Merits

During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown and working from home (WFH) were two significant non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) deployed to stop the spread of the virus and also maintain economic activity. Lockdown caused significant socio-economic disruptions and varied in efficacy by location, even while it helped slow the spread of the virus and provided medical personnel with more time to respond to the crisis. WFH, however, was introduced to mitigate business collapse, and it presented crucial benefits such as flexibility and reduced commuting. However, it also presented major challenges, including work–life conflicts, productivity concerns, and mental health issues. By examining the short- and long-term effects of these NPIs on various sectors and demographics, this study assesses their efficacy in crisis management, and our results show that although WFH and lockdowns were essential for crisis management, their effectiveness varied depending on sectoral differences, timing, and implementation tactics. Furthermore, the ongoing shift towards hybrid work underscores the need for adaptive policies that balance productivity, mental well-being, and economic sustainability. Moreover, future research should focus on exploring the long-term implications of WFH and hybrid work models in order to ensure better preparedness for future crises and refine existing NPIs for more effective crisis management. Full article

This paper provides guidance for organizations and individuals to combat the subtle yet impactful discrimination of microaggressions. Drawing from interdisciplinary sources, it integrates insights from organizational science and health psychology, with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Through a review of 69 sources, including empirical studies, government reports, and policy analyses, the paper identifies where microaggressions are likely to occur, why they matter to managers, and how they can be addressed in the workplace. Practical, evidence-based strategies are offered to help reshape perceptions, reduce discriminatory behaviors, and create more equitable opportunities, ultimately fostering greater satisfaction and enabling diverse workplaces to reach their full potential. The findings emphasize the importance of mindful management and actionable DEI practices that drive meaningful change in workplace culture. By providing tools to recognize and respond to microaggressions, this paper contributes to broader efforts to reduce inequities and enhance the work environment, ensuring employees can thrive, regardless of their subgroup identities. Full article

This study conducts a bibliometric and altmetric analysis of women’s entrepreneurship, examining research trends, challenges, and contributions to sustainable development. By analyzing 6729 journal articles from the Web of Science (1975–2024), this study employs citation analysis, co-citation analysis, and co-word analysis, alongside altmetric indicators, to assess research impact. Visualization tools such as VOSViewer (version 16.20) were used to map the scholarly landscape. Key findings highlight critical themes, including gender disparities, financial barriers, socio-cultural challenges, and digital transformation, underscoring the crucial role of women entrepreneurs in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study identifies major research clusters, leading authors, and institutions that shape the field, while also revealing regional disparities in research output. The growing prevalence of open-access research has enhanced knowledge dissemination, yet access to financial and technological resources remains a challenge for women entrepreneurs. This study emphasizes the need for targeted policies to improve access to finance, digital tools, and entrepreneurial education, fostering an enabling ecosystem for women-led businesses. By integrating traditional bibliometric techniques with altmetrics, this research provides a comprehensive assessment of global trends in women’s entrepreneurship, offering valuable insights for academics, policymakers, and practitioners. It contributes to the literature on gender and entrepreneurship by identifying emerging themes and gaps, advocating for inclusive policies and enhanced support mechanisms to drive sustainable economic growth. Full article

The transition to a Circular Economy (CE) is a fundamental response to contemporary environmental and economic challenges. Sustainable human resource management (SHRM) is pivotal in equipping the workforce with green skills, reskilling strategies, and fostering organisational sustainability. This study undertakes a comparative analysis of Portugal and Sweden to examine the influence of SHRM strategies on CE adoption. Utilising Eurostat data and employing statistical analyses, the study assesses workforce training, circular material use, and green employment growth in both countries. The findings reveal that Sweden exhibits considerably higher engagement in workforce training (32.26% vs. 10.87% in Portugal), more prevalent circular material use (7.73% vs. 2.31%), and more consistent green job growth (higher R² in regression models). These findings underscore the pivotal role of well-designed public policies and SHRM strategies in fostering CE adoption, underscoring their alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs 8 and 12. The insights derived from this study are of significance for policymakers and organisations seeking to enhance workforce sustainability and circular business models. Full article

