The temporary agency worker’s motivation profile analysis

The Self-Determination Theory (SDT) establishes that human motivations can take different forms (e.g., amotivation, extrinsic and intrinsic motivation), yet it is only recently that the theory has been advanced to explain how these different forms combine to influence temporary agency workers’ (TAWs) affective commitment and their perception over the human resources practices (HRP) applied. We tested this theory with data from seven temporary agency companies (N = 3766). Through latent profile analysis (LPA) we identified five distinct motivation profiles and found that they differed in their affective commitment to the agency and to the client-company, and in their perception of HRP. We verified that temporary agency workers in more intrinsic profiles had more positive outcomes and a better perception of the investment made by the companies, than did TAWs in more extrinsic profiles. Additionally, when TAWs were able to integrate the reasons for being in this work arrangement, the negative effect of the extrinsic motivation was attenuated, and it was possible to find moderated profiles in which TAWs also showed more positive results than TAWs with only extrinsic motives. These differences are consistent with the notion that a motivation profile provides a context that determines how the individual components are experienced. Theoretical and practical implications of this context effect are discussed.publishersversionpublishe

A psychometric assessment of a human resources practice measure for temporary agency workers

Studies have proposed and validated several measures that evaluate employee's perceptions of the human resources practices (HRP). However, given the changes occurring in the labor market, there is a need to develop a measure specially adapted to the contingent workers specific employment relationship. Thus, this study assesses an HRP system scale that was administered to temporary agency workers (TAW) to examine the scale's response process, internal structure and relation to other variables (i.e., affective commitment). The measure was administered to 4,551 Portuguese TAW. The Messick's validation framework (1995) was use and two sectors were compared. Descriptive analyses, scale reliabilities, item characteristics, exploratory, confirmatory, and multiple group analyses demonstrated that the measure had good psychometric properties. Moreover, there were positive correlations between the HRP scale and affective commitment. The results contribute to a better understanding of managing TAW's in agencies and client companies. HRP are a valuable method for "communicating" with these workers, who are then able to recognize and respond to the investment. This is the first study to develop and assess the psychometric properties of an HRP system measure for TAW and to cross-validate it with workers' affective commitment towards both companies that are involved in this employment relation.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Dealing with temporariness: generational effects on temporary agency workers’ employment relationships

Purpose: A major trend in the changing nature of work is the increasing use of temporary workers. Although common among students, older employees have joined the ranks of temporary workers as they extend their work lives. Temporary workers tend to report lower affective commitment and consequently poorer work outcomes. However, different generations of workers may conceive temporary work differently from each other. The purpose of this paper is to explore how different generations of temporary workers, respond to human resource practices (HRP), which in turn influences their affective commitment and work performance. Design/methodology/approach: The sample is comprised of 3,876 temporary agency workers (TAWs) from seven temporary employment agencies in Portugal. The authors undertook multiple group SEM analyses to test a moderated mediation model that accounts for TAWs’ affective commitment (toward the agency and the client company) across three generations (Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials) in the relationship between human resources practices and overall perceived performance. Findings: After controlling for gender, age and tenure, the authors find generational differences in the perceptions of HRP and perceived performance. The results support the moderator effect of generations in the direct and indirect relationships – through both affective commitments – between TAWs’ perceived HRP and perceived performance. Research limitations/implications: The cross-sectional design limits the possibility to make causal inferences. Originality/value: This study contributes to a better understanding of how different generations respond to temporary employment relationships. The findings suggest important differences in the way in which the same HRP system relates (directly and indirectly thorough affective commitment toward the client) with their perceived performance across different generations.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Competences development and turnover intentions : the serial mediation effect of perceived internal employability and affective commitment

Purpose – This study aims to explore the serial mediation effect of perceived internal employability and affective commitment in the relationship between the organisational practices of competences development and turnover intentions. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology was quantitative and is based on a survey with a sample of 313 participants, all of whom were employed in several organisations located in Portugal. Findings – A significant and negative effect of organisational practices of competences development, perceived internal employability and affective commitment on turnover intentions was verified. A total serial mediation effect was also found from perceived internal employability and affective commitment in the relationship between organisational practices of competences development (i.e., training, individualised support and functional rotation) and turnover intentions. Practical implications – These practices should be developed by leaders of organisations in order that employees feel that the organisation is investing in their development, which can lead to an increase in their emotional attachment towards the organisation and consequently increase their desire to stay in the organisation. Originality/value – This study makes two important contributions. First, it confirms the existence of a significant and negative relationship between perceived internal employability and turnover intentions. Second, it proves the existence of a total serial mediation effect of perceived internal employability and affective commitment in the relationship between organisational practices of competences development and turnover intentions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Competences development and organisational commitment : mediation through employability and moderation by generation

