Rettferdighetsoppfattelsen : ikke-økonomiske prestasjonsmål og tillit

This thesis reviews the behavioural effects of one of management accountings most extensively applied control tools: The performance appraisal. Employees are subject to performance appraisal on a regular basis, influencing perceptions of the employer, ourselves and our work life. It is on this perception we act, making appraisal a powerful tool. The adaption of social exchange theory and a multifoci perspective provides a relevant framework for the thesis, identifying several key variables of human behaviour. The research model presents four variables linked to performance appraisal. It is hypothesized that nonfinancial performance measures in performance evaluation are positively associated with trust in the superior or with trust in the organization. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that this effect is mediated by perceptions of procedural and interactional justice; whether procedures and processes at work are fair and whether the interpersonal and informational treatment of the employee is fair, respectively. To examine the research questions, structural equation modelling and the statistical modelling tool LISREL is applied on a data sample gathered at a middle sized European real estate company. The survey and research design facilitates statistical analyses by examining individuals’ perceptions of the importance of financial and non-financial performance indicators, trust and justice. The results indicate that performance appraisal based on non-financial performance indicators have a meaningful effect on employees’ trust in the organization and in the superior. Additionally, the indirect effect of non-financial performance indicators on justice is substantially larger than the effect of financial indicators, indicating that non-financial performance measures are perceived as more just. Finally, the results indicate that an alternative approach, where focus is shifted towards corporate strategy instead of financial and non-financial indicators, may be more appropriate in explaining the effects of performance appraisal on behaviour

Seasonal variations in work-related health effects in swine farm workers

The aim of the project was to investigate whether there were diminished health effects in swine farm workers during summer compared with winter, as seasonal differences in concentrations of bioaerosols have been reported. Twenty-four workers were visited once during each season. Before and after a work shift, they underwent lung function testing and blood sampling. During work, they wore personal air sampling equipment. The mean endotoxin exposure of the workers was highest during winter (25,690 vs. 6,553 EU/m3; p = 0.004). Although exposures to endotoxin and CO2 varied between the seasons, no differences in lung function were found between them. White blood cell concentration increased over the work shift from 5.74–6.82 in winter (p < 0.0001) and from 5.80–6.38 in summer (p = 0.014). These increases differed between the two seasons (p = 0.032). Plasma tumour necrosis factor concentrations fell over the work shift only during winter (1.34–1.24 pg/ml (p = 0.03) (p = 0.014 for the difference between seasons). Plasma interleukin-6 increased over the work shift independently of season (p = 0.0006). The study supported our hypothesis of adverse effects on lung function and immune system, but less so during summer than during winter among Québec swine farm workers

Work-related health effects in swine building workers after respiratory protection use

Objective: To compare inflammation and lung function in swine workers after periods with and without respiratory protection during work. Methods: Twenty-three workers were examined before and after two nonprotected work shifts. One shift was preceded by a period with diminished exposure by use of respirators. The other shift was preceded by an unprotected period of work. Results: Endotoxin concentrations were similarly high (24,636 and 28,775 endotoxin units/m3). A 3.1% cross-shift decline in forced vital capacity occurred after the period with respiratory protection (P = 0.01). Blood leukocytes increased more (P = 0.01) and bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein was reduced (P = 0.015) only after the period with respiratory protection. Plasma interleukin-6 increased (P < 0.0001) during both visits. Conclusion: Respiratory protection resulted in cross-shift inflammatory and respiratory reactions at return to unprotected work

Serum selenium levels and asthma among seafood processing workers in Greenland

Selenium levels in the Inuit population of Greenland have been declining during the last decades. The association between Selenium and asthma has been investigated previously, but with conflicting results. The objective was to measure human serum Se (s-Se) in Greenlandic seafood processing workers, to compare with levels recorded in previous decades and to establish if s-Se is associated with asthma or lung function. Data, including questionnaire answers, spirometry, skin-prick test and s-Se from 324 seafood processing workers in Greenland were collected during 2016–2017. Mean s-Se values were compared by t-test and one-way ANOVA. Associations between s-Se and asthma, symptoms from the lower airways at work and lung function were assessed using linear regression. The mean s-Se was 96.2 µg/L. S-Se was higher among non-smokers and workers living in settlements. Workers with asthma did not have s-Se levels significantly different from those of non-asthmatics. We found a positive association between s-Se levels and FEV(1) values. Selenium levels appear to continue declining in Greenland, presumably because of a more Westernised lifestyle. The health effects of declining Selenium levels remain unclear. We did not establish an association between s-Se and asthma, but we did record a positive association between s-Se and FEV(1)