3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Factors affecting sustained employment of people with chronic illness(2015) Reynolds, Anne PatriciaNumerous factors influence the employment of people with chronic illness. At some point, these people withdraw from the labour market. This has both a direct and indirect cost to the person, their family and society as a whole. Aim: To explore the factors affecting sustained employment of people with chronic illness. A second component explored participants’ opinions regarding return to work in the future. Research Methods: The study was done in two phases: 1) The identification and validation of the research instrument; and 2) The administration of the research instrument. Descriptive statistics were utilised to analyse data obtained from the research instrument. Two sets of correlations were run to identify significant differences between the participants expecting to return to work and those who did not expect to return to work. Results: Descriptive statistics revealed no meaningful trend on self-reported factors. The Mann-Whitney U identified a number of significant differences between participants expecting to return to work and those who did not expect to return to work, in both personal and contextual factors. Conclusion: A broad range of factors were elicited regarding the barriers and accommodations required for sustained employment within both the personal and environmental constructs. Self-report questionnaires provided some useful information, but a broader understanding of the factors influencing work was obtained from a comprehensive interview. Significant differences were present between people expecting to return to work and those who did not expect to return to work regarding environmental and personal factors as well as factors supporting work.Item The investment of time and professional skill at risk in the Built Environment in South Africa: an exploratory study(2015-04-30) Ndlovu, PrideFor a long period of time, most built private sector clients in South Africa have been procuring the services of built professional consultants at risk. The concept of working at risk is also referred to as speculative work. It is not known and clear when the practice started or how it originated in South Africa but the practice takes place and appears to becoming increasing prevalent. This study is an exploratory study that investigates the concept of working at risk in detail and establishes the relationship between non-remuneration, motivation and performance when working at risk. The study was motivated by the fact that limited academic research has been done locally on the early phase of project delivery, which is considered a key stage of a project. Attention is generally drawn to the implementation phase and conclusions are drawn from this stage which could possibly impact on the early phase of the project. This study examines the general understanding of the concept by respondents and determines the relationship between payment, time and performance. Largely the academic research conducted on the implementation stage shows that the non-remuneration or non-payment of contractors affects their performance and existence. Similarities in general can be drawn from this. However, this study does not explore this approach as initial academic data on the subject is not readily available. The study is an exploratory study that collects qualitative data from experienced professionals that undertake risk work for their clients. Interviews conducted with the professionals produced valuable qualitative data on the concept and key findings were drawn from this input. The greater understanding of the practice can lead to a better understanding between parties, regulation of the practise, support for smaller firms and assist in building the economy of South Africa. The findings reveal that there is a common understanding of the concept and the non-payment of professionals over long periods whilst undertaking risk work does affect motivation levels and impedes performance, thereby supporting the findings of the literature.Item Men's health, masculinities and work : the psychosocial effects of unemployment on black men from Soweto.(2014-09-04) Selebano, NalediThe provider-role continues to be strongly linked to ideas of manhood even in the era where family and work roles have changed. This is mainly because society continues to esteem notions of hegemonic masculinities that reduce men to a single role of providing. Such a discourse is problematic however, especially during the quandary of unemployment that South Africa finds itself. With this in mind, men find themselves battling not only with the stigma arising from their inability to perform manhood (providing) but also with the harsh labour market that refuses them the means to perform this role. As a consequence, men suffer often undiagnosed depression leading to suicide, harmful behaviour and loss of hope for a better future. Through the qualitative research approach, this study adopted the Social Identity Theory, the Eco-systems Approach as well as the Functionalism Theory towards exploring the effects of strong identification with the idea of man as provider on the psychosocial wellbeing of black men during unemployment. Individual interviews were conducted with twenty-two young men aged between 18 and 35 from Soweto as well as three social workers who were previously placed as student social workers with the Ipelegeng Youth Leadership and Development Programme. Through the use of the thematic content analysis, this study found that young men identified with the provider role and therefore participated in informal work under hazardous conditions in order to fulfil this role. Where the men failed to fulfil the provider role, communities often ridiculed and shamed them leading them to feeling stressed and depressed. The study also found that the young men were not utilising psychosocial services; owing to the notions of traditional masculinities; general lack of services and perceived ineffectiveness of programs. This report thus concludes that interventions that are tailored to tackle men’s problems should be developed and be made widely available, being stringently cognisant of contextual cultural dynamics however.Item Expanded public works programme's contribution to social development : opportunities and challenges.(2014-01-08) Dube, DenisDespite its economic growth, South Africa continues to face social challenges such as inequality, unemployment and poverty. In response to these challenges, the South African government has instituted a number of intervention strategies which include the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The aim of this research study was to explore the perceptions of stakeholders regarding the contributions made by the EPWP towards alleviating the above mentioned social challenges. Their perceptions about the challenges and opportunities to improve the programme were also explored. An exploratory-descriptive approach rooted within a qualitative paradigm was used in the study and the participants were selected using purposive-convenient sampling method. The sample consisted of fourteen participants of whom four were EPWP managers and ten EPWP beneficiaries. Data was collected through semi-structured interview schedules and analysed using the thematic content analysis. The findings of the study indicated that the Expanded Publics Works Programme (EPWP) is contributing to social development not only of the beneficiaries of the programme, but also of communities in which the EPWP projects are being implemented. The EPWP projects have enabled beneficiaries to earn a salary in the form of stipends, acquire and perfect skills such as plumbing, and to gain work experience. The stipend, though minimum, is helping them meet their basic needs while skills development improve their chances of getting better and more permanent jobs and to be self-employed. However, challenges such as failure to accommodate people living with disabilities and lack of skills training in some of the EPWP projects are curtailing the programme’s effectiveness.Item South Africa's embrace of the social economy.(2012-09-04) Moss, Michalya SchonwaldIn this Masters Research Report I explore how South Africa, in reaction to the global economic crisis’s impact on national unemployment statistics, has embraced the social economy. As this is a recent undertaking of the state, this research covers the timeline of events pertinent to what I determine to be the tipping point of the social economy in South Africa between 2009-‐2011. Based on documentary analysis and in-‐depth interviews with key actors determined to be ‘experts’ in the field, this research attempts to gain an understanding of how the concept of the social economy and its organizations of social entrepreneurship and social enterprise are being transposed onto the South African landscape, specifically in the Gauteng province. By examining the trend of the social economy and how it is being conceptualized in the country, this research aims to understand the implications for the future of South Africa’s socioeconomic development path.