Exploring the Role of Workplace Flexibility and Trust in Reducing Employee Turnover Intentions: The Moderating Influence of Reciprocation Wariness in Hybrid Work Environments

Employee turnover remains a significant challenge in hybrid work environments, where workplace flexibility is often seen as a retention strategy. This study examines the relationship between flexible workplace arrangements (flexplace) and turnover intentions, with felt trust as a mediator and reciprocation wariness as a moderator. Using Social Exchange Theory and the Norm of Reciprocity, this research explores how workplace flexibility fosters trust and reduces turnover intentions while accounting for employees’ skepticism toward reciprocation. A cross-sectional survey of 382 employees from the Philippine Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry revealed that flexplace is significantly associated with lower turnover intentions. Mediation analysis indicated that felt trust partially explains this relationship, though its effect was marginally significant. The moderated mediation analysis showed that reciprocation wariness significantly moderates the mediation pathway; however, its conditional indirect effects across levels were only marginally significant. These findings highlight the need for organizations to pair workplace flexibility with trust-building initiatives to maximize its impact. Future research should explore additional mediating factors and assess long-term effects in hybrid work settings

The Role of South Korea in the Strategic Rivalry between China and United States of America

The beginning of the 21st century was marked by the intensification of the Sino-American confrontation due to armed conflicts, competition for resources, and spheres of influence. South Korea, as one of the main strategic partners of both countries, needs to choose a clear foreign policy strategy to maintain the balance of power in the region. The purpose of the study is to identify the main factors and key trends in shaping the role and influence of South Korea on China-United States of America relations by studying it as one of the most important geopolitical regions in the rivalry between the two countries. The following methods were used: system analysis, scenario modeling, comparison, generalization, the statistical method, and the historical-systemic method. The prehistory, basic features, and characteristic features of Sino-American relations have been studied. The main spheres shaping the relationship between the two states in the 21st century have been identified. The most acute problems and the most important sectors in the field of international relations that create contradictions in the cooperation between China and the United States of America are summarized. The role and place of South Korea in the strategic confrontation between Beijing and Washington are outlined. The level of Seoul’s influence on some areas of interaction between the two states is emphasized. The Korean aspect in Sino-American relations, as a determining factor in balancing the confrontation between the countries, is analyzed; the main areas of interaction between the Chinese and American sides with representatives of the Korean political elite are considered and studied. The result of the study was an emphasis on the predominant role of Washington in choosing the modern vector of development of the South Korean state, as well as on the gradual cooling of cooperation between Seoul and Beijing, especially in the spheres of trade, economics, and financial relations. It is also found that South Korea is the main element in solving the North Korean problem in the context of preserving peace on the peninsula and strengthening the influence of one of the opposing countries in the region. The results and conclusions of the work can be used as a basis for further research on the topic – in the context of the development and implementation of state strategies and plans for the conduct of foreign policy

The role of over-indebtedness stress and trait resilience on work withdrawal in the workplace

Stress from massive personal financial obligations has become an increasing concern globally and locally. The literature showed strong evidence of the grave consequences of indebtedness that result in an individual’s decreased overall wellness. This study explores how indebtedness stress affects the work behavior of employees. This study utilized the experience sampling methodology (ESM), which identifies the behavior patterns within an individual over time. The 35 employees who experienced over-indebtedness were subjected to this record of their daily personal indebtedness stress, threat appraisal on stress, self-regulation depletion, and work withdrawal. The study revealed the positive indirect effect of indebtedness stress on self-regulation depletion through threat appraisal and the positive indirect effect of financial stress on work withdrawal through threat appraisal and self-regulation depletion. The result means that indebtedness stress can persist when employees lack social support. Moreover, resilience was also shown to have a significant role in the effect of indebtedness stress on workplace withdrawal. This study provides revelatory insights into indebtedness research, considering the dearth of literature on indebtedness stress in the organizational setting. The results of this study can provide insights to help managers understand and deal with employees experiencing work-life interference problems; specifically employees having debt problems

Multi elemental analysis and risk assessment of E-cigarette vapor using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy

The increasing prevalence of e-cigarette use, particularly among Filipino youth, raises significant public health concerns regarding potential exposure to heavy metals from closed-system devices. This study aims to quantitatively analyze the presence of heavy metals in e-cigarette aerosol and assess the associated inhalation risks. Utilizing Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), the research detected six heavy metals elements—chromium , copper, iron, manganese, nickel, and lead—in e-cigarette aerosol, with cadmium found to be undetectable. The inhalation exposure assessment revealed that certain metal concentrations exceeded the Recommended Exposure Limits (REL) established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), raising critical safety concerns for consumers. Additionally, the inhalation cancer risk assessment highlighted significant risks associated with prolonged exposure to chromium and nickel, emphasizing the potential long-term health implications of using closed-system e-cigarettes. The study confirmed that toxic metals leach from the heating elements of e-cigarettes, with significant levels of chromium, nickel, and lead detected in the aerosol. Given these preliminary findings, future research is strongly encouraged to expand the analysis to include additional toxic metals such as arsenic, as well as the incorporation of a larger sample size with multiple brands and flavors. Future researchers are also encouraged to establish a Limit of Detection and Quantification for data reliability, standardization of puffing simulations. and employing speciation analysis