Human Resources Management Commons^™

Does More Education Cause Higher Earnings?, Kevin F. Hallock

Economics Faculty Publications

College graduates earned roughly 67% more per hour than high school graduates in the US in 2010. Those with more education earn more because the world of work measures in some manner that they are simply more productive in dollars and cents terms. Some signaling theory advocates argue that if the return to education were due to learning, then the returns should be smoothly proportional to the time spent in school. However, researchers have detected a larger jump in earnings for those who complete the final year of college. Whether different schools return differently is an extension of the learning …

Linking Compensation And Job Losses During A Recession, Kevin F. Hallock

Economics Faculty Publications

For more than 60 years, no permanent Lincoln Electric employee has been laid off for lack of work. 2010 marked the 10th consecutive year year that the company increased its dividend and stock price gains have fairly consistently outperformed the S&P 500 during the past five years. For most organizations, when costs need to be cut, shedding some workers is part of the solution. Work Sharing Unemployment Insurance tries to mitigate the negative repercussions of layoffs. Under WSUI, workers are eligible for a prorated fraction of unemployment insurance benefits. Proponents of WSUI contend that hiring, firing, and retraining costs are …

Does That Pay Practice Really Have Any Impact?, Kevin F. Hallock

Economics Faculty Publications

Few organizations take the time to credibly study whether some pay, benefits, work-life balance or other total rewards practices have any impact on the organizations' bottom line or employee outcomes like productivity or turnover. It's too difficult to do well, organizations don't actually want to know the answer, and/or organizations don't have the know-how or time. One successfully executed, evidence-based study of a new compensation practice is Safelite AutoGlass. Edward Lazear compared the productivity change worker by worker, for only those employees present under both pay arrangements. Lazear found that not only did productivity increase after the change from hourly …

Pay Ratios And Pay Inequality, Kevin F. Hallock

Economics Faculty Publications

Some argue that reporting the ratio of CEO pay to that of the median-compensated worker in the organization is useful since it highlights the sometimes large discrepancy between the pay of an average worker and that of corporate executives. One argument against reporting the ratio of CEO pay to median worker pay is that this is much more difficult to calculate in practice than in theory. The hourly earnings of workers at the bottom have been incredibly flat for the last generation. Only the top 5% have seen large gains over time. For CEOs, the gains are substantial. the multiple …

Pay Secrecy And Relative Pay, Kevin F. Hallock

Economics Faculty Publications

In March 2008, the Sacramento Bee began publishing the salaries of all California state workers, including public universities. UC Berkeley professors took this information and used it to learn about pay secrecy, relative income, and how people feel and react to knowing what their co-workers earn. It turns out that there is a dramatic difference in the response to new information about wages of co-workers, depending on whether an individual has wage and salary pay above or below the median for his or her workgroup. For those who earn below the middle of their group, the new information about the …

Motivating With Efficiency Wages And Delayed Payments, Kevin F. Hallock

Economics Faculty Publications

In the delayed payment system, companies motivate workers to work hard year after year by paying them less than the value they create for the company early in the workers' tenure and more than the value they create for the company later in the workers' tenure. With efficiency wages, workers are essentially paid a wage that is higher than the next-best offer they could get. A paper by Alan Krueger found that at company-owned fast food restaurants, employee compensation is higher and the delayed payment profile is steeper than at franchised outlets. In a recent paper, Matthew Freedman and Renata …

A Tale Of Passion: Linking Job Passion And Cognitive Engagement To Employee Work Performance, Violet Ho, Sze-Sze Wong, Chay Hoon Lee

Management Faculty Publications

We propose a model of job passion that links two types of passion, harmonious and obsessive passion, to employees’ work performance, via the mediating mechanism of cognitive engagement (comprising attention and absorption). Results from a survey conducted with 509 employees from an insurance firm indicate that employees with harmonious passion performed better at work, and that this relationship was mediated primarily by cognitive absorption, that is, the intensity of focus and immersion experienced by the employees when working. However, even though obsessive passion was negatively related to cognitive attention (i.e., the amount of cognitive resources spent thinking about work), it …

The Disconnect Between Employer Costs And Employee Value, Kevin F. Hallock

Economics Faculty Publications

There is a tremendous disconnect between the cost of compensation to employers and the value employees place on that compensation. Companies pay a lot more for workers than workers see in their paychecks. The average worker in the US costs his/her employee $29.52 per hour. But only $20.50 of that appeared in the worker's paycheck as wage and salary. The other $8.96 is attributable to other employer costs that employees do not immediately see. Of the $8.96, $2.04 is for paid leave, $0.71 is for supplemental pay, $2.60 is for insurance, $1.31 is for retirement savings, and $2.30 is for …

The Experience Of Liberal Education, Edward L. Ayers

History Faculty Publications

Every college and university has built new capacity to deliver new experiences for students through study abroad, community service, career development, health and fitness, cultural understanding, or spiritual growth. They come to college to broaden their experience, and colleges and universities are the only places where people of all backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, classes, and politics come together to explore who they are and who they might become. Going to college is a defining time in their lives, and there is much more we can do to make it a liberating and transformative experience.

