Articles tagged with Human Resources
A study found that community-based management of freshwater lakes in the Amazon can significantly boost arapaima populations, offering both food security and income for local communities. The approach, which includes local stewardship and enforcement, has been shown to be effective in replenishing depleted fish stocks.
A new study identifies India, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Bangladesh as high-risk countries for local Zika virus transmission. The research team analyzed airline passenger traffic data to determine which countries are at greatest risk due to climate conditions and limited health resources.
New research challenges conventional wisdom on backup plans, finding they can cause people to work less hard and achieve primary goals less successfully. Researchers suggest understanding potential costs, but also encourage strategic planning to mitigate these effects.
A study found that workers who had good relationships with their bosses carried that goodwill into their new jobs, leading to important benefits for their former workplaces. Good relationships with bosses can also make ex-employees valuable ambassadors and future customers.
Research found that acknowledgment of responsibility and offer of repair are crucial elements in an apology, with expression of regret, explanation of what went wrong, and declaration of repentance tied for third effectiveness. The study also showed that the request for forgiveness is the least important component.
A new study by Ohio State University researchers suggests that the distance between coworkers in terms of status is more important than their relative positions when it comes to helping each other. This finding challenges traditional assumptions about how status affects workplace relationships.
Researchers found that consistent treatment of customers and employees amplifies positive impact on firm valuation, while inconsistency weakens it. Companies with narrow business scopes benefit from coordinated activities, as investors can better judge management of key stakeholders.
A new study from the University of Toronto found that minority applicants may fare worse in resumes sent to diversity-friendly companies than those sent to non-diversity companies. Hiding one's race by 'whitening' their resumes improved minorities' chances of landing an interview.
Despite a 44% reduction in maternal mortality between 1990 and 2015, the world failed to meet the 75% target set by the Millennium Development Goals. Global progress varied significantly across regions, with some countries achieving impressive declines while others struggled with high mortality rates.
Research emphasizes that lean efforts must consider health and safety regulations to maintain quality and productivity without compromising employee well-being. The lean philosophy aims to minimize waste, including non-value adding activities that result in accidents and employee compensation.
A new study found that employees with a racially diverse group of friends outside of work tend to have a more racially diverse network of friends on the job and exhibit more helpful behavior towards their co-workers. This broader network was linked to increased trust in supervisors who also had a diverse friend network.
A survey of Fortune 500 chief human resource officers found that nearly 80% of companies have raised or plan to raise employee contributions to health insurance. The Affordable Care Act has led to a significant increase in healthcare costs, with 38% of respondents reporting a rise in health insurance costs.
A study from the University of Toronto suggests that exposure to fast food can undermine one's ability to savor pleasurable activities. Participants who were shown pictures of meals on regular ceramic tableware showed higher levels of enjoyment when experiencing savoring activities, whereas those shown pictorial reminders of fast food ...
A Baylor University study found that corporate communicators can effectively influence senior business executives by building informal coalitions in various settings, including coffee shops. This approach bridges gaps between rank-and-file employees and executives, helping companies avoid mistakes and protect reputations.
A Tel Aviv University study reveals that pay secrecy weakens employees' perception of a pay increase following performance improvement. High-performing workers are more sensitive to the lack of link between performance and pay, leading to decreased job satisfaction and increased turnover.
Researchers found that directly paying students to eat fruits and vegetables increases consumption by 80 percent, while also reducing food waste by 33 percent. This approach is cheaper and more effective than traditional school lunch rules, which often result in a significant amount of wasted produce.
A study by Aarhus University researchers reveals that labor mobility is essential for small European countries to match China's export growth rates. Companies can hire employees with experience in and knowledge about new export destinations to gain a competitive edge.
University Research Co., LLC (URC) received the first ever Excellence in Mentorship Award from USAID for its development assistance to WI-HER, a woman-owned small business. The award recognized URC's significant impact on WI-HER's gender strategies and innovation.
A new study by Michigan State University researchers found that multinational firms perform better over time, especially when they have a global strategy and coordinate efforts across multiple countries. The study, which analyzed data from nearly 48,000 firms, also found that firm size does not affect success in multinationality.
Research reveals that human resource executives should view training as a holistic process, considering factors like job analysis, employee motivation, and structured guidance. Effective training programs also incorporate empirically tested insights into learning, such as repetition, error handling, and behavioral role modeling.
