Unintended consequences: organizational practices and their impact on workplace safety and productivity
1Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations, University of Illinois, 504 East Armory Avenue, Champaign, Illinois 61820, USA. mkaminsk@uiuc.edu
Abstract:
Managers often implement new organizational practices to improve firm performance while neglecting possible side effects. This study examines the relationship between 6 organizational practices and both productivity and injury rates in 86 small manufacturing firms. The use of performance-based pay was associated with higher injury rates and lower productivity (on 1 of 2 measures). The opposite pattern held for training: Training hours were negatively related to the injury rate and positively related to 1 measure of productivity. Surprisingly, higher hours worked per week was associated with a lower injury rate and also with lower productivity. The use of teams was associated with a lower injury rate but was unrelated to productivity. The potential interaction between hazard control measures and organizational practices in predicting injury rates is also discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Obedience
Social Traps
Types of Reports II: Incident or Occurrence Report
Purposes:
In the healthcare industry, reports play a crucial role in documenting incidents within an agency. The primary objective of these reports is to ensure patient safety, uphold the...
Torts III
Quasi-intentional torts in healthcare involve acts where intent is not directed to harm an individual but results in harm due to careless or reckless speech.
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios
Halo Effect

