A study involving 512 staff serving individuals with mental retardation investigated the validity of the 33-item Staff Stressor Questionnaire (SSQ). The SSQ measures potential stressors, including user challenging behavior, poor user skills, lack of staff support, lack of resources, low-status job, bureaucracy, and work/home conflict. Results show…

Discusses advantages and disadvantages of various types of career-supportive relationships that make up academic women's webs of intellectual, social, personal, and political ties, including formal mentoring, networking, and peer-support programs. Several strategies rooted in each of these models are presented, based on a review of current…

Many substitute teachers are underpaid, undertrained, and "invisible" employees lacking health benefits and respect from regular colleagues. Grass-roots organizing efforts have improved working conditions for subs in two Florida and California districts. Districts' improvement initiatives should be guided by concerns for student…

Drawing on a database of over 300 interactions collected in a range of New Zealand professional workplaces, this article identifies some potentially problematic areas for those who are expected to communicate in English at work when English is not their first language. Discussion focuses on small talk and social talk in the workplace. (Author/VWL)

This paper reports results of a qualitative study of the workplace experiences of eight young adults with developmental disabilities. Four characteristics of supportive workplaces were identified: (1) multiple context relationships; (2) specific social opportunities; (3) a personal and team-building management style; and (4) interdependent job…

Analysis of interviews with 41 service providers (20 deaf, 21 hearing) who worked together at three British organizations found deaf and hearing individuals had differing perspectives on the integrated working experience and the use of sign language in the work setting. Deaf/hearing relations were perceived as largely person-centered by deaf…

Presents a case study for use in business communication classes to help students understand and learn both the context and the strategies for communication with business and management. Deals with a situation in which diverse internal groups in a company neither understand nor effectively interact with each other. Includes two assignments. (SR)

A study found no differences in the effectiveness of single- and multiple-work auditory prompts in teaching five adolescents with moderate mental retardation to transition through a chain of vocational tasks into work settings. Self-operated auditory prompts were effective for teaching workers to manage their own task change behavior. (Author/CR)

The World Employment Report indicates that the number of unemployed and underemployed workers around the world has never been higher and will grow as a result of the financial crisis in Asia and other parts of the world. Worker training provides an effective means to resolve this problem. (Author/JOW)

Legislators, school boards, and district administrators proposing more changes affecting schools and the principal's role should realize that many principals have little capacity to assume additional duties. Time constraints and external priorities are converting principals from instructional leaders to managers, while increasing their role's…

A literature review was structured using models of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover intentions, and turnover behavior. Key findings were as follows: methodology of most studies was weak; most used cross-sectional design and self-report measures; and samples were largely executives and professionals and predominantly white. (81…

Project-based learning is a better method than formal education for solving work-related problems. A learning network approach makes the relationship between competence and work explicit and provides a typology of learning projects--liberal, vertical, horizontal, and external--depending on who organizes projects and for what purposes. (SK)

Proposes the following empowerment objectives be used for placing individuals with visual impairments in jobs: compensation and benefits package, proximity to community, ethics and respect for human dignity, self-fulfilling opportunities, physical and emotional safety, sense of belonging, and opportunities for personal improvement and upward…

Reports on a case study that explores the culture-related issues of Asian Americans in the workplace. Focuses on a young, second-generation, Chinese-American woman, Jessica Chang, and the employment challenges that Dr. Chang encountered. Discusses her job strategies and some of the ethical dilemmas that she faced. (RJM)

Focuses on the sexual harassment and other gender-related difficulties faced by a Chinese-American woman. Profiles her encounters with gender discrimination and how it hindered career advancement and led to professional isolation. Relates how this case study can be used to sensitize workers to gender discrimination. (RJM)