The main objective of this study is to test the mediating effect of perceived internal employability on the relationship between organisational practices of competences development and affective commitment, and also to test the moderating effect of different generations in this mediation. The sample has 302 participants, who are employees in several organisations based in Portuguese territory. We verified the mediating effect of the employability perception in the relationship between organisational practices of competences development (individualised support and functional rotation) and affective commitment. Regarding the moderating effect of the generations, this effect was verified in the relationship between the organisational competences development practices and the affective commitment in the liaison between the organisational practices of competences development and the perception of internal employability and in the connection between the perception of internal employability and affective commitment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Plasticity of coping styles in farmed fish: behavioural and neuro-endocrine profiling

Tese de doutoramento, Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2016Intensive aquaculture practices frequently expose fish to a range of stressors. Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) is the most important farmed species in the Mediterranean, and like in other vertebrates, exhibit pronounced individual differences in stress responsiveness, however to which extent such variability is part of coping styles remains unclear. As such, this Thesis aimed to provide methods and tools to analyse coping styles in seabream, with specific reference to the presence, variability and consistency of individual trait correlations relevant to fish welfare. Using an evolutionary approach, it integrated and explored the adaptive links between behaviour, physiology and brain function, especially aiming to explore individual variation in adaptive responses of seabream when exposed to the same stressful situation. The background and consequences of coping styles in aquaculture is introduced in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 aims to quantify individual differences in cortisol response in seabream and to assess whether it can predict aggressive behaviour. Results provided the first evidence for a link between HPI responsiveness and aggressive behaviour in seabream. This suggests that individual differences in aggression are part of coping styles and therefore can be predictive of and predicted from other traits. In Chapter 4, it was investigated, for the first time in seabream, whether individual differences in behavioural responses to a variety of challenges are consistent over time and across contexts using both individual and grouped-based tests. Results suggest consistency over time and across-context in behavioural responses to challenges both using individual and grouped-based tests. This study highlights the possibility to predict behaviour in groups from individual coping traits. One of the traits that has been shown to be consistent over time and across context in the Chapter 4 was the escape response under a restraining test. Using this trait as a proxy of coping styles in seabream the consistency of escape behaviour was investigated in Chapter 5 and 6. In Chapter 5 we investigated the effect of avoidance in gilthead seabream kept under different social contexts, i.e. the influence of other group members on individual avoidance behaviour consistency. The results demonstrate that grouping individuals with similar coping styles induces changes in coping styles whereas grouping individuals with different coping styles favours coping styles to remain the same. These findings suggest an influence of the social environment in seabream coping styles. In Chapter 6 we investigate the long term consistency of coping styles both, over time and during different life history stages. Our results show consistent behaviour traits in seabream when juveniles, and a loss of these behavioural traits when adults. Therefore, these results underline that adding a life history approach to data interpretation is as an essential step forward towards understanding coping styles. Chapter 7 aimed to characterize the stress coping ability and brain function in seabream, by investigating the behavioural and forebrain physiological responses of fish displaying contrasting coping styles to the same stimulus (escape response under a restraining test). Results show differences in activation of region-specific telencephalic regions between seabream displaying contrasting coping styles. It confirms the hypothesis that in seabream, inhibitory and excitatory markers of neural function appear to be associated with reactive and proactive coping styles, respectively. The main findings of this thesis are discussed and the main conclusions are presented in Chapter 8. It is concluded that fish with contrasting stress coping styles show clear differences in behavioural and physiological parameters. Moreover, these differences can change according to social environment and life history. In general this Thesis has generated new knowledge of the mechanisms underlying individual responses of fish to stress providing new insights on the interrelations between different relevant husbandry practices, fish performance and welfare

Daily oxygen consumption rhythms of Senegalese sole solea senegalensis (Kaup, 1858) juveniles

