Linear and non-linear relationships between job demands-resources and psychological and physical symptoms of service sector employees. When is the midpoint a good choice?

Related to the research of working conditions, the link between organizational factors and health was traditionally analyzed using linear models. However, the literature analysis suggests inconsistencies in linear models predicting workers' health levels. To clarify this issue, this exploratory research compares the linear and non-linear relationships between job demands-resources (task complexity, time pressure, contact with users, and job autonomy), and the psychological and physical symptoms of employees working in the main five service subsectors: commerce, horeca (hotels, restaurants, and cafés), public administration, education, and healthcare. With a final sample of 4,047 participants, our study data were extracted from the II Andalusian Working Conditions Survey. Following the theoretical framework of JD-R Model and considering the Vitamin Model theoretical approach for non-linear relationships, our results showed that there were significant differences among the five subsectors analyzed regarding the linear and non-linear relationships between job demands-resources and psychological and physical symptoms of employees. Furthermore, task complexity generated non-linear relationships in higher proportion than time pressure and contact with users. Likewise, non-linear relationships found showed a U-shape. Moreover, the findings of non-linear relationships suggested that medium levels of task complexity should not be exceeded to avoid further negative impact on psychological and physical symptoms for service sector employees, preserving their health. Finally, some general practical implications of work environment interventions are suggested.

Is Team Emotional Composition Essential for Virtual Team Members' Well-Being? The Role of a Team Emotional Management Intervention.

The aim of this study was twofold. First, we examined the relationship between virtual teams' emotional intelligence composition and three indicators of their members' well-being, members' satisfaction with the team, and positive and negative affective states. Second, we analyzed the moderator role of an online team emotional management intervention in the effects of the team emotional intelligence composition. One hundred and two virtual teams participated in an experimental study with repeated measures. Teams were randomly assigned to either an intervention designed to help them detect and manage emotions during virtual teamwork or a control condition (with no intervention). We followed a hierarchical data strategy and examined a number of nested models using Hierarchical Linear Modeling. Our findings showed that virtual teams' emotional intelligence composition is a key driver of the team members' well-being, and that a team emotional management intervention moderated the impact of the team composition of emotional intelligence, buffering its influence.

Collaboration and performance in virtual teams with faultlines: an emotional management intervention / Colaboração e desempenho em equipes virtuais com subgrupos: uma intervenção de gerenciamento emocional / Colaboración y desempeño en equipos virtuales con subgrupos: una intervención en gestión emocional

PROBLEM: Virtual teams with faultlines face challenges due to their dispersion, diversity, and virtuality, which can diminish their performance. To resolve this issue, team emotional management (TEM) interventions foster teams’ collaboration capability, that is, the team’s ability to build and manage relationships based on trust, commitment, and communication. GOALS: This research aimed to analyse whether a TEM intervention can enhance team performance by improving the collaboration capability in virtual teams with faultlines. METHOD: Fifty-two four-member teams participated in an experiment with repeated measures (three measurement times). Teams were randomly assigned to either a TEM intervention or a control condition. MAIN RESULTS: The TEM intervention had a positive effect on trust and commitment, but not on communication. Moreover, trust and commitment fully mediated the effect of the TEM intervention on performance. MAIN IMPLICATIONS: Our findings showed the relevance of a TEM intervention in improving the collaboration capability and performance in virtual teams with faultlines. This study contributes to research on faultlines, affect management in virtual teams, and computer-mediated communication.

