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Hohendanner, Christian, Jasmin Rocha & Joß Steinke (2024): Vor dem Kollaps!? Beschäftigung im sozialen Sektor. Empirische Vermessung und Handlungsansätze. Berlin: De Gruyter Oldenbourg, 111 S. DOI:10.1515/9783110748024

Abstract

"Diese Studie bietet eine empirisch fundierte Gesamtschau auf die Beschäftigung in einem der personalintensivsten und am stärksten vom Fachkräftemangel betroffenen Arbeitsfelder in Deutschland: dem sozialen Sektor. Wer das Buch liest, gewinnt ein tieferes Verständnis über Zusammenhänge und die Notwendigkeit, offen über Beschäftigung im sozialen Sektor zu debattieren. Anhand aktueller Daten zeigen die Autor:innen, dass der soziale Sektor im Wettbewerb um Arbeitskräfte schlecht dasteht. Zunehmend fehlen Arbeitskräfte und grundlegende, bislang als selbstverständlich betrachtete Leistungen der sozialen Daseinsvorsorge können immer häufiger nicht mehr erbracht werden. Die Autor:innen zeigen Wege auf, wie soziale Berufe wieder attraktiver und der Kollaps des sozialen Sektors (vielleicht) verhindert werden kann." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku, © De Gruyter Oldenbourg)

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Bińczycki, Bernard, Wiesław Łukasiński & Sławomir Dorocki (2023): Determinants of Motivation to Work in Terms of Industry 4.0 - The Gen Z Perspective. In: Sustainability, Jg. 15, H. 15. DOI:10.3390/su151512069

Abstract

"The mentality of Generation Z differs markedly from the approach to social and economic issues presented by earlier generations. These young people have had access to the internet and other innovative technologies since birth. A tape recorder or a floppy disk is a museum exhibit for them. They are unfamiliar with the everyday problems that citizens of Central and Eastern Europe faced during the socialist era, such as the lack of necessities on the shelves. The aim of this article is to present the results of the authors’ survey on the identification of work motivation factors relevant to Generation Z. The survey involved 649 respondents, young Poles who are currently entering the labor market. It was also an interesting research task for the authors to compare the results of surveys among young Poles with the results of international surveys. The research provided insight into young people’s expectations, values, and preferences regarding work. The results of the survey can provide valuable guidance for employers in shaping sustainable human resource management strategies. In addition, studying the competences of Generation Z can identify the gap between the requirements of the labor market and the skills possessed by young workers. The study conducted by the authors is among the first of its kind in Poland after the pandemic, emphasizing the growing trend in remote work. Earlier research was undertaken in a different economic climate. The current investigation took place following the COVID-19 outbreak and amidst heightened military operations in Ukraine. It also takes into account the effects of recent technological progress related to the rapid development of Industry 4.0. Notably, the questionnaire used in this study is unique as the authors categorized motivational factors into three essential groups, highly relevant in today’s markedly altered labor market." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Boór, Beata & Bernhard Kittel (2023): Die Jungen wollen nicht mehr arbeiten? Sinnansprüche und Arbeitsethos jüngerer Arbeitnehmer:innen. In: WISO, Jg. 46, H. 2, S. 33-51.

Abstract

"Die dargestellten empirischen Ergebnisse zeigen, anders als der mediale Diskurs vermuten lässt, keine relevanten Unterschiede in den Arbeitswerten zwischen den Altersgruppen oder Generationen. In den untersuchten Dimensionen Arbeitszentralität und JobattributPräferenzen zeigen sich ähnliche Ergebnisse und Dynamiken für beide Altersgruppen. Der Lebensbereich „Arbeit“ hat weiterhin einen hohen Stellenwert im Leben der Menschen. Entgegen der in der Einleitung genannten Schlagzeilen ist die Bereitschaft, selbst ohne finanzielle Notwendigkeit zu arbeiten, unter jungen Arbeitnehmer:innen weiterhin hoch und sinkt tendenziell erst mit der Annäherung an das Pensionsalter ab. Gleichzeitig lässt sich nicht nachweisen, dass der Lebensbereich „Freizeit“ für die jüngere Generation bedeutender wäre als für die Gruppe der über 35-Jährigen. Stattdessen zeigt sich altersunabhängig eine hohe Bedeutung dieses Bereichs und eine niedrige Bereitschaft, diesen kontinuierlich der Erwerbsarbeit unterzuordnen. Die resultierende Abnahme der relativen Arbeitszentralität betrifft somit alle Arbeitnehmer:innen und ist nicht auf die jüngeren Generationen beschränkt. Die Ergebnisse für die Dimension der Jobattribut-Präferenzen zeigt außerdem die anhaltend hohe Bedeutung von extrinsischen und intrinsischen Faktoren sowie von Vereinbarkeit zwischen dem Arbeits- und Privatleben. Aspekte wie Sicherheit, gute Bezahlung, Work-Life-Balance und selbstbestimmtes Arbeiten in einer wertschätzenden Umgebung sind somit nicht nur für jüngere Generationen relevant. Wenn allerdings empirisch keine Alters- oder Generationenunterschiede in den Arbeitswerten der Österreicher:innen nachgewiesen werden können, bleibt letztlich die Frage, wieso der mediale Diskurs und die öffentliche Wahrnehmung an den Narrativ eines Generationenwandels festhält. Dafür ist es notwendig, auf andere Studien zurückzugreifen, die das allgemeine Lebensgefühl junger Menschen in Europa untersuchen. Einen Teil der Erklärung liefern Jugendstudien wie die Studie „Junges Europa“ der Tui Stiftung oder die deutsche Shell-Jugendstudie, die aufzeigen, dass Jugendliche und junge Erwachsene inzwischen selbstbewusster sind, klare Vorstellungen davon haben, was sie möchten und weniger bereit sind, sich bestehenden Machtverhältnissen unterzuordnen. Es kann angenommen werden, dass diese Befunde im Wesentlichen auch für Österreich zutreffen. Gleichzeitig treffen sie mit ihrer Bereitschaft, diese Dinge auch einzufordern, auf einen sich verändernden Arbeitsmarkt. Der durch die COVID-19-Pandemie beschleunigte Wandel der Arbeitswelt, gepaart mit dem demografischen Wandel, der anstehenden Pensionierungswelle und einer Verschiebung des Arbeitsmarktes hin zu einem Angebotsmarkt bildet den Kontext, in dem diese erstarkte Emanzipation junger Arbeitnehmer:innen möglich wird. Wie in diesem Beitrag aufgezeigt, sind es nicht die Arbeitswerte der jungen Generation, die sich verändern, sondern ihre Möglichkeiten und Instrumente, ihre Wünsche zu artikulieren und sich dabei zu behaupten." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku, © ISW-Linz)

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Eleveld, Anja (2023): Can mandatory work in activation programs be meaningful work? In: Critical Social Policy online erschienen am 19.12.2023, S. 1-20. DOI:10.1177/02610183231218966

Abstract

"Quantitative well-being studies have shown that welfare recipients performing work activities in activation programs report relatively high levels of well-being. This article asks how these findings can be explained, given welfare recipients’ constrained autonomy. To answer this question a qualitative study was conducted in the Netherlands to explore the interaction between welfare recipients’ constrained autonomy and how they experience work in MandatoryWork Programs. This article uses concepts from critical theoretical approaches to meaningful work and autonomy to analyze the data. The findings show how the restrained autonomy of program impacted the participants’ work experiences in various, sometimes contradictory ways. It is concluded, among other things, that quantitative well-being research does not seem to fully capture people's experiences as having the status of a welfare recipient and, related to that, what it means for them when their autonomy is constrained in one or more dimensions. It is also recommended that future quantitative well-being studies clearly distinguish between types of activation programs, particularly regarding their mandatory nature, their goals and their target groups." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Fleischer, Julia & Camilla Wanckel (2023): Job Satisfaction and the Digital Transformation of the Public Sector: The Mediating Role of Job Autonomy. In: Review of Public Personnel Administration online erschienen am 12.01.2023, S. 1-22. DOI:10.1177/0734371X221148403