This study explores the marketing challenges perceived by aspiring entrepreneurs, focusing on undergraduate business students’ perspectives. Drawing on an empirical qualitative approach, this research utilizes data from semi-structured interviews with 31 students at a midwestern U.S. university to examine key barriers that hinder business development and growth. The research identifies five key themes: budget constraints, customer identification and engagement, branding and market differentiation, digital marketing barriers, and the role of education. The findings reveal that financial limitations and resource constraints hinder students’ ability to implement effective marketing strategies, while limited practical experience complicates customer engagement and market research efforts. Additionally, participants emphasized challenges in establishing distinct brand identities and adapting to rapidly evolving digital marketing tools. These insights align with existing entrepreneurial marketing theories, reinforcing the role of adaptability and resourcefulness in early-stage business ventures. Education emerged as both a strength and an area for improvement, with students valuing theoretical foundations but identifying gaps in hands-on, experiential learning opportunities. This study contributes to entrepreneurial marketing literature by highlighting the interplay between resource constraints, creativity, and adaptability in understanding marketing challenges. It further underscores the importance of integrating digital marketing competencies and alternative financing strategies, such as crowdfunding and fintech solutions, into entrepreneurship education. It also emphasizes the need for educational reforms that integrate practical applications, mentorship, and digital marketing training to prepare students for real-world entrepreneurial endeavors. By addressing these gaps, the findings offer actionable insights for educators, policymakers, and entrepreneurial support systems to better equip aspiring entrepreneurs for sustainable success. Full article

Mobbing, also referred to as workplace bullying, has significant impacts on employee behavior within organizational contexts, negatively affecting organizational performance. Consequently, promoting workplace well-being and individual performance emerges as a critical factor in mitigating the adverse effects associated with this phenomenon. This study aims to fill a gap in the research because it integrates a sequential mediation model, which elucidates the underlying mechanisms through which mobbing influences organizational outcomes. The research involved 388 workers from the public and private sectors, aged between 21 and 59 years, selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Despite its limitations, this method was chosen to ensure an adequate representation of employees experiencing workplace mobbing across different sectors. Data collection was carried out using the Luxembourg Workplace Mobbing Scale, the Job Performance Questionnaire, the Organizational Performance Questionnaire, and the Workplace Welfare Scale. The findings revealed that high levels of mobbing are significantly associated with a reduction in organizational performance. Furthermore, workplace well-being and individual performance were identified as serial mediators in this relationship, indicating that more harmonious work environments enhance individual efficacy, thereby contributing to improved organizational performance. These results highlight the importance of strategic interventions focused on promoting well-being in the workplace to promote healthier and more productive organizational cultures. Full article

The humility at work scale was developed to provide a numeric representation of the humility at work construct, defined as one’s estimate of low to modest self-importance in the act of doing the work itself and in relation to one’s role in doing the work. In prior studies, scores yielded by the scale have shown concurrent validity with measures of predicted union outcomes. In the present study, published and unpublished sample data were used to show convergent-discriminant validity as a demonstration of construct validity stemming from item-content validity. Using principal component analysis, four distinctive item-content domains were identified as interpretable: expressive humility, supportive humility, effective humility, and appreciative humility. Represented as item-subscales, yielded scores were found to show convergent-discriminant validity with scores yielded from measures of constructs thought to be related and unrelated to the humility construct, with the exception of scores yielded by the effective humility subscale. Included are discussion points for detected and undetected scale validity with an eye on scale use in prediction models and construct applications that bear on the experience of work in reference to supervisors and subordinates whether employed as union or nonunion employees and whether employed in union or nonunion work environments. Full article

As the fear of the spread of COVID-19 has faded, governments around the world are moving to lift strict behavioral restrictions. How should human resource management at overseas subsidiaries adapt to these system changes? To find the answer, this paper clarifies the anxiety of employees working at overseas subsidiaries after the strict behavioral restrictions introduced by governments during the spread of COVID-19 have been lifted, as well as the relationship between psychological and social resources and intention to leave. To this end, we applied and verified the analytical model of “China 2020”, which was conducted on 2973 people in East and South China from February to May 2020, the results of which have been published in previous studies, to psychological questionnaire data from “Wuhan 2023”, which was conducted on 813 people in Wuhan City from January to March 2023. As a result, it was shown that the analytical model based on the conservation of resources theory (COR) can be applied not only to China 2020 but also to Wuhan 2023. This study proposes an analytical framework that can be widely applied across time and place and can be used as a reference for foreign companies that lack local information on disasters that expand while the nature and impact of the damage change. Full article

