Helena Cooper-Thomas

Last updated

Helena D. Cooper-Thomas
Born1970
Alma mater Goldsmith College, University of London
Scientific career
Fields organisational behaviour
Patrons University of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology
Thesis

Helena D. Cooper-Thomas (born 1970) is a New Zealand organisational behaviour academic. She is currently a full professor at the Auckland University of Technology. [1]

Contents

Academic career

After a Masters at the University of Saskatchewan, she completed a PhD at Goldsmith College, University of London and then worked in industry for Shell. She rejoined academia at the University of Auckland [2] before moving to Auckland University of Technology. [1]

Her work on topics such as work hours, [3] [4] workplace bullying [5] [6] and burnout [7] is covered regularly in the New Zealand media.

Selected works

Related Research Articles

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Personality–job fit theory is a form of organizational psychology, that postulates that an individual's personality traits will reveal insight into their adaptability within an organization. The degree of confluence between a person and the organization is expressed as their Person-Organization (P-O) fit. This is also referred to as a person–environment fit. A common measure of the P-O fit is workplace efficacy - the rate at which workers are able to complete tasks. These tasks are affected by environmental factors within the workplace. For example, a worker who is more efficient working as an individual, rather than in a team, will have a higher P-O fit for a workplace that stresses individual tasks. By matching the right personality with the right job, company workers can achieve a better synergy and avoid pitfalls such as high turnover and low job satisfaction. Employees are more likely to stay committed to organizations if the fit is 'good'.

Workplace bullying is a persistent pattern of mistreatment from others in the workplace that causes either physical or emotional harm. It can include such tactics as verbal, nonverbal, psychological, and physical abuse, as well as humiliation. This type of workplace aggression is particularly difficult because, unlike the typical school bully, workplace bullies often operate within the established rules and policies of their organization and their society. In the majority of cases, bullying in the workplace is reported as having been done by someone who has authority over the victim. However, bullies can also be peers, and subordinates. When subordinates participate in bullying this phenomenon is known as upwards bullying. The least visible segment of workplace bullying involves upwards bullying where bullying tactics are manipulated and applied against "the boss," usually for strategically designed outcomes.

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Workplace incivility has been defined as low-intensity deviant behavior with ambiguous intent to harm the target. Uncivil behaviors are characteristically rude and discourteous, displaying a lack of regard for others. The authors hypothesize there is an "incivility spiral" in the workplace made worse by "asymmetric global interaction".

The nursing organization workplace has been identified as one in which workplace bullying occurs quite frequently. It is thought that relational aggression are relevant. Relational aggression has been studied amongst girls but rarely amongst adult women. According to a finding, 74% of the nurses, 100% of the anesthetists, and 80% of surgical technologists have experienced or witnessed uncivil behaviors like bullying by nursing faculty. There have been many incidents that have occurred throughout the past couple of years. OSHA, which stands for "Occupational Safety and Health Administration" stated that from 2011 to 2013, the United States healthcare workers experienced 15,000 to 20,000 significant injuries while in the workplace.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Helena Cooper-Thomas". AUT. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  2. "Dr Helena Cooper Thomas - The University of Auckland". Psych.auckland.ac.nz. 2 January 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  3. "Kiwis are working longer than ever – but a new fatigue fix could save lives". Stuff.co.nz. 5 November 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  4. "Where did the weekends go?". Stuff.co.nz. 22 April 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  5. "Bullies scourge of workplace". The New Zealand Herald . 23 April 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  6. "'Sorry Chef, but you're a bully' - Massey University". Massey.ac.nz. 15 April 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  7. "How to avoid burnout at work". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 12 February 2018.