Abstract

"Worldwide, governments have introduced novel information and communication technologies (ICTs) for policy formulation and service delivery, radically changing the working environment of government employees. Following the debate on work stress and particularly on technostress, we argue that the use of ICTs triggers “digital overload” that decreases government employees’ job satisfaction via inhibiting their job autonomy. Contrary to prior research, we consider job autonomy as a consequence rather than a determinant of digital overload, because ICT-use accelerates work routines and interruptions and eventually diminishes employees’ freedom to decide how to work. Based on novel survey data from government employees in Germany, Italy, and Norway, our structural equation modeling (SEM) confirms a significant negative effect of digital overload on job autonomy. More importantly, job autonomy partially mediates the negative relationship between digital overload and job satisfaction, pointing to the importance of studying the micro-foundations of ICT-use in the public sector." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Jacobs, Arthur, Elsy Verhofstadt & Luc Van Ootegem (2023): Unravelling the Link between Automatability and Job Satisfaction. In: Journal of labor research, Jg. 44, H. 3, S. 199-227. DOI:10.1007/s12122-023-09346-5

Abstract

"We take a closer look at the negative association between automatability and job satisfaction using data from the European Working Conditions Survey. We find a significant negative effect of automatability on job satisfaction. We observe that the association is not driven by individual or contextual confounders, but rather that it is generated by the specific task content of highly automatable occupations. More precisely, we identify 'originality requirements' as the key mediator, as more originality hinders the automatability of an occupation while boosting the job satisfaction of employees. We also find evidence for a stronger bias of future automation towards less satisfying occupations within lower-educated labour market segments. We discuss what these findings imply for the future quality of work and for inequality by education." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

Zitatform

Jacobs, Arthur, Elsy Verhofstadt & Luc Van Ootegem (2023): Are more automatable jobs less satisfying? (Working paper / Ghent University. Faculty of Economics and Business Administration 2023,1059), Gent, 20 S.

Abstract

"We investigate whether the characteristics which render a job more likely to disappear due to automation also make that job less satisfying. The literature on automation offers convincing reasons in favour of this hypothesis, but it has not been empirically tested before. We use a widely-established, occupation-level measure of automatability and find that more automatable jobs are indeed significantly less satisfying using data from the European Working Conditions Survey. The effect is sizeable and robust to controlling for a wide range of individual-level variables and job-context variables. Our finding suggests that more automatable occupations are less satisfying because of their inherent nature (i.e. the nature of the tasks required for the performance of that occupation). We conduct a mediation analysis and find that the smaller creative intelligence requirement related to automatable occupations is the most important reason for their lower job satisfaction. We discuss to what extent these economy-wide findings translate to the level of the individual worker, in the context of a labor market segmented by education level." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Lemberg, Jason (2023): Selbstverwirklichung im Beruf. Zur Geschichte eines Mythos. In: Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, Jg. 73, H. 46, S. 41-46.

Abstract

"Das Ideal der beruflichen Selbstverwirklichung ist allgegenwärtig. Obschon über die damit verbundenen Verheißungen oft nur mit deutlichen Einschränkungen gesprochen wird – so müssten wichtige Kriterien hinsichtlich der beruflichen Qualifikation und der biografischen Grundvoraussetzungen erfüllt sein –, ändere dies nichts an der Macht der damit verbundenen Bilder, Vorstellungen und Fantasien. Ganz im Gegenteil: Ein Großteil der Menschen sehnt sich nach einer erfüllenden Arbeit, und sagte nicht schon Konfuzius: "Wähle einen Beruf, den du liebst, und du brauchst keinen Tag in deinem Leben mehr zu arbeiten"?" (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Melillo, Francesca (2023): Going From Entrepreneur Back to Employee: Employer Type, Task Variety, and Job Satisfaction. (Les GREDEG working papers 2023-21), Vabonne, 37 S.

