A concept involving the interpersonal expression of perfection, perfectionistic self-presentation, is introduced. It is argued that perfectionistic self-presentation is a maladaptive self-presentational style composed of three facets: perfectionistic self-promotion (i.e., proclaiming and displaying one's perfection), nondisplay of imperfection (i.e., concealing and avoiding behavioral demonstrations of one's imperfection), and nondisclosure of imperfection (i.e., evading and avoiding verbal admissions of one's imperfection). Several studies involving diverse samples demonstrate that perfectionistic self-presentation is a valid and reliable construct and a consistent factor in personal and interpersonal psychological distress. It is argued that the need to promote one's perfection or the desire to conceal one's imperfection involves self-esteem regulation in the interpersonal context.

The Problem. Meaningful work is underrepresented in current models and measures of work characteristics. Ironically, past research suggests that meaningful work may have substantive impacts on employee outcomes. The current study addresses this problem by demonstrating the value of meaningful work in human resource development (HRD) practices involving employee engagement. The Solution. A web-based survey of employed North Americans (n = 574) was conducted. Meaningful work characteristics were compared to other work characteristics as correlates and predictors of employee engagement, burnout, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover cognitions. Meaningful work characteristics had the strongest relative correlations with multiple employee outcomes. They also predicted substantive variance in employee engagement while controlling for other work characteristics in regression analyses. The Stakeholders. Since meaningful work contains themes of human development (e.g., self-actualization, social impact), this variable represents an opportunity for human resource development (HRD) practitioners to increase levels of employee engagement as a strategic leverage point within organizations.

Concerned with individual differences in allocentrism-idiocentrism with reference to the family, Study 1 describes the assessment of an initial item pool of statements. Selection of good items was based on several criteria met by both an "Eastern" cultural group and a "Western" cultural group, thereby providing cross-cultural comparability at the item selection stage of test development. Scores on the Family Allocentrism Scale were positively related to a measure of norm-oriented identity style in both "Western" and "Eastern" samples (Study 2). With a "Western" sample (Study 3), individuals with higher levels of family allocentrism exhibited a greater sense of relatedness to their ethnic origins. In Study 4, with a group of Vietnamese immigrant university students, family connectedness moderated the relation between daily hassles and depression. In Study 5, with Russian immigrants, the relation between family allocentrism and depression depended on the level of bicultural competence. Future research plans and needs are considered.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the pet-friendliness trend, because despite its growth, there has been little research on the benefits and potential risks of pet-friendly workplaces. Design/methodology/approach – A general review is provided on pet ownership figures in North America and the benefits and drawbacks of pet ownership. Pet-friendly policies and practices are described, highlighting their potentially positive impact on well-being and performance. Possible concerns with pet-friendly workplaces are examined. The paper offers recommendations for organizations that are potentially interested in becoming pet-friendly. Findings – Many households in North America have pets that are considered genuine members of the family. As a result, workplaces are increasingly becoming “pet-friendly” by instituting policies that are sensitive to pet ownership. The scope of pet-friendly policies and practices ranges from simple to more complex measures. Adopting these measures can result in benefits that include enhanced attraction and recruitment, improved employee retention, enhanced employee health, increased employee productivity, and positive bottom-line results. But there are also concerns regarding health and safety, property damage, distractions, and religious preferences. Practical implications – The range of pet-friendly measures could apply to any workplace that is interested in improving their efforts toward recruitment, retention, and productivity, among others. Originality/value – This paper describes a range of efforts that workplaces can offer to enhance their employees’ work lives and is the first to provide a detailed account of the pet-friendliness trend.

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