Edward Elgar Publishing Handbook of Research on Stress and Well-Being in the Public Sector (Research Handbooks in Business and Management series)

This timely Handbook addresses the concepts of stress and well-being among workers in various public sector roles and occupations across the globe. Emphasizing the importance of well-being and stress prevention initiatives in ever-changing workplace environments, this Handbook highlights successful organizational initiatives and provides insight into best practice for promoting healthy employees and workplaces. Chapters analyze the new and ongoing challenges public sector organizations face such as: cost cutting, pressures to improve performance, changes in societal and workplace demographics, and increasing levels of stress and strain amongst their employees. This wide-ranging Handbook utilizes empirical research, literature reviews and case studies to draw greater attention to these and other challenges. Containing contributions from leading international experts in their respective fields, the contributors hope that this multidisciplinary Handbook will help to enhance the health and well-being of public sector employees and the sector's performance and contribution to society. The Handbook of Research on Stress and Well-Being in the Public Sector will be of value to researchers and practitioners interested in the public sector and both individual and organizational health and performance. This will also be a key resource for public sector and government professionals responsible for human resource management and work and health. Review 'This Handbook should be commended for its international representation of public sector employees who tend to be undervalued and frequently occupy high stress jobs. The attention to negative health and well-being effects associated with high stress occupations, especially first responders such as fire, police, and healthcare is a major contribution to scholarly works in the organizational sciences. I expect that this edited volume will broaden understanding of the strategies for reducing workplace stress, leading to improved safety, health, and well-being outcomes for public sector workers.' --Leslie Hammer, Portland State University and Oregon Health and Science University, US 'An outstanding piece of work. The book is well written, very readable and entertaining. Its topics are comprehensive and diverse, encompassing employees across a variety of public sector roles and occupations. Lessons learned are translated into practical guidelines for interventions and organizational change. This very interesting book will be an important resource for both researchers and students interested in the area of occupational stress and well-being - a great read!' --Jan de Jonge, Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands 'This book brings together an international group of top researchers to explore occupational stress in the context of the public sector. It explores what might be unique about a wide range of settings including education, first responders, health care, and social services. This book debunks the view of public employees having an easy time by underscoring how some of the most stressful jobs can be found in the public sector.' --Paul E. Spector, University of South Florida, US About the Author Edited by the late Ronald J. Burke, formerly Professor Emeritus, Schulich School of Business, York University, Canada and Silvia Pignata, Senior Lecturer, STEM Unit,University of South Australia, Australia