Abstract

"While the literature documents a wage loss for entrepreneurs that return to paid employment, we examine how these entrepreneurs are re-integrated into the labor market. We consider which type of employers hire entrepreneurs and their satisfaction with the new corporate job. Using matched employer-employee data from Belgium combined with an ad-hoc survey, we find that entrepreneurs are hired by smaller employers that offer fewer employee benefits and pay less, contributing to explaining the wage loss. We also find that entrepreneurs are more satisfied than observationally equivalent employees when they are assigned to jobs that involve higher task variety. This effect is more pronounced for entrepreneurs who sort into better employers. Our findings highlight the importance for managers to assign entrepreneurs to the "right" job tasks." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Minardi, Saverio, Carla Hornberg, Paolo Barbieri & Heike Solga (2023): The link between computer use and job satisfaction: The mediating role of job tasks and task discretion. In: BJIR, Jg. 61, H. 4, S. 796-831. DOI:10.1111/bjir.12738

Abstract

"This study focuses on the consequences of the use of computerized work equipment (hereafter: computer use) on the content and quality of work. It investigates, first, the relationship between computer use and both job tasks and task discretion and, second, their mediating role for the relationship between computer use and job satisfaction. With our German-UK comparison, we contribute to the long-standing debate on the upskilling/de-skilling nature of the use of technology and its repercussions on the quality of work. We analyse data from the Skills and Employment Surveys for the UK and the BIBB/BAuA Employment Surveys for Germany using structural equation modelling. In line with the literature on routine-biased technological change, we show that computers are complementary to the performance of less routine and more abstract cognitive tasks and that this relationship is conducive to a higher level of task discretion and job satisfaction in both countries. Accounting for differences in job tasks performed, we find a negative direct effect of computer use on both task discretion and job satisfaction in the United Kingdom but not in Germany. Our results indicate that the ultimate effect of computer use on both task discretion and job satisfaction depends on the institutional contexts in which technology is introduced." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Murray, Gregor, Dalia Gesualdi-Fecteau, Christian Levesque & Nicolas Roby (2023): What makes work better or worse? An analytical framework. In: Transfer, Jg. 29, H. 3, S. 305-322. DOI:10.1177/10242589231207967

Abstract

"Dieser Artikel will neue gedankliche Perspektiven zum Thema bessere und schlechtere Arbeit aufzeigen, indem er einen neuen analytischen Rahmen zur Beurteilung der Qualität von Arbeit und ihrer Implikationen entwickelt. Hierzu wird auf eine breite Auswahl an Literatur über Arbeitsplatzqualität zurückgegriffen und darauf hingewiesen, dass wir eine umfassendere Agenda und ein dynamischeres Verständnis von Möglichkeiten brauchen, schlechtere Arbeit besser zu machen. Zu diesem Zweck präsentiert das Autorenteam einen dreidimensionalen Rahmen: Risiko, Autonomie und Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten. Der Rahmen beurteilt bessere und schlechtere Arbeit und welche Möglichkeiten Arbeitnehmer:innen haben, zwischen diesen unterschiedlichen Dimensionen ihres Arbeitslebens zu navigieren. Wir untersuchen sich daraus ergebende Implikationen für Strategien der beteiligten Akteure und für die Wissenschaft, um eine Agenda für bessere Arbeit voranzubringen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Tirabeni, Lia (2023): Bounded Well-Being: Designing Technologies for Workers' Well-Being in Corporate Programmes. In: Work, Employment and Society online erschienen am 19.10.2023. DOI:10.1177/09500170231203113

Abstract

"This article examines the relationship between workers’ well-being and digitalisation at work. It is based on the findings of a qualitative study carried out in a manufacturing company, and it focuses on the development of a wearable device for well-being. Using the analytical concepts of ‘translation’ and ‘inscription’ taken from Actor-Network Theory, it explores how digital technologies for well-being are designed in corporate programmes and shows how the final technology results from processes of inscription and translation performed by the actors involved in the design phase. The end device embodies a concept of well-being that has been called ‘bounded’ to emphasise how well-being at work is limited by organisational constraints. The article invites a rethinking of hedonic well-being at work as a precondition for eudaimonic well-being so that the human being is understood as a psychophysical unit that is part of a rich social context." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Boehnlein, Philipp & Matthias Baum (2022): Does job crafting always lead to employee well-being and performance? Meta-analytical evidence on the moderating role of societal culture. In: The International Journal of Human Resource Management, Jg. 33, H. 4, S. 647-685. DOI:10.1080/09585192.2020.1737177