Based on attachment theory, this research explores Secure Base Leadership’s (SBL) efficacy in mitigating the negative impact of emotional demands on employee exhaustion, with an aim to reduce burnout rates and improve workplace well-being. A survey sample of 428 Spanish employees from various sectors was collected, and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the research model. Emotional demands were found to significantly increase employee exhaustion, whereas SBL reduced and moderated these effects, proving its protective function. Furthermore, increased exhaustion was associated with longer tenure and employment in private organizations. Findings support integrating SBL in leadership development to foster a supportive environment, mitigate burnout, and boost employee well-being. Highlighting the application of attachment theory in organizational settings, this study contributes to understanding SBL’s effectiveness against emotional demands, guiding leadership practices to enhance organizational health. Full article

Leading multidisciplinary teams requires not only strong leadership skills, but also a supportive organizational environment. This study examines the key characteristics necessary for adaptive leadership and identifies the main organizational factors that facilitate its development. A systematic literature review, following the PRISMA-P protocol, was conducted, analyzing 33 studies on the traits of adaptive leaders and relevant organizational factors. Based on these findings, we propose a conceptual framework representing the feedback cycle of the adaptive leadership process within organizations and present three propositions associated with this model. The results indicate that the primary characteristics of adaptive leaders include flexibility, empathy, innovation, and long-term vision. Conversely, organizations possess factors that can either facilitate or hinder the development of adaptive leadership, such as organizational culture, structure, innovation history, and strategy. The findings emphasize that orchestrating adaptive teams during times of crisis is especially challenging, requiring additional competencies in resilience and adaptability. This study contributes to the literature by identifying the essential capabilities of adaptive leaders and discussing key considerations for leaders and practitioners seeking to transition from traditional to adaptive leadership. Full article

This study explores the motivations and constraints of Iranian women entrepreneurs within a restrictive socioeconomic and cultural landscape. It adopts a qualitative approach and utilizes semi-structured interviews to investigate the complex interplay between financial limitations, gender biases, and regulatory challenges entrepreneurs face. These findings underscore the importance of resilience, adaptability, and creativity for entrepreneurial success. Women entrepreneurs in Iran adopt incremental growth strategies, utilize digital platforms for market access, and cultivate informal networks to manage risks and scale their ventures. They also creatively integrate family responsibilities into their business models, highlighting the cultural shaping of their entrepreneurial activities. The concept of regulatory adaptation was introduced to illustrate how entrepreneurs restructure their operations to comply with stringent government regulations while sustaining growth. The emotional burden of navigating these hurdles is also evident, emphasizing the need for support mechanisms that address mental health and well-being. Policy implications are discussed, and enhancements in financial access, gender equality, digital entrepreneurship, and mental health support for women entrepreneurs are recommended. This study contributes to the entrepreneurship theory by understanding how sociocultural contexts influence women’s entrepreneurial activities and resilience strategies. Full article

In recent years, the role of leadership in increasing employee satisfaction (ES) has received significant attention, with emotional intelligence (EI) emerging as a key factor in promoting effective leadership (EL) in organizations. Although research has demonstrated the positive impact of EI on workplace outcomes, the interplay between perceived LE, EI, and ES remains underexplored. This research is part of this theme and aims to investigate the influence of the perceived levels of LE and EI of SE leaders in the work environment. This study highlights the importance of integrating emotionally intelligent leaders into organizational structures to improve SE, which subsequently contributes to organizational success. A quantitative methodology was used, with data collected through the application of three questionnaires: one to assess the perception of LE, another to measure EI, and a third to assess SE. The results indicated a positive correlation between all constructs. Employees with more favorable perceptions of their leaders’ EI levels and leadership effectiveness reported greater workplace satisfaction. We also found that LE and EI significantly predicted ES. These findings emphasize the need to foster leadership that is not only competent, but also emotionally intelligent to increase workplace satisfaction and productivity. Full article

