Evaluation of a Worker Voice Intervention

Last registered on October 08, 2024
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Evaluation of a Worker Voice Intervention
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0014463
Initial registration date
October 03, 2024

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
October 07, 2024, 7:19 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Last updated
October 08, 2024, 5:11 AM EDT

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

Country
Germany
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Jörn-Niklas Frerking
Affiliation
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Simon Jäger
PI Affiliation
PI Name
Amelie Schiprowski
PI Affiliation
PI Name
Frederik Schwerter
PI Affiliation

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2024-05-01
End date
2025-09-30
Keywords
Labor
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
We seek to evaluate a worker voice intervention implemented in a large German firm. The intervention aims to improve job satisfaction, attendance, and retention among the firm's workers. It gives workers the opportunity to voice their concerns and shape local working conditions.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Frerking, Jörn-Niklas et al. 2024. "Evaluation of a Worker Voice Intervention." AEA RCT Registry. October 08. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.14463-1.1
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
The intervention adheres to the following protocol:

- A team of psychologists and physicians from the occupational health management unit of the company (OHM) visits the plant and offers workers the opportunity to talk to them about their working conditions and the workplace climate. The OHM encourages workers to propose changes in, e.g., work processes, equipment, or communication.
- The OHM forwards the accumulated feedback in an anonymized form to the local plant managers and supports them in drafting a list of tangible measures in response to the feedback.
- In a workshop moderated by the OHM, plant managers and workers discuss the managers' proposal and agree on a final set of measures.
- The final catalog of measures is posted at the local plant and implemented for initially three months. During this trial period, the OHM monitors compliance with the measures by revisiting the plants regularly.
- At the end of the first trial period, the OHM organizes a second workshop where plant managers and workers evaluate the effectiveness of the measures. This workshop provides the opportunity to amend or abolish existing measures and to introduce new measures.
- A second three-month trial phase follows for the revised catalog of measures, which is again accompanied by the OHM, albeit less closely than the first.
- At the end of the second trial period, the OHM conducts a final workshop with plant managers and workers to promote the sustainability of measures that have been perceived as positive. This marks the end of the intervention.
Intervention (Hidden)
Intervention Start Date
2024-06-01
Intervention End Date
2025-02-28

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
- Job satisfaction index
- Turnover rate
- Absence rate
- Complaint rate

See pre-analysis plan for further details.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
See pre-analysis plan, section 2.1.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
In office by a computer
Randomization Unit
Plant
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
117 plants
Sample size: planned number of observations
117 plants per period
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
7 treated, 110 control
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Ethical Review Board, University of Cologne, Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences
IRB Approval Date
2024-07-02
IRB Approval Number
240034FS
Analysis Plan

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials