Used a quasi-experimental design to assess the effect of a quality circle intervention on behavior and attitudes of 88 employees at a large Midwestern organization. Results provide mixed support for the purported ability of circles to improve work behavior with no change for absenteeism and productivity but positive change for quality of work.…

Assesses the level of job satisfaction among public relations practitioners. Finds that autonomy, variety of tasks, and upward mobility results in satisfaction. Identifies as causes of dissatisfaction small budgets, dead-end jobs, dull work, low prestige, unsupportive bosses, low pay, lack of input into the decision process, and sexism. (KEH)

Summarizes the findings of several studies and evaluations of South Carolina's Educational Improvement Act. Generally, South Carolina educators claim that the reform movement has created excessive demands on their time, while the benefits of many prescriptive requirements are unclear. Several questions are raised about reform intent versus…

To address the sources of stress in academic life requires an understanding of the multiple worlds within which faculty work and which create the complex tapestry of their lives. The use of short-term and long-term strategies can help faculty gain more control over the elements in their lives. (MLW)

Explores applications of work teams and proposes an analytic framework for team effectiveness. Presents the following applications: (1) advice and involvement; (2) production and service; (3) projects and development; and (4) action and negotiation. Depicts team effectiveness as interdependent with organizational context, boundaries, and team…

Presents an overview of the first year's operation of a Learning in the Workplace project that intended to develop industry-specific training materials and model programs that can be used to help employees develop the literacy skills needed in the changing workplace. The effectiveness of a peer-tutoring component is discussed. (Author/CB)

Consists of five articles summarizing research in personnel administration during the past 25 years. Topics discussed include (1) the changing environment of the public personnel function; (2) human assessment; (3) human development, careers, supervision and discipline; (4) public service labor-management relations; and (5) compensation, benefits,…

The purpose of this article is to speculate about future changes in the working lives of men and women so that human resource managers can be prepared. The critical forces discussed include equal opportunity legislation, socialization experiences, and work and family issues. (JOW)

Recent court cases on sexual harassment, and the outcomes, were reviewed in terms of how the court viewed a "reasonable" woman. Rulings in such cases can vary because of different interpretations of the "reasonable" concept. Also discusses how recent rulings will affect sexual harassment policymakers in the workplace and educational institutions.…

Confidentiality is an important trust that must be valued and practiced within the workplace. The paper discusses confidentiality and honesty in physical education teachers' personal and professional dealings with others, providing examples of professional confidentiality breaking down between teachers and between teachers and administrators. (SM)

Presents results of surveys, taken before and after passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of employers and workers who are deaf, identifying two categories of factors impacting job retention and advancement: (1) individual worker performance attributes, and (2) aspects of the work environment. (Author/JDD)

A study with 206 federal government employees reveals that degree of voluntary participation in quality circles is positively related to following quality circle guidelines and that following such guidelines is positively related to economic gain. Implications of voluntary and nonvoluntary participation on cost-benefit outcomes is discussed. (SLD)

Twelve deaf-mediating individuals (individuals with deafness who act as a link between the deaf community and the hearing society) were interviewed concerning cooperation and social relations with their hearing work colleagues, leisure time activities, and important factors in the enhancement of well-being in working life. (JDD)

Compares two empirical studies that examined user-defined relevance criteria in order to identify criteria that span information environments as well as criteria that are more situationally specific. One study used an academic environment with printed materials; the other studied occupational users of multimedia materials. (Author/LRW)

Examines unionization and job satisfaction among professional librarians in academic research institutions. A comparison of survey results of union and nonunion participants revealed the presence of unions has a negative relationship with job satisfaction; salaries and part-time status are also considered as predictors of job satisfaction.…