yusof, 2015). Social identity theory suggests that identification and membership within the organization impacts an employee’s perception of inclusivity (Mor Barak et al., 2022; Shore & Chung, 2021; Cole et al., 2016). Organizational justice theory highlights the influence of perceived fairness when organizations create and manage inclusive work policies (Griffith et al., 2005). There has been limited research on individual outcomes when assessing the influence of diversity climate. We aim to assess the relationship between employee’s perceptions of inclusivity policies and employee well-being, and test diversity climate as a potential mediator. If our results are significant, then we will provide future directions on how organizations can improve employee well-being by managing an inclusive work environment and strengthening the perceptions of their organization’s diversity climate. We hypothesize a relationship between inclusive work policies and: diversity climate (H1), psychological well-being (H2), job satisfaction (H3), turnover rates (H4), work-life balance (H5), and social support (H6). Additionally, diversity climate will be assessed as a mediator in the relationship between perceptions of inclusivity policies and employee well-being (H7). Variables will be measured with the Diversity-Related Practices Questionnaire (McKay et al., 2007; Richard, Roh, & Pieper, 2013), Diversity-Climate Questionnaire (Chung et al., 2015; McKay, Avery, & Morris 2008; Pugh et al., 2008), Satisfaction with Life (SWLS; Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985; Pavot & Diener, 2008), Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (Cammann, Fichman, Jenkins, & Klesh, 1983; Audenaert & Decramer, 2018), Turnover Intentions Questionnaire (Mitchell et al., 2001), Work-Life Balance Assessment (Brough et al., 2014), and Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (Sendra et al., 2023). There will also be various demographic questions to account for any differences across participants or influence of extraneous variables. The study’s sample will include randomly selected faculty and staff from a Southeastern university. Furthermore, an online Qualtrics survey will be administered after approval from the university’s Institutional Review Board and Survey Review and Oversight Committee. Data analysis will consist of correlations, multiple regressions, and tests for mediation and moderation. Diversity climate will be assessed as a mediator between perceptions of inclusivity policies and employee well-being. Additionally, interaction effects will be assessed to identify any moderating effects between the predictor and outcome variables, as noted previously
Take a hike: a documentary following first time hikers
Get PDFThere is a substantial body of research showing that spending time exercising in nature can improve college students\u27 mental health. Mental illness diagnoses are on the rise, and yet many students don\u27t seek time outside. This documentary seeks to bridge the gap between research and people\u27s lifestyles and habits. The documentary features five first time hikers on a four mile hike. The purpose of the documentary is to show viewers the benefits of exercising outdoors. The documentary was filmed over the course of two months, with each participant hiking individually. The hope is that this documentary will encourage others to go hiking
Do you know the pangolin?: Analyzing biodiversity awareness and attitudes
Get PDFUnderstanding the impact education has on environmental knowledge and values is critical for knowing how we can promote pro-environmental awareness and attitudes. Thus, this study investigated how environmental education level influences awareness and attitudes on environmental issues, specifically the Biodiversity Crisis. Through a survey primarily utilizing Likert scale statements, the researcher evaluated the differences in knowledge and care levels between classes taking an introductory environmental science course, one class of environmental science majors and one for non-majors. One focus point of the course is the world’s most trafficked mammal, the pangolin, so this species was used as a focus species to evaluate people’s awareness of the role of overexploitation in the Biodiversity Crisis. Conducting the survey on the first day of class and again on the last day allowed the researcher to perform a one-way t-test to test for changes in people’s knowledge and care after taking the course. The study found that education plays a significant role in affecting people’s biodiversity knowledge and how much they care about biodiversity. The classes were significantly different in both awareness level and their attitudes at the beginning of the semester, with the class of ESC majors having more positive responses than the non-majors. Both classes had a significant increase in awareness and attitudes about the Biodiversity Crisis after taking the course. By the end of the semester, both classes were equally knowledgeable about the Biodiversity Crisis, though the ESC majors still had a higher care score overall
The gavel and the camera: environmental law and photojournalism\u27s relationship to Appalachian identity