A new study by Ohio State University suggests that adults who receive an inheritance spend roughly half of what they receive, while the rest is lost or spent. The study, which analyzed data from over 7,500 participants, found that nearly one-third of all inheritors saw a decline or no change in their wealth after getting an inheritance.
A nationwide study found that mirroring a customer base improves consumer satisfaction and employee productivity, resulting in significant annual gains. Higher racioethnic matching boosts the bottom line due to increased customer identification, reduced mistreatment, and better service for similar customers.
A novel analytical framework, called a 'house model,' can help develop and strengthen health systems in post-conflict countries. The framework focuses on the production, deployment, and retention of health workers, highlighting the importance of linkages between different components of the human resource system.
Challenges in LMICs require balanced expensive and low-cost research methods to prioritize problems. Good governance can help optimize resource use, ensuring more effective mental health research.
A critical shortage of 1.18 million mental health workers threatens global mental health, with low- and middle-income countries bearing the brunt. Community-based programs and task-shifting approaches are proposed as cost-effective solutions to fill this gap.
A new study proposes using a theory called awareness development to assess employees' responses to situations and help HR departments craft effective workplace violence policies. Most organizations fall into the intellectualization stage, indicating limited awareness of workplace violence issues.
Researchers from the University of Toronto and University of Guelph argue that incorporating employee engagement into performance management is crucial for improving both. The authors identify three psychological conditions – meaningfulness, safety, and availability – that support personal engagement. By focusing on these conditions, o...
Researchers explored why charismatic leaders are perceived as visionary and successful, finding that managers can establish mystique through practice and presentation style. The study suggests that firms should scrutinize charismatic candidates to ensure transferable skills.
A new study has reduced the threat level for caribou in Alberta's oilsands country by revealing that their survival isn't as threatened as previously thought. The researchers found that it is not merely the presence of roads and cut lines, but the intensity of human activity such as noise levels that has the biggest effect on the animals.
The Brazilian health system has expanded health care coverage, improved population health, and reduced inequalities, yet universal and equitable coverage remains elusive. Constraints on health care financing, infrastructure, and human resources hinder the goal of universal access.
A new study suggests that responding to workplace anger with compassion, rather than sanctions, can promote positive change. Researchers found no connection between firing an irate employee and solving underlying workplace problems.
A study by D. Keith Denton highlights the importance of creating an atmosphere of trust in the workplace to improve communication and reduce dissatisfaction. Face-to-face communication is found to be more effective than other channels, allowing for true dialogue to occur.
India faces significant challenges in its public health-care system, including infectious diseases, maternal and child mortality, chronic diseases, and inequities. Experts call for a universal health-care system to be established by 2020, with a focus on improving infrastructure, human resources, and access to care.
A new Policy paper argues that the estimated $30 billion needed to improve maternal, neonatal and child health is insufficient due to overlooked service delivery costs. Donors need a more realistic understanding of the funding required to achieve MDG targets for child and maternal health.
A nationwide US plan to pay hospitals for performance may exacerbate existing healthcare disparities, as hospitals in under-resourced areas lose funding to those in more affluent regions. The study found that US hospitals in richer economic areas achieved higher clinical process scores than their counterparts in less-advantaged areas.
A study found that US hospitals in disadvantaged areas lag behind in treating heart failure and heart attack, despite improvement over time. The pay-for-performance program may exacerbate existing inequalities in the healthcare system.
A report from Texas A&M University suggests that Lean thinking can transform adult education by adapting traditional methods to provide learners with personalized, cost-effective learning experiences. Key principles include cellular processes, policy deployment, flow, and standardization.
Researchers found moderate to perfect agreement between nurses' and doctors' ART recommendations, suggesting increased investment in training non-physician clinicians to deliver therapy. This shift could fill a gap in rural areas where physicians are scarce, improving access to HIV/AIDS treatment.
A new study estimates that sub-Saharan Africa will only have one-third of the needed healthcare workers by 2015, with a shortage of 240,000 doctors and 551,000 nurses and midwives. The cost of scaling up the health system is projected to be $19 billion per year.
A $2 million research chair has been launched at the University of Western Ontario to tackle the growing nursing shortage in Canada and the US. The Chair will focus on optimizing nurses' scope of practice and educating new graduates for optimal role functioning in evolving healthcare environments.