Introduction: The objective of this narrative review is to examine the health risks associated with informal mining in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with a particular focus on HIV prevention. It aims to review existing interventions targeting this population and identify challenges and opportunities for improvement. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library. Studies and reports published between 2000 and 2023 that focused on occupational health risks and HIV prevention interventions in the informal mining sector of SSA were included in the analysis. Results: Informal mining in SSA presents significant health risks to workers, including exposure to hazardous substances, poor working conditions, and limited access to healthcare. These factors, combined with the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the region, make informal miners particularly vulnerable to infection. The review identified several key themes related to occupational health risks, such as poor environmental and sanitation conditions, increased vulnerability due to factors like poverty and lack of education, and limited access to healthcare services. A variety of interventions have been implemented to address HIV prevention among informal miners in SSA. These include behavioral strategies like peer education and social marketing campaigns, as well as biomedical interventions such as counseling, testing, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). However, challenges persist in delivering effective HIV prevention services to this population. These challenges include restricted access to healthcare, the high mobility of miners, limited resources, and stigma associated with HIV. Conclusions: The findings of this review highlight the urgent need for integrated health services and tailored interventions that address the specific issues faced by informal miners in SSA. Community-based and culturally sensitive programs, developed in collaboration with mining communities, are essential for effective HIV prevention. Future research should evaluate the long-term impact of interventions and explore their scalability. To improve intervention effectiveness and sustainability, stakeholders should focus on community engagement, strengthening health systems, and addressing structural barriers. A multi-sectoral approach is necessary to tackle the broader determinants of health in mining communities. Full article

Burnout among pharmacists is an increasingly urgent concern, with previous studies emphasizing its physical, psychological, and occupational consequences. However, limited research has explored specific burnout experiences and their impact on turnover intentions among Filipino pharmacists. This study examined the association between burnout, its symptoms, and turnover intentions among pharmacists in Metro Manila, Philippines. We used the Burnout Assessment Tool and Turnover Intention Scale to conduct a cross-sectional study among 300 community and hospital pharmacists. A multiple logistic regression analysis examined the association between burnout and turnover intentions among pharmacists. Of the 300 pharmacists, 73.0% were at risk of or experiencing severe burnout, and 75.7% reported a turnover intention. Pharmacists at risk of or experiencing severe burnout showed a higher likelihood of leaving their jobs (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 7.59; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 3.68, 15.64), especially if they felt exhausted (AOR = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.27, 4.89) or mentally distant (AOR = 3.92, 95% CI = 1.95, 7.86) from their work. Furthermore, dissatisfaction with salary, lack of incentives and promotions, and insufficient staffing emerged as other factors associated with the desire to leave. Addressing pharmacists’ physical and mental well-being, alongside workplace improvements, is crucial for reducing turnover intentions. Full article

The role of talent management is to ensure that employees’ special skills and talents are identified, and that the right jobs are assigned along their career paths. This study examines the relationship between talent management and employee retention within the Saudi Arabia government sector, specifically among civil service employees working for the Saudi government. A sample size of 440 participants was used in the study. The results revealed that talent management practices are positively related to employee retention. These findings highlight the importance for organizations, especially in the public sector, to implement effective talent retention strategies to retain their most skilled employees over the long term. This research contributes to closing the existing gap in understanding talent management and retention within the context of Saudi Arabia’s civil service sector. Full article

This study aimed to assess the contribution of leadership to Total Quality Management (TQM) implementation in secondary education and to determine the extent of TQM practices, as perceived by teachers, within the Ioannina region, NW Greece. The study also explored how these perceptions relate to various variables. A quantitative approach was employed, involving 128 teachers from secondary education schools in the Ioannina region, NW Greece. The findings illuminate the profound influence of leadership on successful TQM implementation. Effective leaders foster a climate of collaboration, provide resources, and encourage teamwork, ultimately contributing to the enhancement of teaching and learning quality. Moreover, this research study underscores the compatibility of the TQM and EFQM principles in promoting quality enhancement within educational settings. The EFQM Leadership score was calculated by averaging the ratings of leadership behaviors like collaboration, communication, and decision making. The results reveal a strong commitment to TQM principles, with overall TQM and EFQM Leadership scores of 3.58 (±0.11) and 3.46 (±0.30), respectively. The EFQM Leadership dimensions demonstrated significant alignment, particularly in areas such as teacher participation and communication of quality standards. However, there is room for improvement in encouraging two-way communication and ensuring consistent leadership decision implementation. This study highlights the crucial role of effective leadership in fostering a culture of quality and excellence in secondary education, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, communication, and alignment with EFQM principles for successful TQM implementation. Full article

