Emotional intelligence in young emerging adults: A focus on Wong and Law's scale in the digital work sphere.

Despite the growing research on the usefulness and validity of the four-factor Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS), empirical evidence for its relevance to Black African young emerging adults seems non-existent. The study's objective was to assess the relevance of the original WLEIS factor structure for a sample (N = 365) of South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) final year students (mean age = 24.3 years; SD = 2.38). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and convergent and discriminant validity tests revealed a three-factor first-order structure with uniquely descriptive items characteristic of the sample's emotional intelligence. The findings contribute to the WLEIS measurement of emotional intelligence in young emerging adults who are preparing to enter the digital-age work world.

Self-regulatory employability attributes and competency: the strengthening role of grit.

Introduction: This study examines grit as psychological mindsets that explain the link between self-regulatory employability attributes and perceived employability competency expectations in a sample of South African adults (N = 308). Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional research design approach was used to collect primary data. Results: Results of a mediation analysis through structural equation modelling revealed grit as an important mechanism to strengthen the association between employability attributes (career agility, cultural ingenuity, proactive career resilience) and employability competency expectations (autonomy/leadership skills and personal employability qualities). Discussion: This study makes an important contribution to the role of learning and training through understanding the role of grit in enhancing prospects of employability. This study further adds to the grit literature, highlighting the role that grit plays in the contemporary employment context. Practical implications include supportive practices that strengthen individual workers' grit when confronted with the turbulent changes of today's work world.

A value-oriented psychological contract: Generational differences amidst a global pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of working conditions world-wide, fast tracking the reality of the digital-driven workplace. Concepts such as remote working, working-from-home and hybrid working models are now considered as the "new normal." Employes are expected to advance, flourish and survive in this digitally connected landscape. Different age and generational groups may experience this new organizational landscape differently and may expect different organizational outcomes in exchange for their inputs. Accordingly, the study investigated differences regarding the value-oriented psychological contract expectations of employes from different generational groups. An ANOVA test for significant mean differences and a post hoc test for multiple comparisons were conducted on a sample of (N = 293) employes in the services industry in Southern Africa (85%) and other European countries (15%). The observed generational cohort differences regarding value-orientated psychological contract expectations for job characteristics and work-life balance could be utilized to develop interventions and strategies to promote retention of employes in the post-pandemic digital-orientated workplace.

How Employability Attributes Mediate the Link Between Knowledge Workers' Career Adaptation Concerns and Their Self-Perceived Employability.

The study examines employability attributes as psychological mechanisms that explain the link between the career adaptation concerns and self-perceived employability of a sample of professionally qualified knowledge workers (N = 404). A cross-sectional survey was used to collect primary data. Results of a mediation analysis by means of structural equation modeling show that proactivity, career resilience, and career self-management attributes are significant intrinsic motivational mechanisms in explaining the link between high career adaptation concerns and high self-perceived employability. The study makes an important contribution to the employability literature by illustrating by means of self-determination theory the role of employability attributes as psychological processes that restore individuals' sense of autonomous functioning as expressed by their self-perceived employability. The findings advance human resource management's understanding of the role of employability attributes as mechanisms of fulfilling knowledge workers' need for competence and autonomy in the career adaptation concerns-perceived employability link. Practice implications include supportive career development practices that strengthen knowledge workers' sense of competence and autonomy when confronted with changes in job and employment conditions that affect their perceived employability.

Job Demands-Resources and Flourishing: Exploring Workplace Bullying as a Potential Mediator.

Flourishing in the workplace can bring about various positive outcomes for individual and organizational well-being. This study explored the interactional effect of workplace bullying on the relationship between job demands-resources and flourishing. A convenience sample of 1102 employees was selected, and these employees completed an online survey that explored this relationship. Mediation analysis revealed that low job demands were linked to lower levels of workplace bullying, which in turn correlated with higher levels of flourishing. Workplace bullying partially mediated the job demands-flourishing relationship, but not the job resources-flourishing relation. The results were interpreted based on the job demands-resources theory, followed by recommendations for practice and future research.

Workplace Bullying and Turnover Intention: Exploring Work Engagement as a Potential Mediator.

Employees' turnover intentions may entail expensive consequences for companies. The study examined the mediating effect of work engagement in the relationship between workplace bullying and turnover intention. Using a cross-sectional sample of 373 employees, structural equation modeling and mediation analysis showed that perceptions of work- and person-related bullying were linked to low levels of vigor and dedication which in turn were associated with high turnover intention. Work engagement partially mediated the effect of high workplace bullying on high turnover intention. The results were interpreted from a social cognitive perspective and recommendations for practice were made.