Minimum Wage and Productivity: The perspectives and implications of Malaysian hotel employees

This paper explores the effect of the newly introduced National Minimum Wage (NMW) on the productivity of Malaysian hotel employees based on the insight of several domains which include the analysis of government policy, literature reviews, fieldwork and stakeholder views. The fieldwork includes an extensive employee quantitative survey research to explore their responses to the potential impact of the NMW on their productivity. The findings of this study highlighted the understanding of the productivity concept based on the employees’ understanding and perspective. Based on the findings of this research, in terms of productivity, it is clear that the employees are ready to respond positively to the changes in their work pattern provided wages are increased. This thesis makes a significant contribution towards assisting the key players in the hotel industry (policy makers, hotel associations, trade unions, employers,and employees) to develop a more strategic and effective approach to the implementation of the NMW.© 2016. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.Keywords: Minimum Wage, Productivity, Hotel industry, Wage

Factors Affecting Work Life Balance among Administrator in a Public University during COVID-19

This study is conducted to examine the relationship between job stress, supervisor support and work attitudes toward work-life balance during Covid-19 among employees in an administration office at a Public University in Selangor. The independent variables of this study consist of job stress, supervisor support, and work attitude; whereas the dependent variable in this study is work-life balance. The quantitative research method is selected and a questionnaire is used as the research instrument to collect data. There are 110 samples selected from the Administration office (N=110). The data collected is analyzed by using Statistical Packages for Social Science Version 26.0 (SPSS Version 26.0) software. Data was then analyzed both descriptively and inferentially. The results revealed that all variables have a significant positive relationship between supervisor support and work attitude with work-life balance and a significant negative relationship between job stress and work-life balance. The study emphasized the need for organizations to review the relevance of work-life balance programs, policies and activities that support and encourage employees to reduce stress in a workplace. Supervisor support also has the impact of making a positive work attitude among employees. This study gives insight to the organization in designing an appropriate system to enhance work-life balance

Exploring the Influence of Technology, Lifestyle and Flexible Working Arrangements on Cyber Psychology among Employees at a Malaysian Investment Holding Company

This study explores the relationship between cyberpsychology and its influencing factors among employees at an investment holding company (which will be addressed as XYZ Berhad). Understanding the impact of technology, lifestyle, and flexible working arrangements on employees' psychological well-being and behavior is crucial in today's digital workplace. With the prevalence of remote work and flexible arrangements, it becomes essential to examine how these factors influence employees' cyberpsychology experiences. Using a quantitative correlational approach, data was collected from 123 participants out of a total employee population of 174 at XYZ Berhad. The survey utilized Likert scale items to assess respondents' perspectives on technology usage, lifestyle choices, flexible working arrangements, and cyberpsychology. The findings reveal significant relationships between cyberpsychology and the influencing factors. Technology has a strong positive relationship, indicating its substantial impact on employees' psychological well-being and work behaviors. Similarly, lifestyle choices show a moderate positive relationship, highlighting the relevance of personal lifestyle preferences in shaping cyberpsychological experiences. Additionally, flexible working arrangement displays a medium positive relationship, underscoring the importance of work arrangements in influencing employees' psychological responses. The study recommends implementing awareness programs to help employees manage the psychological effects of technology usage and promoting the usage of online communication platforms to foster a positive organizational culture. Guidelines for employees working under flexible arrangements are advised to support their well-being and maintain a healthy work-life balance

An Analysis of Individual Entrepreneurial Orientations in Predicting Malaysian Engineers’ Intention to Quit the Jobs using PLS-SEM Approach

The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) on the engineers' ITQ based on entrepreneurial orientation theory. The data were analysed using the Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to validate the research model and hypotheses. The findings reveal that the more IEO an organisation practices, the less likely its engineers' ITQ current jobs. Theoretically, this study extends the value of IEO components in predicting engineers' ITQ. Additional knowledge is required to incorporate the roles of IEO and engineers' behavioural expectations in order to address engineering talent shortages in a competitive labour market. Keywords: individual entrepreneurial orientation; intention to quit; engineers; entrepreneurial orientation theory eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2019. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under the responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians), and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7iSI8.392

Work-Life Balance: The effect on Absenteeism among Employees in a Malaysian Utility Company

Employees spend at least one-third of their day at their work place. Since most of the time is spent at the work place, excess in working hours can cause the employees to feel burned out at the end of the week. These high emotional exhaustion and less personal time will cause the employees to adjust their own time in order to achieve preference hours of work. The utility company involves in this study practices 5.5 working days. Feeling overemployed, this will lead the employees to adjust their behaviour into choosing to be absent from work. Thus, this study focus on to examine: (i) whether working 5.5 days in a week currently implemented by the company has stimulated the employees to be absent from work as one of their effort to achieve a balance in their work-life style (ii) the relationship of Work-Life Balance and absenteeism in a utility company in Malaysia. A survey was conducted among the employees to explore their response towards absenteeism and work-life balance. The findings of this study highlighted the understanding of the work-life balance and absenteeism concept from the employees' perspective. Based on the findings of this research, working excessive hours stimulated the employees to be absent on the last working day of the week. The findings of this study also offer new perspectives which the company may need to consider in order to have employees who are more efficient. Keywords: Work-life balance, Absenteeism, Malaysia, Utility Industry, Burned out. JEL Classifications: M10, M50, M5