PROBLEMA: equipes virtuais com subgrupos enfrentam desafios devido à sua dispersão, diversidade e virtualidade, o que pode diminuir seu desempenho. Para resolver esse problema, as intervenções de gerenciamento emocional da equipe (team emotional management - TEM) estimulam a capacidade de colaboração das equipes, ou seja, a capacidade da equipe de construir e gerenciar relacionamentos com base na confiança, compromisso e comunicação. OBJETIVOS: Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar se uma intervenção TEM pode melhorar o desempenho da equipe, melhorando a capacidade de colaboração em equipes virtuais com subgrupos. MÉTODO: 52 equipes de quatro membros participaram de um experimento com medidas repetidas (três tempos de medidas). As equipes foram aleatoriamente designadas para uma intervenção TEM ou uma condição de controle. PRINCIPAIS RESULTADOS: A intervenção TEM teve um efeito positivo na confiança e no compromisso, mas não na comunicação. Além disso, a confiança e o compromisso mediaram totalmente o efeito da intervenção TEM no desempenho. PRINCIPAIS IMPLICAÇÕES: Nossos resultados mostraram a relevância de uma intervenção TEM na melhoria da capacidade de colaboração e desempenho em equipes virtuais com subgrupos. Este estudo contribui com a pesquisa sobre subgrupos, gerenciamento de impacto em equipes virtuais e comunicação mediada por computador.

PROBLEMA: los equipos virtuales con subgrupos afrontan desafíos debido a su dispersión, diversidad y virtualidad, lo que puede disminuir su desempeño. Para resolver este problema, las intervenciones en gestión emocional en equipo (TEM) fomentan la capacidad de colaboración de los equipos, es decir, la capacidad del equipo para construir y gestionar relaciones basadas en la confianza, el compromiso y la comunicación. OBJETIVOS: esta investigación tuvo como objetivo analizar si una intervención TEM puede mejorar el desempeño del equipo al mejorar la capacidad de colaboración en equipos virtuales con subgrupos. MÉTODO: Cincuenta y dos equipos de cuatro miembros participaron en un experimento con medidas repetidas (tres tiempos de medida). Los equipos fueron asignados al azar a una intervención TEM o una condición de control. RESULTADOS PRINCIPALES: La intervención TEM tuvo un efecto positivo en la confianza y el compromiso, pero no en la comunicación. Además, la confianza y el compromiso mediaron completamente el efecto de la intervención TEM sobre el desempeño. IMPLICACIONES PRINCIPALES: Nuestros hallazgos mostraron la relevancia de una intervención TEM para mejorar la capacidad de colaboración y el desempeño en equipos virtuales con subgrupos. Este estudio contribuye a la investigación sobre subgrupos, gestión del afecto en equipos virtuales y comunicación mediada por ordenador.

The cross-level relationship between organizational trust in leadership and job satisfaction / A relação transnível entre a confiança organizacional na liderança e a satisfação no trabalho / La relación transnivel entre la confianza organizacional en el liderazgo y la satisfacción laboral

Previous research has rarely addressed trust in leadership at the organizational level. This study addresses this research gap by examining the influence of the magnitude of organizational trust in leadership and consensus about this trust on job satisfaction. The magnitude refers to shared trust in leadership among organizational members, whereas consensus captures the variability in perceptions within organizations, even when overall agreement exists. Moreover, the study examines the mediating role of perceived communication quality in the relationship between the magnitude of organizational trust in leadership and job satisfaction. The sample was composed of 486 employees of 34 transport organizations. Results showed that the magnitude of organizational trust in leadership influenced employees' job satisfaction through perceived communication quality, but its direct effect on job satisfaction was non-significant. Moreover, the organizational consensus on trust in leadership was also positively associated with job satisfaction. Overall, the findings contribute to better understanding trust in leadership as an organizational phenomenon.

Pesquisas anteriores raramente abordaram a confiança na liderança no nível organizacional. Este estudo aborda essa lacuna de pesquisa examinando a influência da magnitude da confiança organizacional na liderança e o consenso sobre essa confiança na satisfação no trabalho. A magnitude refere-se à confiança compartilhada na liderança entre os membros da organização, enquanto o consenso captura a variabilidade nas percepções dentro das organizações, mesmo quando existe um acordo geral. Além disso, o estudo examina o papel mediador da percepção da qualidade da comunicação na relação entre a magnitude da confiança organizacional na liderança e a satisfação no trabalho. A amostra foi composta por 486 funcionários de 34 organizações de transporte. Os resultados mostraram que a magnitude da confiança organizacional na liderança influenciou a satisfação no trabalho dos funcionários por meio da qualidade de comunicação percebida, mas seu efeito direto na satisfação no trabalho não foi significativo. Além disso, o consenso organizacional sobre confiança na liderança também foi positivamente associado à satisfação no trabalho. No geral, as descobertas contribuem para uma melhor compreensão da confiança na liderança como um fenômeno organizacional.