Get PDFBoth the federal government and photojournalism have played a substantial role in the “othering” of Appalachia while simultaneously attempting to save it. Examining both institutions demonstrates the exploitative processes that alter the perception of rural communities and their surrounding environment. Stacey Kranitz’s archival exhibit, As It Was Give(n) To Me, internalizes this precarious role of the camera in a region heavily journalized. By inhabiting the area for years, establishing close relationships, and researching the documented history of Appalachia, Kranitz’s work becomes her livelihood in the dissolution of profession vs. personal. She is critical of past projects whose objective portrayal of suffering becomes a fantasy of prescribing a true representation of an exploited, diverse, and complex place. Outside interest defines connections between the community and the natural world in the timeline of environmental law interpretation within Appalachia. Today, there’s a fundamental lack of efficient regulation, so determining the responsibility of authoritative forces like law and photography will be a critical point to address as the energy field adapts to climate change. Kranitz’s work in tandem with legal research blazes a new path towards understanding the relationship between Appalachia and the “other.” Examining the tangible space visual art provides encourages the exploration of attitudes of resident and place, with the subsequent discoveries and limitations from outside forces through time
Intersectionality and employment barriers: analyzing age and gender bias in job advertisements
No full textDifferent forms of discrimination occur within phases of the employment process (attraction, selection, retention), with an estimated 20-40% of employers influenced by bias in their hiring decisions. Sexism and ageism are among the most prevalent forms; however, detecting hiring discrimination is complex and often unreported. The current study focused on the attraction phase to examine how age and gender intersect to create employment barriers and opportunities. A sample of 800 job ads were collected from white-collar, blue-collar, female-and-male-dominated occupations across the U.S. Using a mixed methods approach, data were analyzed through an exploratory, content analysis to identify previous and nuanced gendered and age biased language to develop a repository for LIWC to conduct a series of 2x2 factorial ANOVAs. A significant interaction was found between job industry and gender dominance in the gendered age language bias to indicate a young man candidate. Limitations, future directions, and implications are discussed
Potential for United States participation in the European Union’s Digital Services Act
Get PDFThe regulation or lack thereof of social media has become a hot-button issue in the majority of the Western world. Although the United States has made several attempts to pass widespread regulation of misinformation online, they have seen little success. Contrastingly, the European Union\u27s recently passed Digital Services Act has already seen some success and is shaping up to be an effective piece of legislation. As such, it is worth exploring the possibility of the United States adopting this legislation, and examining how a potential partnership could aid both the United States and the European Union in furthering their goals and shaping the future of internet legislation
Reviving historic buildings - adaptive reuse of the Jazzy Building
Get PDFIn the face of rapid urbanization and modernization, the significance of historic preservation and adaptive reuse has gained prominence as a sustainable approach to development. There is an intricate relationship between historic preservation and adaptive reuse, delving into the principles, challenges, and benefits inherent in this practice as they apply to the Jazzy Building on 619/621 Market Street in Downtown Chattanooga Tennessee. A mixed-use approach for the Jazzy Building is optimal, as it addresses the pressing need for expanded housing amidst Chattanooga\u27s population growth, capitalizes on its potential as a tourist attraction, and aligns with the city\u27s strong environmentalist ethos
Determining the antimicrobial activity and permeabilizing effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids and piscidins on Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus
Get PDFAntimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are found in all organisms and have gained attention for their effectiveness against a variety of pathogens. Piscidins are AMPs that were discovered in mast cells of vertebrates, mostly within marine animals, and are an important part of the innate immune system due to their potent antimicrobial properties. Piscidin 1 (P1) and piscidin 3 (P3) are found within sea bass and have different antimicrobial activities. P1 exhibits strong membrane disruptive properties, while P3 goes through the membrane to the targeted DNA. These piscidins can experience metalation with copper (Cu2+) which enhances their antimicrobial activity in vitro (P1-Cu2+ and P3-Cu2+). V. parahaemolyticus is one of the leading foodborne pathogens in humans, causing acute gastrointestinal and immunological disorders. V. vulnificus has high mortality (18%) and economic burden ($320 million/year worldwide), causing necrotizing fasciitis and sepsis leading to approximately 100 deaths per year in the United States. The purpose of this study was to investigate the activity of metalated and nonmetallated P1 and P3 on Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus, as the Vibrio genus possesses the ability to modify membrane permeability based on the available ambient fatty acids. To examine polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) impacts on piscidin activity, we performed membrane permeability assays with the hydrophobic crystal violet and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays with linoleic (18:2), arachidonic (20:4) and docosahexaenoic (22:6) acids. In V. parahaemolyticus, PUFAS raised the MIC for P1 and P1-Cu2+ while the opposite effect was observed with P3 and P3-Cu2+. The data highlights antimicrobial susceptibility differences dependent upon the piscidin isoform. Each PUFA caused a distinct change in membrane permeability, while the effects of each piscidin were variable. In V. vulnificus, at least one PUFA raised the MIC of each piscidin. All PUFAs lowered permeability, but significant piscidin-dependent effects were observed with P1 only. The data herein sheds light on bacterial membrane dynamics regarding piscidin activity and PUFA-mediated effects which could potentially be used as future treatment for infectious diseases