The Role of Entrepreneurial Orientations in Talent Retention amongst Malaysian Engineers

Objective: This paper examines the linkage between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and talent retention amongst Malaysian engineers from the perspective of entrepreneurial orientation theory. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey of 104 engineers from private organisations in Malaysia was conducted to test the hypothesised relationships between constructs. The population comprised graduate and professional engineers who were registered under the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM).The purposive sampling method was employed for data analysis purposes. Data was analysed using partial least squarestructural equation modelling technique. Results: The results of this study indicated a significant relationship between innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking, and competitive aggressiveness and the intention to stay (ITS). Autonomy was found not significant in predicting engineers’ ITS the same jobs. Engineers require EO to support their freedom of ideas and thoughts to exploit opportunities, produce creativity, and solve engineering task-related problems and uncertainty situations. Implication: EO dimensions can be used to predict engineers’ ITS current employments. This study provides crucial information for the organisations and policy makers to develop mechanisms and policies to enhance the engineers’ involvement of effective EO for increasing retention behaviours and career satisfaction. As the EO of engineers’ increase, the ITS will also increase

The effects of organizational conflicts on team effectiveness in a Malaysian statutory body institutions

Working in teams is usually expected to improve organizational effectiveness; however, there are several challenges that would affect team effectiveness.While team members are usually empowered to find a solution to a problem, this raises the question of effectiveness of the team itself, especially in terms of conflict that usually occurs when working in teams. Conflict was suggested to be positive and useful for organizations, but also provides negative effects, interferes with team performance, and reduces satisfaction because it triggers stress and causes team members to perform ineffectively.Therefore, this study investigated the effect of conflicts on team effectiveness in a Malaysian statutory body. Three types of organizational conflicts, namely task, relationship, and process conflicts, were studied, as well as which of the three has the most implication on team effectiveness. A survey was conducted among employees in the Malaysian statutory body regarding organizational conflict and team effectiveness. The results highlighted the understanding of organizational conflict and team effectiveness from the employees’ perspective, which showed both task and process conflicts having moderate positive relationships with team effectiveness, while no relationship was observed between relationship conflict and team effectiveness.This study offers recommendations that can help the organization to improve

The Role of Entrepreneurial Orientations in Talent Retention Amongst Malaysian Engineers

This paper examines the linkage between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and talent retention amongst Malaysian engineers from the perspective of entrepreneurial orientation theory.A cross-sectional survey of 104 engineers from private organisations in Malaysia was conducted to test the hypothesised relationships between constructs.The population comprised graduate and professional engineers who were registered under the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM).The purposive sampling method was employed for data analysis purposes.Data was analysed using partial least square-structural equation modelling technique.The results of this study indicated a significant relationship between innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking, and competitive aggressiveness and the intention to stay (ITS).Autonomy was found not significant in predicting engineers’ ITS the same jobs.Engineers require EO to support their freedom of ideas and thoughts to exploit opportunities, produce creativity, and solve engineering task-related problems and uncertainty situations.EO dimensions can be used to predict engineers’ ITS current employments.This study provides crucial information for the organisations and policy makers to develop mechanisms and policies to enhance the engineers’ involvement of effective EO for increasing retention

Supervisor Feedback, Ergonomics and Job Performance: A Study at One of Malaysia's Frontline Government Agency

A well-managed organization usually sees an average worker as the root source of quality and productivity gains. Such organizations do not look to capital investment, but to employees, as the fundamental source of improvement. Therefore, in order to increase employee performance, many factors such as supervisor feedback and ergonomics are very important especially for organization that involves frontline staffs who has to entertain customers all the time. Hence, this study focuses on effect of supervisor feedback and ergonomics towards job performance among employees at one of Malaysia's frontline government agency. The study was quantitatively conducted using standardized questionnaires that was participated by 82 respondents. The results showed that supervisor feedback and ergonomic were significantly and positively impacted job performance. Thus, this study provides references to academics and practitioners on the effectiveness of giving quality feedback and good ergonomically working conditions towards improving performance of frontline staffs. Keywords: Supervisor Feedback; Ergonomics; Job Performance JEL Classifications: M54; M1

Factors influencing job stress among Malaysian Traffic Police Officers / Muhamad Khalil Omar ...[et al.]

Traffic police officers face many challenges in their line of duty to the protect the country and its citizens. Despite, the significance of traffic police officers to the community and the country, lack of studies specifically on how workload, reward system, and work-life balance affects job stress among traffic police officers are apparent. Job stress creates tension in the working environment, and this research aims to solve and find out what is the cause for job stress. The observational review was finished by utilizing a poll and questionnaires as a measuring instrument. The questionnaires were composed based on the literature review and have inquiries and things significant to the underlying research issues by using five-point Likert scale type questions. Survey data were gathered from questionnaires distributed to 300 respondents at a Traffic Police Office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A total of 100 returned questionnaires were used in statistical analysis. The results indicated that the relationship between work-life balance and job stress was significant while there were no significant relationships between workload, reward system, and job stress. The limitations of this study are addressed and suggestions for practitioners and future research were recommended