Purpose -This paper aims to review how far Nepalese firms are complying quality of work life (QWL) provisions of the Labor laws and to assess expectations of union leaders on different dimensions of QWL. Design/methodology/approach -This paper is mainly based on a literature survey. To answer the research, three different labor laws are reviewed. In order to understand expectation of union leaders, a questionnaire survey is administered. Findings -In Nepalese workplaces, the QWL situation is deteriorating and thus commitment of the part of government, employers, and union leaders is required to work on QWL initiatives and to create a sound and harmonious industrial relations environment.Research limitations/implications -There are various dimensions affecting QWL initiatives. However, in this study only labor legislation is taken as a measure to examine QWL initiatives. Similarly, to understand expectations towards different dimensions of QWL only views of union leaders are collected. No other views than those of union leaders are considered. Practical implications -The clear deviation in the implementation of labor laws and widening expectation gap of union leaders can be referred as a poor QWL situation in Nepalese firms. This paper clearly makes an open debate on different QWL issues and provides clues for researchers in making future studies of the QWL situation in Nepal. Originality/value -A paper of this kind focusing on QWL and labor legislation together with inputs from literature has never been written and published before. This is the original contribution of the authors to familiarize readers with the situation of QWL in Nepalese organizations.

PurposeEvery day thousands of academic institutes suspend their classes and students are staying in their home maintaining social distancing due to the fear of COVID-19 pandemic and Nepal is no exception. Realizing these facts, this study aims to explore the factors for the effectiveness of online mode of classes to on-class course-based students and analyzes the perception of faculties and students toward online mode during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachIt is based on exploratory research design, following mixed methods of qualitative and quantitative procedure. To build a rich understanding of the phenomenon, three-stage data collection procedure: preliminary interview, structural survey and validation were used.FindingsThis study revealed triplet factors: infrastructure, student and teacher as antecedents of effectiveness of online classes during a pandemic. Technological support, infrastructure availability, faculty and students' perception have a significant relationship for the effectiveness of the online mode of the teaching-learning process. Students faced anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a higher willingness to learn reduces the level of anxiety.Originality/valueThis study significantly contributes to the future management of higher education and digs the future path of online and on-class teaching-learning practices.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating effect of motivation to transfer training in between five dimensions of organizational culture and training transfer. Design/methodology/approach This paper followed a positivist epistemology to understand the factors associated with training transfer. The descriptive and causal research design was used for data analysis. A proportionate stratified random sample of 150 faculties responded to a self-administered questionnaire. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed to examine the hypotheses. Findings The results show that motivation to transfer training partially mediates the relationship between the four dimensions of organizational culture (i.e. job challenge, communication, innovation and social cohesion) and training transfer. Further, the results also show the relation between trust and training transfer is fully mediated by the motivation to transfer training. Practical implications For better training transfer higher education sector ought to consider organizational related factors such as organizational culture, rather than only focusing on individual-related factors. The education sector would have strengthened each dimension of organizational culture to motivate the faculties for training transfer. Originality/value Organizational culture dimensions (job challenge, communication, trust, innovation and social cohesion) are the essential dimensions for training transfer which are less prioritized despite their importance.

Unprecedented and unforeseen highly infectious Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a significant public health concern for most of the countries worldwide, including Nepal, and it is spreading rapidly. Undoubtedly, every nation has taken maximum initiative measures to break the transmission chain of the virus. This review presents a retrospective analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal, analyzing the actions taken by the Government of Nepal (GoN) to inform future decisions. Data used in this article were extracted from relevant reports and websites of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) of Nepal and the WHO. As of January 22, 2021, the highest numbers of cases were reported in the megacity of the hilly region, Kathmandu district (population = 1,744,240), and Bagmati province. The cured and death rates of the disease among the tested population are ~98.00 and ~0.74%, respectively. Higher numbers of infected cases were observed in the age group 21–30, with an overall male to female death ratio of 2.33. With suggestions and recommendations from high-level coordination committees and experts, GoN has enacted several measures: promoting universal personal protection, physical distancing, localized lockdowns, travel restrictions, isolation, and selective quarantine. In addition, GoN formulated and distributed several guidelines/protocols for managing COVID-19 patients and vaccination programs. Despite robust preventive efforts by GoN, pandemic scenario in Nepal is, yet, to be controlled completely. This review could be helpful for the current and future effective outbreak preparedness, responses, and management of the pandemic situations and prepare necessary strategies, especially in countries with similar socio-cultural and economic status.

Purpose The paper aims to assess the corporate social responsibility (CSR) domains in Nepalese companies and explain the active CSR activities related to concerned domain. Design/methodology/approach The study is descriptive and is based on a review of previous research findings and focus group discussion. Findings It has three major findings. First, there is a gradual shift from philanthropic domain of CSR to the economic domain. Second, a number of CSR activities have emerged from within the domains. Finally, some of the CSR intents are even linked to the Millennium Development Goals of the country. Research limitations/implications This study is mainly based on qualitative analysis (focus group discussions) of the participants in three different discussion programs. Practical implications This paper is useful to academicians and companies seeking to understand what kind of CSR activities are undergoing in Nepalese companies in different domains. Originality/value This is perhaps the very first investigation of its kind in the Nepalese context.