International Journal of Environment, Workplace and Employment (4 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Perceptions among environmental health and safety professionals on effectiveness of integrating safety and environmental management systems with Lean  
  by Charmaine Mullins Jaime  
  Abstract: This study intended to understand mutual benefits and challenges of lean integration with safety management systems (SMSs) and environmental management systems (EMSs), the relationships between varying levels of implementation, maturity, and integration of these systems with measures of organisational success, particularly safety management outcomes, from the perspective of environmental health and safety professionals working within these systems. There were significant positive relationships between the level of integration of lean with safety and environmental management systems and respondents’ ratings of their organisations’ safety performance, environmental performance and safety culture. Fully implemented, mature, and integrated lean, safety, and environmental management programmes were associated with better performance overall. Culture was perceived to be a challenge in the success of these systems. While full integration is not yet common, these programmes share advantages and barriers which incentivise streamlining efforts through integration. Further research is recommended on safety culture and engagement within these integrated systems.
  Keywords: integrated safety management systems; lean manufacturing; safety and health protection; environmental management systems; EMSs; safety culture.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJLER.2022.10053947
   
  
• The indirect effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on multinational companies competitiveness and resilience through work from home  
  by Sara Abhari, Alireza Jalali, Mastura Jaafar, Thripurasundere A./.P. K. Maharaja 
  Abstract: This study considered the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the competitiveness of multinational corporations (MNCs) by examining the mediating role of work from home (WFH). A self-administrated questionnaire collected data from 170 professionals who work in human resource departments in MNCs in Malaysia and the responses were analysed through partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the proposed hypotheses. According to the study findings, the current pandemic is directly and significantly affecting the level of work from home in MNCs. On the other hand, work from home exhibits a significant and positive influence on MNCs’ competitiveness, demonstrating the positive and indirect effects of COVID-19 through work from home. These results can provide managerial implication insights for MNCs to retain competitiveness in their performance by implementing appropriate human resource management and workplace resilience strategies such as work from home.
  Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; work from home; WFH; multinational corporations; MNCs; competitiveness; international human resource management; IHRM.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEWE.2023.10056134
   
  
• Working parents burnout during COVID-19 pandemic: clinical examples and managerial implications  
  by Alessandro Cavelzani 
  Abstract: This paper aims to contribute in a qualitative way to the existing studies on employees’ job-stress and burnout, by briefly illustrating real examples derived from the author’s clinical practice. The goal is to reflect and learn from the pandemic crisis experience as some of the stress-factors continue to affect businesses in the current post-pandemic. The study presents three different cases of working parents in tourism and hospitality business that have experienced all severe stress and lack of company support during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown months ending in neglecting and maltreatment of their children. Parents also displayed difficulties focusing on job tasks, poor performance, negative attitude with colleagues, and disengagement from the company. Managerial implications particularly for tourism and hospitality are provided.
  Keywords: stress; burnout; remote working; leadership; engagement; human resources management.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEWE.2023.10056459
   
  
• The mediating effects of employee trust and job satisfaction in the relationship between empowerment leadership and employee loyalty  
  by Pham Hoang Hien 
  Abstract: This research investigates the mediating role of employee trust and job satisfaction in the association between empowerment leadership and employee loyalty among medical staff in the private healthcare system located in southern Vietnam. The study involved 374 doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel employed within this private healthcare system. Data analysis was conducted using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with the SmartPLS 4.0 software. The findings from the structural model analysis indicate that empowerment leadership has a direct positive influence on medical staff’s loyalty to the organisation, as well as a positive impact on intermediate factors such as employee trust and job satisfaction. Furthermore, employee trust and job satisfaction were found to have a positive effect on employee loyalty towards the organisation.
  Keywords: employee loyalty; employee trust; empowerment leadership; employee job satisfaction; private healthcare sector.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEWE.2023.10057154