A survey was conducted on the language practices of 58 engineering personnel working on the Witwatersand in South Africa. Found that a high standard of English is crucial for professionals in a field with a policy of "English only" at management and inter-departmental levels and in written communication. (Author/VWL)

A survey of 222 large-city administrators indicated that 76.7% approved of co-worker friendships but fewer supported friendships across the vertical hierarchy. Despite risks (gossip, romances, distraction), there was strong agreement on rewards: mutual support, improved work environment and communication, support for diversity. Ways to encourage…

Attempts to change employees' personal behavior to promote a healthy workplace raise ethical and professional questions. Needs for successful wellness programs must be balanced against individual rights to remain unhealthy. The paper discusses potential fiscal benefits of wellness programs, ethics of motivation, personal responsibility for health,…

Presents findings of a 1999 survey of 200 recent graduates (Generation X) and current undergraduates (Generation Y) of the Hofstra University Zarb School of Business. Participants ranked the top six of 25 factors that they consider most important in motivating them to do their best work. Results were compared with the rankings by two groups of…

In this study, self-determination, autonomy, life choices, and lifestyle satisfaction for 273 adults with mental retardation in different types of residence or working environments were examined. Those who lived or worked in community-based settings were more self-determined, had higher autonomy, had more choices, and were more satisfied.…

Compared the identity-formation process of three groups of Norwegian late adolescents: university students, employed youths, and unemployed youths. Interview data indicated that all groups considered work of primary importance to sense of identity. Three factors initiated identity transitions differently across the groups: qualities of vocational…

Enumerates the benefits to industry of web-based training and provides a framework to clarify the goals, methods, interaction modes, and roles of four models. Includes examples of accessible Internet sites. (JOW)

Explores ways in which working identities are discursively constructed in contemporary workplaces, arguing that the construction of new kinds of working identities is a primary function of the contemporary workplace, a function mandated by global discourses of quality management and mediated by workplace educators at local sites. (Author/VWL)

Diversity in the workplace goes beyond racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. It extends to those with disabilities of all types and older workers. Students must be able to acknowledge and appreciate peoples' differences and educators must integrate diversity into the classroom. (JOW)

The following trends facing the world of work have implications for human resource development: (1) the nature of work is changing, (2) the pace of change is accelerating, (3) the Web is a structural model of team rather than pyramid organization, (4) the bargaining power of the work force is rising, and (5) value exchanges are direct. (JOW)

Technology is a key element in the U.S. economy because more nontechnical workers are using it, not because there is a need for more technical workers. Workers in the United States are highly educated and employers will have to do and spend more to maintain their training commitment. (JOW)

Examines effects of further-education (FE) management changes, following Britain's Further and Higher Education Act, on FE teachers' work environment. Definitions of what constitutes a good lecturer are changing, via mediation of managerialist discourses stressing flexibility, reliability, and competence. Patterns of deprofessionalization…

Neglected in educational literature, assistant principals can nonetheless help principals by acting as vision codesigners, teacher coaches and evaluators, master schedule designers, program developers, instructional managers, and communicators. Shared instructional leadership allows for greater job control, flexibility, initiative, collegial…

A structured interview was conducted with 68 adults with intellectual disability who were aggressive. At work, the most frequently reported anger-arousing situations involved co-worker conflict and aggression. At home, conflicts with siblings and peers were anger-arousing. Coping responses included aggression, being alone, talking to someone, and…

Discusses issues associated with the virtual office. Summarizes advantages and disadvantages from employees' and employers' perspectives. Uses the behavior engineering model (Thomas Gilbert, 1996) as a framework to analyze different factors related to performance, and suggests the application of other concepts from human performance technology and…