The Effects Of Stress In The Workplace : An Investigation Of The Impact Stress Has On The Personal And Work Lives Of Police Officers Of The Fairfax County Police Department, Britta A. Connolly

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify the ways in which stress impacts the lives of police officers. A survey and observations were conducted at all levels of patrol within the Fairfax County Police Department to determine the impact of stress in the law enforcement environment. The results revealed stress on police officers were manageable yet several areas surfaced that increased stress. Areas where stress impacted the officers were health, absenteeism, and turnover. In order to manage the effects of stress for officers, the department must address and hold their employees as the most important asset in the organization.

Participation In The Police Promotional Process For The Rank Of Sergeant Within The Fairfax County Police Department Fairfax, Virginia, Purvis L. Dawson Jr

Master's Theses

Police Departments across the country are experiencing vast numbers of veteran supervisory and command personnel retiring from public service. Without careful planning, these retirements can create a leadership void that will be difficult to fill with well-qualified candidates. These separations pose a loss of institutional knowledge, expertise and leadership continuity. The research conducted focused on the underlying reasons why highly-competent, experienced police officers are refusing to advance their law enforcement careers in becoming supervisors. The study included a review of the published literature and surveys being administered to 105 non-supervisory Fairfax County Police Officers on their interest in becoming a …

Capability Ratios: Comparison And Interpretation Of Short-Term And Overall Indices, Frank Rudisill, Lewis A. Litteral

Management Faculty Publications

The ability of a process to satisfy customer requirements is frequently measured by capability indices. The use and interpretation of these capability indices are often times misguided and or misunderstood by those involved in this aspect of statistical process control. Those who monitor and control processes and/or make decisions based on the reported values of these indices need to have a clear understanding of indices that are reported by or to them. This paper addresses the particular indices of C_p and P_p which indicate the capability of the process based only on its variability and C_pk and …

Perceived Impact Of Paramilitary Training On Police Recruit Performance, Lauren Carol Nobles

Master's Theses

The topic of paramilitary policing within a police academy has been an exceedingly controversial topic within the Henrico County Division of Police. This study was completed to answer this research question: What is the perceived impact of paramilitary training on police recruit performance?

The controversy lies between a paramilitary structure of police recruit training and the current style of academy provided by Henrico County Division of Police. This study sought the opinions of police officers assigned to Uniform Patrol. The author wanted to reveal the style of police recruit training desired by current police officers to the Chief of Police …

Norfolk Fire Rescue Officers' Attitudes And Perceptions Towards Cell Phones And Email, Ronald A. Mann Jr.

Master's Theses

This study investigated Norfolk Fire-Rescue (NFR) officers' attitudes and perception toward cell phones/email. What are the attitudes of NFR towards email/cell phones? What negative aspects of email/cell phones are affecting NFR? Do the negative aspects of information technologies increase with rank? Do the officers of NFR feel that classes aimed at "technological stress or information overload," would be beneficial to the department? NFR officers responded to a forced-choice survey about negative impact of cell phones/email focusing on use patterns, perceptions of negative impact, and attitudes towards cell phones/email. NFR officers are very supportive of email/cell phones, despite the negative affects …

A Study Of On-Site Employee Health Care Clinics And Their Possible Return On Investment, Dale William Carter Jr.