From 2001-2008, the annual number of Ph.D.s awarded to underrepresented minorities increased by 50% in natural sciences and engineering fields. The Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate program has seen significant success in boosting minority participation in science-related studies.
Almost a third of registered aged care nurses in Victoria are considering quitting their jobs due to emotional exhaustion. The study highlights the need for improved training, human resource management and grievance procedures to improve staff well-being and quality of care.
The journal's editors emphasize the importance of universal access to basic surgical services, citing their cost-effectiveness in reducing child mortality and improving maternal health. The movement to promote surgery as a global public health tool has gained momentum, with potential benefits in addressing infectious diseases like HIV.
Researchers applied data mining to a human resources database to discover patterns that can improve business efficiency and profits. By analyzing skills, qualifications, employment history, and interactions between personnel, businesses can predict natural staff turnover, morale changes, and employee performance.
A year-long pilot project trained barbers as peer educators to reach low-literacy rural communities in India, distributing educational materials and condoms. The program showed positive effects, including increased social recognition for women peer educators and a rise in customers among barber clients.
A recent Lancet study reveals that there is a lack of evidence to guide policies on human resources for health in middle- and low-income countries. The authors analyzed published literature from 1979 onwards and found that only a few studies included data from these countries, highlighting the need for more systematic reviews and resea...
The Lancet Editorial highlights the need for richer countries to stop exploiting health resources from poorer nations. The crisis in sub-Saharan Africa requires a top-down and bottom-up approach, with local solutions such as task shifting and public-private partnerships being tested.
Task shifting of HIV antiretroviral treatment delivery in sub-Saharan Africa can increase coverage and improve outcomes when paired with other measures to expand the health workforce. However, it must be accompanied by adequate supervision, support, and fair compensation for lower-cadre workers.
Companies recognized for diversity may prioritize surface-level recruiting over comprehensive programs, while those in top human resources departments focus on work environment improvements. Researchers found that diversity initiatives are more effective when driven by business goals, such as boosting productivity and profitability.
Workers with extended work schedules face higher risks of losing their jobs after injury, according to Ohio State University research. Injured employees in nonstandard schedules are more likely to be fired or quit, emphasizing the importance of tailoring return-to-work plans to individual employees' schedules.
Researchers found that prioritizing the poor in nutrition and sanitation improvements leads to greater health gains, with potential reductions of 31% in sub-Saharan Africa and 1.47 million fewer child deaths annually
Research reveals that Hispanic adolescents are less affected by parental divorce, but this is not due to a lack of resilience; instead, they start with more challenges. In contrast, European and Asian American teens face significant problems after family disruption, while African Americans show fewer issues before the breakup.
A recent study published in Human Resources for Health found that international health volunteers have a positive impact on capacity building and resource allocation in low-income countries. However, junior and inexperienced NGO volunteers often lack the necessary skills and knowledge to work effectively in these settings.
The Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program supports innovative research in conservation, environmental science and park management. Eight scholarships were awarded to doctoral students from the Americas to conduct research critical to national parks.
A new study by Binghamton University researchers found that former athletes tend to earn higher wages in business, military, and manual labor jobs than their non-athlete counterparts. However, athletes who pursue teaching careers or coaching roles often lag behind non-athletes in terms of earnings.
A new study by Cornell University reveals that small businesses adopting good HR practices experience significant growth, including 22% more revenue and 23% more profit. The study found that companies focusing on company culture, employee autonomy, and a family-like environment outperform those with stricter controls.
The WHO's 2006 World Health Report faces criticism for its limited information on human-resource gaps and needs. The report lacks geographical distribution, skill levels, and sector balance details, hindering policymakers' decisions. The Lancet comments that the WHR shows a significant gap between current knowledge and necessary data.
A new selection tool using 'synthetic validity' could revolutionize hiring by streamlining processes, saving businesses billions of dollars annually. This system has also been applied to online dating, aiming to create more precise matches with better long-term results.
Researchers analyzed 7,000 job-related queries and found that online job searches have a higher percentage of non-relevant returns (60%) compared to general web searches (50%). The study suggests that company web sites need re-design to highlight geographical information and use user-friendly terms for better search engine indexing.
A recent study found that smoking reduces wealth by approximately $410 per year for every smoker, with the wealth gap growing over time. The study analyzed data from about 8,900 people and found that non-smokers had a net worth of around $50,000 in 1998, while heavy smokers had significantly lower wealth.