Las investigaciones anteriores rara vez han abordado la confianza en el liderazgo a nivel organizacional. Este estudio aborda esta brecha de investigación al examinar la influencia de la magnitud de la confianza organizacional en el liderazgo y el consenso sobre esta confianza en la satisfacción laboral. La magnitud se refiere a la confianza compartida en el liderazgo entre los miembros de la organización, mientras que el consenso captura la variabilidad en las percepciones dentro de las organizaciones, incluso cuando existe un acuerdo general. Además, el estudio examina el papel mediador de la calidad de la comunicación percibida en la relación entre la magnitud de la confianza organizacional en el liderazgo y la satisfacción laboral. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 486 empleados de 34 organizaciones de transporte. Los resultados mostraron que la magnitud de la confianza organizacional en el liderazgo influyó en la satisfacción laboral de los empleados a través de la percepción de la calidad de la comunicación, pero su efecto directo sobre la satisfacción laboral no fue significativo. Además, el consenso organizacional sobre la confianza en el liderazgo también se asoció positivamente con la satisfacción laboral. En general, los hallazgos contribuyen a comprender mejor la confianza en el liderazgo como un fenómeno organizacional.

The Influence of Organizational Factors on Road Transport Safety.

Road transport safety is a major concern across Europe due to the human and socio-economic costs associated with work-related traffic accidents. Traditional approaches have adopted regulatory and technical measures to prevent road accidents leaving aside the organizational factors that might contribute to road transport safety. However, contemporary sociotechnical systems theory acknowledges the need to take into account organizational factors. This study adopts a sociotechnical approach and it examines the relationship between a number of organizational factors (organizational learning and training) and road traffic accidents in the organizations under study. Our sample was composed of 107 road transportation organizations from Spain. Binary logistic regression analyses were carried out to test our hypotheses. Organizational size and type of transport (goods or passengers) were included in the model as control variables. Results showed that in those organizations where organizational learning was supported, the occurrence of traffic accidents was less likely. Unexpectedly, the relationship between training and the occurrence of traffic accidents was not significant. Thus, findings partially supported the formulated hypothesis. Future research should shed light on the relationship between training and traffic accidents taking into account potential intervening variables.

Spanish Validation of the Shorter Version of the Workplace Incivility Scale: An Employment Status Invariant Measure.

Workplace Incivility (WI) occurs worldwide and has negative consequences on individuals and organizations. Valid and comprehensive instruments have been used, specifically in English speaking countries, to measure such adverse process at work, but it is not available a validated instrument for research carried out in Spanish speaking countries. In this study we aim to test the psychometric properties of the Matthews and Ritter's four-item Workplace Incivility Scale (2016) with Spanish workers (N = 407) from different sectors. Participants' mean age was 38.73 (SD = 10.45) years old and the percentage of female employees was 59.2%. Confirmatory factor analysis using AMOS 19.0 was carried out, presenting a good fit. The internal consistency, convergent and concurrent validity of the scale were examined. Results show good scale reliability and expected high correlations with social undermining. Moreover, the scale related to propensity to leave a job, job satisfaction, and psychological well-being in the expected way. After configural invariance across groups was established, testing for metric invariance and scalar invariance was performed. Considering Δχ2 and ΔCFI tests for two nested models, the 4-item scale was invariant when the employment status is considered (permanent vs. temporal, full-time vs. part-time, and supervisor vs. non-supervisors). Overall, our findings showed good psychometric properties of the shorter version of the WIS in Spain. Theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed.

