NCJ Number
43658
Date Published
1975
Length
14 pages
Annotation
A METHOD DEVELOPED BY OHIO BUSINESS AND LABOR LEADERS TO REDUCE OCCUPATIONAL STRESS BY GIVING EMPLOYEES GREATER INFLUENCE OVER THE QUALITY OF THEIR WORK LIVES IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE OHIO QUALITY OF WORK PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO FACILITATE THE INVOLVEMENT OF ALL PARTIES IN EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE EXTENT TO WHICH SECURITY, EQUITY, INDIVIDUATION, AND PARTICIPATION ARE PRESENT IN PEOPLE'S JOBS AND IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT. THE PROJECT HAS UNDERTAKEN WORK LIFE IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS IN A CLEVELAND FACTORY AND IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SPRINGFIELD. (THE SPRINGFIELD EFFORT HAS NOT INCLUDED UNIFORMED EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY.) AT THE DEMONSTRATION SITES, WORK LIFE COMMITTEES CONSISTING OF REPRESENTATIVES OF MANAGEMENT, LABOR UNIONS, AND SUPERVISORY AND NONSUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES ARE FORMED. THE COMMITTEES SURVEY THE EMPLOYEES, HOLD FEEDBACK SESSIONS, AND DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT QUALITY OF WORK PLANS BASED ON SURVEY AND FEEDBACK FINDINGS. THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED BY THE STATE PROJECT. PERIODIC EMPLOYEE SURVEYS ARE CONDUCTED AFTER THE PLANS ARE IMPLEMENTED SO THAT OUTCOMES CAN BE ASSESSED. THE BACKGROUND, PROCESS, STATUS, RESEARCH DESIGN, AND PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF THE PROJECT ARE SUMMARIZED. BASELINE DATA ARE INCLUDED ON CORRELATIONS BETWEEN QUALITY OF WORK LIFE DIMENSIONS AND THEIR HYPOTHESIZED OUTCOMES. THE DIMENSIONS INCLUDE SECURITY (FROM LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT, FROM PHYSICAL HARM, FROM WANT); EQUITY (IN COMPENSATION, IN PROMOTION, IN WORK STANDARDS, AND AS REFLECTED IN LACK OF DISCRIMINATION); INDIVIDUATION (VARIETY, GROWTH AND LEARNING, AUTONOMY); AND PARTICIPATION. OUTCOMES INCLUDE JOB STATISFACTION, COMPANY SATISFACTION, UNION SATISFACTION, PHYSICAL HEALTH, LIFE SATISFACTION, SELF-ESTEEM, ABSENCE OF ANGER, OFF-THE-JOB ACTIVENESS, AND OPINION OF THE GROUP'S PRODUCTIVITY.