Poor lifestyle behaviors, including unhealthy dietary habits, lack of physical activity, smoking, inadequate and poor-quality sleep, and alcohol consumption, are well-documented risk factors for health deterioration. Previous studies have suggested that such undesirable lifestyle behaviors may mediate the effects of long working hours on negative health outcomes. This protocol paper aims to introduce and outline the methods for this scoping review. The proposed scoping review will map the existing research on the relationship between working hours and lifestyle behaviors, identifying areas and gaps in the evidence that warrant further investigation. This review will include only peer-reviewed, published articles written in English. All studies examining the relationship or effects of working hours on the five a priori defined major lifestyle components will be considered (diet, physical activity, tobacco use, sleep, and alcohol use), without restrictions on region, publication year, or study design. This review will be performed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. The databases will include MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. The search equation will be structured to include the topic of working hours while also encompassing at least one of the five lifestyle topics: physical activity, diet, sleep, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption. Two reviewers will screen the articles and extract pertinent data. This investigation will primarily focus on evaluating the existing evidence and identifying any gaps in understanding the relationship between working hours and each lifestyle component. A narrative summary will be presented to explain the findings of the included studies. Full article

Despite advances in understanding the factors that predict unethical behaviors such as counterproductive workplace behavior (CWB), there is still substantial variance left unexplained in the occurrence of unethical behavior. Recent research has examined how unethical behavior may change beyond initially reported levels due to the gradual erosion of ethicality via justification processes such as moral disengagement. The present study extends this research by examining the role of personality in determining the extent to which individuals make subsequent unethical decisions at greater or lower levels beyond their initial levels. Studies 1 and 2 used an experimental design that presents half of participants with an opportunity to practice moral disengagement by allowing participants to justify their actions. Results in study 1 demonstrate that individuals with high levels of dark personality traits tend to increase their level of unethical decision making when given the chance to justify their actions, whereas those with low levels of dark personality become less unethical. Study 2 examines the extent to which the mediating role of perceived justice changes when participants are given an opportunity to justify their actions. Results from study 2 show the effects of justice as a mediating mechanism are significantly diminished when the justification manipulation is present. Implications emphasize the need to use both selection and development interventions in organizations to reduce gradual decreases in ethicality as well as reduced reliance on cross-sectional research to study a phenomenon that can change as unethical behavior is justified. Full article

The multifaceted challenges posed by globalization, medical advancements, conflicts and crises necessitate a critical examination of social and organizational inclusion. Despite the acknowledged advantages of inclusive leadership (IL), there remains a significant research gap concerning the perceptions of IL among diverse employee groups, particularly within heterogeneous organizations. This study aims to bridge this gap by exploring the perceptions of IL across various sociodemographic groups within fintech companies in Lithuania. By concentrating on this rapidly evolving sector, this research enhances the understanding of IL by assessing how sociodemographic variables influence perceptions of inclusive leadership practices. A total of 236 responses were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests, supplemented by the Bonferroni correction to ensure statistical robustness. The findings elucidate the dynamics of IL within the fast-paced fintech environment, revealing unique challenges and opportunities to foster organizational inclusivity. The implications of this research provide actionable insights for industry leaders striving to implement IL strategies that empower minority groups and enhance overall organizational performance. Although the results indicate that fintech organizations have made strides in embedding IL principles, these advancements are not uniformly experienced across diverse employee demographics. Specifically, this study identifies significant disparities in IL perceptions between employees of other genders and those with health-related impairments. Acknowledging certain limitations, particularly the small sample sizes of some examined employee subgroups, this study advocates for further research to yield generalizable findings that can inform and improve inclusive organizational practices. Full article