Nosheen Sarwat

Workplace interruptions have become increasingly prevalent due to the advancement of mobile communication technologies and changing work practices. Despite the significant impact of work interruptions, the ways in which individuals respond to these disruptions remain largely unexplored. This study, grounded in affective event theory, investigates the sources of workplace interruptions, specifically focusing on receiving phone calls, and examines how these interruptions contribute to work-life conflict through the mediating role of affectivity (positive and negative affect). Data were collected from 250 employees in the banking sector of Pakistan. The findings indicate that receiving calls is positively associated with work-life conflict and that affectivity (both positive and negative) mediates this relationship. These results offer valuable theoretical and practical insights for practitioners and decision-makers aiming to mitigate the negative impacts of workplace interruptions on employees' work-life balance.

Mobile devices have become gradually pervasive in our surroundings, and the urge to stay connected with others via phone calls is progressively typical for many employees during the workday. This study investigated how receiving calls at the workplace as an external interruption influences perceptions of work‐family conflicts and procrastination at work. Receiving calls as a workplace external interruption delays the attentional and behavioural focus of employees on the main tasks. Based on action regulation theory and empirical evidence, it is proposed that time pressure positively mediated the relationship between receiving calls as a source of workplace external interruption and performance outcome (procrastination) and well‐being outcome (work‐family conflicts). Data were gathered from 218 employees through a 10‐consecutive‐day diary study (four measurements taken daily: one during noon, one during the afternoon and two in the evening). Multilevel analyses exhibited that the time pressure mediation effects were supported for procrastination at work and work‐family conflicts. These outcomes revealed that receiving calls is the source of workplace external interruption that increases time pressure and has a significant impact on work‐family conflicts and procrastination at work.

Workplace interruptions are becoming a more common serious issue in every work environment. Workplace interruptions can disrupt the attainment of goals and generate costly errors. Nevertheless, more research needs to focus on sources of workplace interruptions and their consequences. Drawing on action regulation theory, this study's main objective is to identify the sources of workplace interruptions, such as receiving calls and coworker conversations, and how these sources of workplace interruptions may cause procrastination at work by examining the mediating role of time pressure. Data were collected from the banking sector of Multan, Pakistan. After data consolidation, the final sample was 256. The findings of this study revealed that receiving calls and coworker conversations is positively related to procrastination at work, and time pressure mediates this relationship. This study addresses the gap in inquiring about innovative aspects of workplace interruption sources that interfere with workers' everyday working lives. The main strength and novelty of the current study is that it expanded the understanding and application of workplace sources of interruption while also expanding the idea of action regulation by emphasizing its interaction with time pressure as a mediator. The findings of this study are significant for legislators and management professionals, particularly those who deal with workplace interruptions.

This research intends to investigate the impact of self-influencer (actual-self and ideal-self) congruence on the purchase intention of customers through the mediation of para-social interaction and perceived altruistic motive. It demonstrates the contextual examination of self-influencer congruence with reference to the Apparel Industry of Pakistan. An online questionnaire was developed to collect data from 270 respondents who were members of fashion related forums. The study hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling through SmartPLS. The findings revealed that self-influencer congruence has a significant indirect relationship with purchase intention through the mediating effects of para-social interaction and perceived altruistic motive. Additionally, the findings provide valuable insights regarding the use of social media influencer marketing and contribute to the scarce body of knowledge concerning self-influencer congruence especially in the context of the emerging IT-based economy of Pakistan. This is among the initial studies to examine the effect of self-influencer congruence on perceived altruistic motive in the Apparel Industry of Pakistan. Lastly, it addresses the study's limitations and provides recommendations for future researchers along with implications for practitioners.

Using a time-lagged field survey, the current study examined the psycho-economic effects of job insecurity among hospitality workers during the recent pandemic of COVID-19. The study also examined social support as a buffering agent against the harmful effects of job insecurity. Data were collected from employees (N = 272) working in numerous hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies across Pakistan. Hierarchical moderated regression analysis was used to test the study’s hypotheses. The results suggested that job insecurity was negatively related to self-esteem and positively related to economic deprivation. In addition, social support significantly moderated the effects of job insecurity on mental health, self-esteem, economic self-efficacy and life satisfaction such that the negative effects of job insecurity were stronger when social support was low. The results for economic deprivation, however, were contrary to the expectations, whereby job insecurity had a strong positive effect on economic deprivation in case of high social support.

This position paper brings together recent and emerging developments in the field of presenteeism. A critical synthesis of the evidence is needed due to persisting conceptual and methodological challenges as well as the increased volume of research in the field. This paper integrates emerging evidence and critical thinking into three areas: (1) concept, (2) measurement and methodological issues, and (3) the context of presenteeism. First, due to the variety of existing definitions, competing understandings, as well as the notion of positive presenteeism, it is important to reconsider the notion of presenteeism. Second, it is important to reflect on the measurement of the act of presenteeism and the productivity loss associated with that. Third, following the call to investigate presenteeism in specific contexts, it is important to explain the social, occupational, cross-cultural aspects, as well as the contemporary workplace changes. Based on this critical synthesis, we conclude by identifying recommendations for future research on presenteeism.