Master's Theses

Health care costs have accelerated at alarming rates for the last decade, outpacing wage growth and inflation according to The Kaiser Family Foundation... These costs have an impact on everyone. Since 2000, premiums have grown by 73 percent, yet wages have only grown by 15 percent (The Kaiser Family Foundation, 2005)... One alternative being evaluated by organizations is the on-site employee health clinic or OSHEC. The in-house doctor is not a new concept; however, the new approach is more comprehensive, delivering a myriad of services to employees beyond treatment of workplace injuries. The OSHEC has emerged as a more holistic …

Establishing Exit Interview Best Practices, Russell Granderson

Master's Theses

The looming retirement of the baby boom generation will increase recruiting cost and intensify the war for talent. Recent studies have shown that employee retention will be the primary business concern over the next five to ten years. The transformation of a perfunctory exit interview into a powerful recruiting and retention tool could supply a strategic advantage over competitors. Exit interviews provide an opportunity for organizations to glean valuable insight within their ranks. Prior research investigating the validity of the exit interview has shown that departing employees are uncomfortable and reluctant of revealing candid feedback during in-house interviews. The methodology …

The Evolution Of Law Enforcement : The Generational Differences Of The New Police Officer And How To Attract Them To Your Agency, Mark Anthony Banks

Master's Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to enhance the knowledge of the generational differences in the law enforcement profession. With this knowledge, it is hopeful that, agencies will change their current recruiting strategies and gear them towards today's new generation of law enforcement officer. The overall goal of this study was enlighten Henrico County and Chesterfield county administrators of concerns facing employee recruiting within law enforcement so proactive efforts can be taken to curb ineffective and outdated recruiting strategies and methods.

An Exploration Of Effective Recruitment Sources For Norfolk Fire-Rescue, Beth Bruner

Master's Theses

Public Safety applicants have declined nationwide over the last several years, including those individuals applying to Norfolk Fire-Rescue (NFR). Declining applicants can be attributed to change in generational births, effects of 9/11, and change from the 18 year old high school graduate to a midtwenty year old college student. An applicant pool decrease requires more effective recruitment efforts. This study examines the NFR 2006 hiring process from written exam through applicants' hiring. A nonrandomized survey design examined 245 surveys of all exam applicants. Measured constructs included recruitment sources and demographic data and were analyzed specifically with regard to those who …

An Anecdotal Examination Of Wellness Programs, Sean M. Greenway

Master's Theses

This research investigates the question whether or not Wellness Programs are available to police officers throughout Virginia. Research has shown these programs to be beneficial in reducing the health risks associated with police work. Police departments may also see a decrease in sick leave and work related injuries. In order to address the research question, a questionnaire was distributed to 150 police departments throughout Virginia. A total of 57.7 percent of the departments reported the availability of a voluntary Wellness Program. Based on a lack of data, the findings suggest that the departments are not evaluating the effectiveness of their …

A Case Study Of The Marital And Familial Relationships Of Fire-Rescue Personnel As They Relate To Marriage Survivability, Carolyn Morgan Henderson

Master's Theses

Marriage is considered the traditional and moral standard for all relationships. There are other relationship types that exist in the life of fire-rescue personnel, but this study explores only marital relationships. Marriage demands are many and not everyone is equipped to handle them. Marriage requires devoted energy and continuous negotiation and compromise. Firefighters and paramedics are subjected to rigorous training to obtain the skill for their respective jobs. Their training equips them for rescuing the sick, injured, and extinguishing fires. However, there is not a protocol or training manual for marriage. This study examines the probable cause and effect that …

Leadership Model For Fire Battalion Chief In The 21st Century, Douglas Alan Jessup

Master's Theses

This research investigation seeks to identify a leadership model for Fire Battalion Chief comprised of a set of theoretical dimensions of leadership that are required of a Fire Department Battalion Chief to successfully lead their personnel over the next 10 years. This paper also examines the roots of corporatism at national and local levels and demonstrates how the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) had significant levels of influence on policy making in the United States of America. However, at a local level longstanding corporatist partnerships between unions such as FMU and local associations like CACFOA began to break down as a …

Creating A Motivational Attendance Policy For The Henrico Division Of Fire, Cheryl A. Burns

Master's Theses

This study examines sick leave abuse within the Henrico County Division of Fire. The purpose of the study was to examine factors that might contribute to a willingness to abuse sick leave. In addition, the study reviews the literature regarding various aspects of sick leave abuse to include cost, motivational theory, and incentive programs. The research consisted of a survey administered to the Division of Fire personnel who work 24-hour shifts. The survey posed questions concerning general attitudes, awareness, and perceptions surrounding the topic of sick leave abuse. The resulting data provided some evidence that sick leave abuse was linked …

Competencies Of The Law Enforcement Special Operator : Implications For Law Enforcement Organizations And Police Special Operations, Geoffrey C. Greene

Master's Theses

The law enforcement special operations environment is changing. Officers are faced with challenges that are increasing in complexity as weapons availability and acts of terrorism force the tactical community to respond with better training and tactics. The purpose of this study is to identify a competency model needed to successfully perform as a law enforcement special operator over the next 5-10 years. In addition, the study identifies the core competencies that formulate the Law Enforcement Special Operator Competency Model. Implications for how police organizations can use the research for professional development are also discussed. This study utilizes three distinct phases …