Senegalese sole is known to be a species with pronounced nocturnal feeding behaviour. However, as for most fish species, there is a lack of knowledge concerning the influence of such biological rhythmon metabolic rate. The aim of this study was to determine whether individual variation in routine and fed metabolic rate was affected by daily light–dark rhythms in juveniles of Senegalese sole. The individual oxygen consumption measurements in Senegalese sole juveniles were determined by flow-through respirometry, at fasted conditions and after the fish were fed a single meal, the meal time started at 0930 h and fish fed ad libitum for 30 min. The measurements were made during 22 h, of which 8 h was in the light and 14 h in the dark, and started immediately after transfer to the respiratory chambers at 1100 h. The results suggest an influence of light–dark cycles in routine metabolism. It was observed that oxygen consumption increased during the dark phase in fasted fish (FAST) but was higher during the light phase in fed fish (FEED). However, when feed is provided during the light phase, juveniles are capable of shifting oxygen consumption rhythms to respond to the energetic demands of digestion and growth. These results suggest that routine metabolism varies according to the species natural habits as Senegalese sole is known to be nocturnal. The findings of this study underline the importance of understanding the biological rhythms of the species under study before metabolic data are interpreted

A global assessment of welfare in farmed fishes: the FishEthoBase

Fish welfare is an essential issue that needs to be tackled by the aquaculture industry. In order to address it, studies have been limited to a small number of species and the information is generally scattered. In order to have a consistent overview of the welfare of farmed fishes, we present the FishEthoBase, an open-access database that ultimately aims to provide information on the welfare of all fish species currently farmed worldwide. Presently with 41 species, this database is directed to all stakeholders in the field and targets not only to bridge the gaps between them but also to provide scientific information to improve the welfare of fish. The current text explains the database and presents an analysis of the welfare scores of 41 species, suggesting that (i) the general welfare state of farmed fishes is poor, (ii) there is some potential for improvement and (iii) this potential is related to research on species’ needs, but (iv) there are many remaining knowledge gaps and (v) current fish farming technologies do not seem to fully address welfare issues. The existence of a framework, such as the FishEthoBase, is proposed as fundamental to the design of strategies that improve the welfare of farmed fish.This work was funded by Open Philanthropy Project (San Francisco, USA), Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (Bern, Switzerland), Stiftung Dreiklang (Basel, Switzerland), Haldimann-Stiftung (Aarau, Switzerland) and other private donations. This study received Portuguese national funds from FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology through project UID/Multi/04326/2019info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Coping styles in farmed fish: consequences for aquaculture

Individual differences in physiological and behavioural responses to stressors are increasingly recognised as adaptive variation and thus raw material for evolution and fish farming improvements including selective breeding. Such individual variation has been evolutionarily conserved and is present in all vertebrate taxa including fish. In farmed animals, the interest in consistent trait associations, that is coping styles, has increased dramatically over the last years because many studies have demonstrated links to performance traits, health and disease susceptibility and welfare. This study will review (i) the main behavioural, neuroendocrine, cognitive and emotional differences between reactive and proactive coping styles in farmed fish; (ii) the methodological approaches used to identify coping styles in farmed fish, including individual (group) mass-screening tests; and (iii) how knowledge on coping styles may contribute to improved sustainability of the aquaculture industry, including welfare and performance of farmed fish. Moreover, we will suggest areas for future research, where genetic basis (heritability/epigene tic) of coping styles, and the neuroendocrine mechanisms behind consistent as well as flexible behavioural patterns are pinpointed as central themes. In addition, the ontogeny of coping styles and the influence of age, social context and environmental change in coping styles will also be discussed.European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme FP7-KBBE [265957

Investigating the kisspeptin system in the hermaphrodite teleost gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)

The kisspeptin system, a known regulator of reproduction in fish, was investigated during two key phases within the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) life cycle: protandrous sex change and larval ontogeny. Seabream specific partial cDNA sequences were identified for two key targets, kissr4 and kiss2, which were subsequently cloned and qPCR assays developed. Thereafter, to examine association in expression with sex change, a group of adult seabream (2+ years old) undergoing sex change were sampled for gene expression at two different periods of the annual cycle. To study the kisspeptin system ontogeny during early life stages, transcript levels were monitored in larvae (till 30 days-post-hatch, DPH) and post-larvae (from 30 till 140 DPH). During sex change, higher expression of kissr4 and kiss2 was observed in males when compared to females or individual undergoing sex change, this is suggestive of differential actions of the kisspeptin system during protandrous sex change. Equally, variable expression of the kisspeptin system during early ontogenic development was observed. The higher expression of kissr4 and kiss2 observed from 5 DPH, with elevations at 5–20 and 90 DPH for kissr4 and at 5, 10, 20, and 60 DPH for kiss2, is coincident with the early ontogeny of gnrh genes previously reported for seabream, and possibly related with early development of the reproductive axis in this species