Reconstruyendo el diálogo social y promoviendo organizaciones inclusivas. Una herramienta para la innovación social en tiempos de crisis / Rebuilding the social dialogue and promoting inclusive organizations. A tool for social innovation in times of crisis

Se aborda en el presente trabajo el desarrollo de una agenda de investigación enmarcada por las dificultades del entorno socioeconómico y su incidencia en las políticas de igualdad en el contexto laboral. Se presentan cuatro estudios desarrollados en el marco de la mejora del diálogo social y la promoción de organizaciones inclusivas, resaltando el estado del tema en España y su significado para la práctica profesional. Los estudios se centran en a) la necesidad de capacitar y apoderar a los agentes sociales - especialmente a los representantes de los trabajadores - para liderar la innovación social y la promoción de organizaciones inclusivas, b) las actuaciones ante las manifestaciones actuales de la denominada discriminación moderna en el contexto laboral, c) las barreras para promover la integración laboral de las personas con discapacidad, y d) el apoyo a las políticas de conciliación entre el trabajo y la vida personal

This paper addresses the developing research agenda framed by the difficulties of the socio-economic environment and its impact on equality policies in the employment context. We present four studies developed in the framework of improving the social dialogue and promoting inclusive organizations, highlighting the status of the issue in Spain and its meaning for professional practice. The studies focus on a) the need to train and empower social actors - especially workers’ representatives - to lead social innovation and promote inclusive organizations, b) proceedings for acting against the current manifestations of what is known as "modern discrimination" in the work context, c ) labor integration of persons with disabilities, and d) supporting policies to balance work and personal life

Does positive team mood mediate the relationship between team climate and team performance? / ¿Media el estado de ánimo positivo del equipo la relación entre el clima y el rendimiento del equipo?

We tested whether the relationship between a team climate of support from the organization and team performance is mediated by positive team mood. Recent research has shown that this team climate facet is related to team performance, but we do not have any empirical evidence about the mechanisms involved in this relationship. The study sample was composed of 59 bank branches, and a longitudinal design with three data-collection points was implemented. The results showed that a team climate of support from the organization was positively related to positive team mood, which in turn was positively related to team members’ ratings of team performance (AU)

En este trabajo examinamos si la relación entre el clima de apoyo de los equipos de trabajo y su rendimiento está mediada por el estado de ánimo positivo de los equipos. A pesar de que estudios recientes han obtenido evidencia empírica que apoya la relación mencionada, todavía no están claros los mecanismos implicados en la misma. La muestra del estudio estaba compuesta por 59 sucursales bancarias, y se desarrolló un diseño longitudinal con tres puntos de recogida de datos. Los resultados mostraron que el estado de ánimo positivo de los equipos de trabajo medió la relación entre el clima de apoyo de los equipos y su rendimiento (AU)

Does positive team mood mediate the relationship between team climate and team performance?

We tested whether the relationship between a team climate of support from the organization and team performance is mediated by positive team mood. Recent research has shown that this team climate facet is related to team performance, but we do not have any empirical evidence about the mechanisms involved in this relationship. The study sample was composed of 59 bank branches, and a longitudinal design with three data-collection points was implemented. The results showed that a team climate of support from the organization was positively related to positive team mood, which in turn was positively related to team members' ratings of team performance.

Roles of participation and feedback in group potency.

The roles of group participation and group performance feedback were examined as antecedents of group potency, i.e., beliefs shared among a work group's members about the general effectiveness of the work group. Also examined were how group participation and the congruence of the feedback received from different sources about performance predicted convergence in members' beliefs about group effectiveness. The sample comprised 61 work groups of professionals involved in Master in Business Administration (MBA) programs (284 participants). Mean group size was 4.6 members (SD = .58). 65% of participants were male, and 51% were between 30 and 40 years of age. Data were gathered at two measurement times. Increases in group participation were positively related to increases in group potency and the convergence in beliefs about group effectiveness among group members over time. Results supported the premise that group performance feedback is an antecedent of changes in group potency over time.