Do Leadership Development Programs Work For Strategic Law Enforcement Executives?, Brent Burnette

Master's Theses

There is a proliferation of leadership development programs for members of the law enforcement community. This study examined whether various leadership development programs met the needs of strategic law enforcement executives. One hundred law enforcement leaders were asked to complete and return a multi-facet survey on which they ranked their perceptions of the leadership development programs attended using a Likert rating scale. Additionally, the participants were asked to rate responses regarding post-undergraduate education in leadership. Sixteen of the one hundred participated. Participants indicated an overall satisfaction with the individual programs and indicated that each program met their individual leadership needs. …

Police Perceptions : External Influences Affecting Work Satisfaction, Ryan Wayne Morgan

Master's Theses

There are many individuals that apply for police officer positions. Some of those hired find the job challenging and rewarding, others leave unexpectedly. The newly hired that separate from the organization early in their career can have a negative impact on the police department. It is believed many of newly hired officers that leave unexpectedly may have not had an accurate perception of what the job entailed from the beginning. To gauge where police applicants from their perceptions of police work, newly hired police officers in Fairfax County were surveyed. The study was designed to take into account common perceptions …

The Effect Of Technology In The Workplace : An Investigation Of The Impact Of Technology On The Personal And Work Life Of Mid Level Managers Of The Fairfax County Police Department, Paul G. Mitchell

Master's Theses

This study addressed the effects of technology on our work and personal lives. Focusing on communication tools the investigation sought to determine what issues are created by this constant ability to communicate. A survey was conducted of mid-level managers within the Fairfax County Police Department to determine the effects technology had on their work and personal lives. In addition to the survey, interviews and observations where used. The results revealed that technology doesn't have a negative affect on those surveyed. The majority of data collected shows a positive response toward communication devices. Technology allows for speed and ease of task …

Is Alternative Transport A Viable Option For Norfolk Fire-Rescue?, Nicholas Edward Nelson

Master's Theses

Emergency medical providers transport 911 patients who do not warrant emergency room (ER) transport via ambulance. This study's purpose was to determine if prehospital care providers, using established protocols, could identify patients accurately to be seen by a physician but require ambulance transportation. Fourteen agencies have initiated emergency medical service (EMS refusal). Alternative transport options would free paramedics to respond to life threatening emergencies, while allowing low acuity patients ER access. Ninety-three study patients were enrolled and transported to emergency departments (ED) via taxi. EMS determined eleven patients met enrollment criteria though refused participation in the study. Nine taxi transported …

Perceptions Of Performance And Behavior Of College Educated Police Officers, Paul Edmund Nagosky

Master's Theses

Good police applicants are becoming scarcer and many agencies have lowered their hiring standard to fill academy classes. In this labor pool environment is it worth having a college education requirement? Is the performance of college educated officers superior to that of non-college educated officers?

An opinion survey was issued to officers and sergeants of the Chesterfield County Police Department regarding how they felt toward college education and its effect, if any on several aspects of police performance.

In some aspects of performance or behavior, such as sensitivity to minorities, authoritarianism, and use of force, there were slight tendencies for …

Competencies Of High-Performing Correctional Officers Of Jails And Prisons : Developing Tomorrow's Officers, Douglas Woodfin Murphey Ii

Master's Theses

Correctional facilities continue to be built to hold an ever-growing inmate population that must be managed by competent correctional officers. This study utilized three subject-matter expert groups to create and validate the core competencies required to be a high-performing correctional officer. The first group of eight high-performing correctional officers from the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office created the initial list of competencies. The second group of eight expert correctional consultants rated the competency list. The third group of sixteen senior correctional administrators from outstanding sheriffs offices and correctional facilities in the United States also rated the competencies. The core competencies were …

Recruitment And Retention Challenges For Law Enforcement Agencies : Identifying The Reasons For High Turnover Rates Of New Recruits, Scott A. Kearns

Master's Theses

The problem addressed in this study is the challenge to police agencies to

recruit and retain police officers. The Prince William County Police Department

(PWCPD) has experienced the challenges of filling sworn positions as we

continue to sustain our fully authorized staffing levels. This is a phenomenon

many agencies across the nation are experiencing. A survey was used to identify

the reasons for selecting the PWCPD for employment and what can be done to

retain employees to ensure a positive return-on-investment. A multi-step process

was followed in creating, distributing and analyzing the survey. Results lead to

the following conclusions: knowing …