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It has been argued that traditional quasi-experimental approaches to evaluation do not adequately measure, or take account of, perceptual processes that could contribute to the effectiveness of organizational-level interventions. Using longitudinal data with added process measures at time 2 gathered from 11 intervention projects in Denmark, this paper used structural equation modelling (n = 462) to explore the impact of employees' direct appraisals of the intervention itself on intervention outcomes. Perceived influence on the content of interventions was directly linked to voluntary participation in these interventions. Participants' appraisals of the activities within an intervention were found to fully mediate the relationships between exposure to interventions and outcome measures (changes in working conditions, behavioural stress and job satisfaction). The results of the study indicate that employees' appraisal of the intervention itself can play an important role in determining the success or failure of a variety of organizational-level interventions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Managers should adopt transformational leadership styles to reduce work-life conflict and enhance the wellbeing of their staff.

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Gender differences in exposures and predictors of disability pension were found, but few explanations of the higher rate of disability pension among women.

Aims  To evaluate the impact of an open‐rota scheduling system on the health, work‐life balance and job satisfaction of nurses working in a psychiatric ward in Denmark. Background  The effects of shift rotation and scheduling are well known; however, little is known about the wider benefits of open‐rota systems. Method  A structured questionnaire was distributed to control and intervention groups preintervention and postintervention (20 months). Nurses within the intervention group trialed an open‐rota system in which nurses designed their own work–rest schedules. Results  Nurses in the intervention group reported that they were more satisfied with their work hours, less likely to swap their shift when working within the open‐rota system and reported significant increases in work–life balance, job satisfaction, social support and community spirit when compared with nurses in the control groups. Conclusions  The ownership and choice over work–rest schedules has benefits for nurses, and potentially the hospital.

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This study explored whether factors related to the work environment could predict changes in body mass index (BMI) and whether the effect of psychosocial factors was dependent on baseline BMI. The sample consisted of 1,980 male employees from the Danish National Work Environment Cohort Study. Changes in BMI between 1995 and 2000 were analyzed, by multiple regression, as a function of background variables and a series of occupational variables obtained in 1995. Age, baseline BMI, job insecurity, and psychological demands predicted changes in BMI. Job insecurity and high or low psychological demands increased the likelihood of weight gain among obese employees, whereas they increased the likelihood of weight loss among employees with a low BMI.