Building a culture of workplace wellness: Perspectives from Philippine organizations

This study explored approaches to building a culture of wellness in the workplace from a developing country perspective. Focus group discussions with HR practitioners and health professionals in the Philippines were conducted. Deductive thematic analysis was used to organize the data. Results showed that organizations use a variety of strategies in building workplace wellness, which could be classified using the CREATE framework – Communicate, Role model, Engage employees, Align systems, structures and policies, Train, Evaluate and reinforce. The identified strategies and CREATE framework can be utilized as a guide for organizations planning to implement workplace wellness initiatives in a holistic manner

Leading in Crisis

How different are the requirements for leadership during crisis from leadership during “normal” times? The chapter highlights studies and cases, that differentiates the leadership role in a crisis - the element of urgency makes the time window for decisions and actions much narrower and the intensity of the situation also evoke more passionate emotions from stakeholders that the leader has to deal with. A summary of what effective crisis leadership may look like, as reported in the academic and business management literature as well as the real-life experiences in the local scenario is discussed. In this summary, the phases are compressed into three: Pre crisis which consists of Preparedness, Crisis, where the focus is Containment of the situation, and Post Crisis where the goal is Adaptive Resolution and Learning. Throughout this chapter, it is apparent that leadership during crisis is replete with major challenges of time pressure, surprises, intense emotions and being in the public eye. In the recent months of the pandemic worldwide, the public has had a good occasion to distinguish between the leaders who deliver and those who disappoint. An experienced and seasoned leader with ample competencies and the commitment to serve is likely to perform successfully during a crisis, but unexpected circumstances may also still cause him to falter. There is no foolproof formula for success. But, future leaders are fortunate that they can learn from the lessons and best practices of others and emulate those who shine during crises

Work Attitudes Of Filipino Employees During The COVID-19 Crisis

The purpose of this study is to explore attitudes of Filipino employees toward work during the COVID-19 crisis. Data was collected through an online survey distributed to workers in the Philippines, and qualitative responses from 106 participants were subjected to thematic analysis. Several themes that reflect favorable and unfavorable attitudes toward job and work tasks, work arrangements, employers, as well as work-life balance, health, and sustainability emerged from the data. These themes were described using the tripartite (or affect-behavior-cognition) model of attitudes. Results of the study emphasize the importance of context in shaping employee attitudes, and suggest different ways organizations can help improve employees’ experiences and perception of work during and beyond the COVID-19 crisis

Examining Organizational Response and Employee Coping Behaviors amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Using the crisis in context theory (CCT) as an ecological framework to understanding human behaviors, the study examined organizational responses and individual employee coping behaviors to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing from the perspectives of psychology, organization development, and management, the research examined dependent and independent organization and self-initiated actions that employees deemed helpful in coping with the effects of the crisis. Qualitative data were gathered through online survey from 216 employees in the Philippines, a developing country whose major cities were on community quarantine to minimize the spread of the pandemic. The study identified organizational actions or responses to help employees adapt to the COVID-19 crisis. These are: 1) flexible work arrangements, 2) mental health and well-being programs, 3) physical health and safety measures, 4) financial support, 5) provision of material resources, and 6) communication of short and long term plans. Findings also surfaced coping strategies at the individual employee level and how these relate to organizational initiatives. Seven themes emerged from the data- 1) task-focused coping, 2) stress management, 3) social coping, 4) cognitive strategies, 5) learning and development activities, 6) faith-oriented coping, and 7) maladaptive strategies. The analysis highlighted the interrelatedness of organizational responses and employee actions (e.g. how individual task/social coping behaviors were enabled by the company\u27s flexible work arrangements and provision of technological resources amidst physical distancing). Insights from the findings may orient organizational efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic as well as encourage and support positive employee coping behaviors

Community Engagement Experiences of Social Entrepreneurs in Rural Communities

Using the lens of interpretative phenomenological analysis, this study explored the community engagement experiences of six social entrepreneurs working with rural communities in the Philippines and how they made meaning of their community engagement experience. Data were gathered through semistructured interviews. The findings illustrate how engaging with rural communities through social entrepreneurship is a way for the entrepreneurs to help communities uplift their economic condition and to achieve other social goals such as improvement of the community’s quality of life and environmental sustainability. Social entrepreneurship was also a way to help empower communities as well as build their capabilities, shape positive values through culture building, and nurture relationships. Implications of the study to social enterprise research and policy, community engagement programs, and leader development are discussed

Exploring the Work-Life Balance Crafting, Work-Family Conflict and Well-Being of Workers in Dual Income Relationships

This study contributes to literature on workers in dual income relationships by examining the work-life balance crafting that they utilize. Using the JD-R model as a framework, it explores the relationship of work-life balance crafting with demands, resources, work-family conflict and well-being. Interviews were conducted with 12 participants to help construct the scales for the quantitative survey. Then, survey data from 252 workers in dual income relationships was utilized to measure the various constructs. Factor analysis resulted into eight work-life balance crafting factors. Four (nurturing social relationships, working productively, managing time and planning, and strengthening faith and service) had significant negative correlations with work- life conflict. On the other hand, all work-life balance crafting factors had significant positive correlations with well-being. Structural equation modeling suggested that work-life balance crafting partially mediates the relationship between demands and work-life conflict, and fully mediates the relationship the between resources and well-being. Results highlight the importance of work-life balance crafting in increasing well-being and decreasing work-family conflict among workers in dual income relationships

Hearing narrative voices of Filipino social enterprise employees

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the personal and contextual factors that shape the work experiences of Filipino social enterprise employees by listening to voices within their narratives. Design/methodology/approach In total, 11 social enterprise employees were interviewed about their work experiences. Using the Listening Guide as a method of analysis, common themes and the multiple voices within the narratives were identified. Findings Upon analysis, four stories were identified: stories of serving others, stories of providing for family, stories of managing relationships and stories of personal learning. Results show that the experiences and multiple identities of employees evoke the duality and hybridity that characterizes social enterprise organizations. The importance of relationships in collectivist cultures, and the salience of the indigenous concept of kapwa are also discussed. Research limitations/implications The use of narratives, and particularly, of voices within narratives as a critical tool to study work experiences is highlighted. Generalizability of results may be limited by contextual factors, such as organization type and country culture. Originality/value In this study, the narratives of social enterprise workers from different positions were explored. The voices within their narratives were analyzed and used as a means to understand how they viewed the self, others, and their work in social enterprises embedded in collectivist and developing country contexts

Filipinos Behind Closed Doors: Nonsexual and Sexual Constructs as Predictors of Relationship and Sexual Satisfaction in Filipino Individuals

This study explored the relationships of nonsexual constructs and sexual constructs on sexual and relationship satisfaction among Filipinos. A sample of 442 Filipino individuals in a relationship completed self-report questionnaires. Data was analyzed through path analysis. The model showed that sexual satisfaction has a strong positive influence on relationship satisfaction. Moreover, emotional intimacy directly influenced sexual and relationship satisfaction. Sexual satisfaction exhibited a stronger association with relationship satisfaction than emotional intimacy. Overall, findings suggest that sex and sexual activities are crucial to Filipinos’ relationship satisfaction. Implications for marital therapy in the country and future research are discussed