Workplace internet leisure and employees’ productivity

an article by Jihad Mohammad and Farzana Quoquab (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Malaysia), Siti Halimah (University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia) and Ramayah Thurasamy (Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Malaysia) published in Internet Research Volume 29 Issue 4 (2019)

Abstract

Purpose
There is an on-going debate about the role of workplace internet leisure (WIL) and whether it is a vice or virtue. Considering this, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of WIL on workplace outcome variables such as employee satisfaction (ES) and employee productivity in the Malaysian context.

Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire that yielded 282 responses. Partial least square technique using SmartPLS-3 was used to test the study hypotheses.

Findings
Findings reveal that workplace WIL, workplace WIL policy and workplace autonomy orientation (WAO) affect employees’ satisfaction. Additionally, the mediating role of ES was found to be significant.

Practical implications
The findings of this study are valuable for both managers and policy makers. These results can benefit the managers of conventional banks in Malaysia to decide how to enhance employees’ satisfaction and productivity by focusing on the key drivers such as WIL, workplace internet leisure policy (WILP) and WAO.

Originality/value
This is a pioneering study which suggests that moderate use of WIL can have a positive and significant effect on workplace outcome variables. Moreover, this study theorised ES as a mediating variable; this helps to explain how organisations can transform workplace resources in term of internet leisure, WILP and WAO into high productivity by elevating employees’ satisfaction.

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Employee wellbeing: the impact on productivity and firm performance

an article by Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, Christian Krekel and George Ward ;published in CentrePiece Volume24 Issue 2 (July 2019)

Abstract

Does having happier staff mean higher productivity and improvements in companies’ bottom line? A study of over 1.8 million employees across 73 countries by Christian Krekel, George Ward and Jan-Emmanuel De Neve detects a strong positive correlation between employee well-being, productivity and firm performance.

JEL Classification: I31, J24, J25

Read full CentrePiece article (PDF 4pp)

This article summarises 'Employee Wellbeing, Productivity and Firm Performance' by Christian Krekel, George Ward and Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, CEP Discussion Paper No. 1605 (PDF 45pp)

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Achieving employee wellbeing in a changing work environment: An expert commentary on current scholarship

an article by Ellen Ernst Kossek (Michigan State University, USA), Thomas Kalliath (Australian National University, Canberra, Australia) and Parveen Kalliath (Australian Catholic University, Canberra, Australia) published in International Journal of Manpower Volume 33 Issue 7 (2012)

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this expert commentary is to provide an overview of current scholarship on changes occurring in the work environment and its impact on employee well-being. The commentary touches on frontier issues such as measurement of healthy work environment, positive and negative changes in work environment influencing employee well-being, link between employee productivity and well-being, challenges in converting theory into practice, sustainable organisational behaviour, workplace wellness, and several other issues germane to the special issue.
Design/methodology/approach
The expert commentary explicates the current state of scholarship in relation to the theme of the special issue. The design of the expert commentary, a scholarly conversation between the Guest Editors and University Distinguished Professor Ellen Ernst Kossek, provides an easy to access summary of the current knowledge in the area. This format is intended to inform readers of IJM and to stimulate further scholarship in the area.
Findings
The expert commentary provides a gist of key findings in the extant area of research, serving to inform readers about what we know, do not know, and fruitful areas for further enquiry.
Originality/value
It provides an overview of current knowledge in the area.

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