Abstract

"We quantitatively summarize existing studies on job crafting and its effects on well-being and individual in-role and extra-role performance. We differentiate job crafting behaviors by target of impact (individual vs. work environment) and regulatory focus (prevention vs. promotion focus). Drawing on 60 independent samples with a total of 20,547 participants, we use meta-analysis to show that promotion-oriented job crafting can be associated with increased well-being and both in-role and extra-role performance. Prevention-oriented crafting yielded partially significant results for well-being while showing non-significant relationships with both performance outcomes. Drawing on previous findings of the GLOBE study, we further show that the effects of job crafting on both in-role and extra-role performance are partially moderated by the cultural practices of in-group collectivism, future orientation, performance orientation, and uncertainty avoidance. By doing so, we illuminate the cultural circumstances under which job crafting behaviors are more suitable and where job crafting is less effective as a way to improve individuals’ performance." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))"We quantitatively summarize existing studies on job crafting and its effects on well-being and individual in-role and extra-role performance. We differentiate job crafting behaviors by target of impact (individual vs. work environment) and regulatory focus (prevention vs. promotion focus). Drawing on 60 independent samples with a total of 20,547 participants, we use meta-analysis to show that promotion-oriented job crafting can be associated with increased well-being and both in-role and extra-role performance. Prevention-oriented crafting yielded partially significant results for well-being while showing non-significant relationships with both performance outcomes. Drawing on previous findings of the GLOBE study, we further show that the effects of job crafting on both in-role and extra-role performance are partially moderated by the cultural practices of in-group collectivism, future orientation, performance orientation, and uncertainty avoidance. By doing so, we illuminate the cultural circumstances under which job crafting behaviors are more suitable and where job crafting is less effective as a way to improve individuals’ performance." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))756k

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Carleton, Cheryl & Mary T. Kelly (2022): Happy at Work - Possible at Any Age? (Villanova School of Business working paper 51), Villanova, PA, 31 S.

Abstract

"With the growing attachment of older workers to the labor force and their engagement in alternative work arrangements, it is important to investigate the characteristics of older cohorts of individuals who are in the labor market and the factors that influence job satisfaction, as job satisfaction may be a predictor of which older individuals are likely to continue to work and in what type of work arrangement. This study uses several recent years of the General Social Survey to both explore the characteristics of older workers and investigate what contributes to job satisfaction, controlling for both gender and work arrangement. It splits the sample of workers into two cohorts to test for differences in job satisfaction between those who are nearing retirement age (55-64) and those who continue to work post the traditional retirement age (65-80). For the sample as a whole, and similar to other studies, we find that job satisfaction is higher for women and for those who work in alternative work arrangements as compared to those in regular jobs. We also find that there are differences in what contributes to job satisfaction between the two groups of older workers. These outcomes may inform firms about what they might do in order to keep these workers as well as informing the government on whether it is necessary to rethink how some benefits are both provided and paid for." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Gaye, Maimouna (2022): Job satisfaction: towards internalizing the feeling of inequality between men and women. In: Applied Economics, Jg. 54, H. 33, S. 3823-3839. DOI:10.1080/00036846.2021.2016589

Abstract

"The more pronounced job satisfaction among women is generally observed despite their less favorable work situation compared to men. However, regression analysis alone in a sample of non-comparable men and women may be subject to model misspecification. Our work uses an innovative matching procedure, Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM), to address this issue and analyze the reasons for the differential in job satisfaction between men and women with the same characteristics. Data from the Sixth European Working Conditions Survey are considered including five measures of satisfaction with career development prospects taken as a new measure. The results show that women are more satisfied with job security, while they seem less satisfied with their career development prospects. A similar level of satisfaction is observed between men and women with regard to social relations, overall satisfaction and salary. Exceptionally, the youngest women, or those with higher education, or employed at a higher hierarchical level, or working in male-dominated sectors, expressed levels of satisfaction that were the opposite of the other women. This is likely due to the fact that these women align their job expectations with those of their male counterparts." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Grolleau, Gilles, Naoufel Mzoughi & Sanja Pekovic (2022): An empirical analysis of the relationship between innovation activities and job satisfaction among French firms. In: Journal of vocational behavior, Jg. 133. DOI:10.1016/j.jvb.2021.103689

Abstract

"Drawing on the literature on innovation climate and employee attitudes, we discuss how innovations could impact job satisfaction. Using lagged predictors and relevant control variables, we investigate empirically this relationship on a large sample of French firms. Our estimation results show that employees in companies that engage in innovation activities are more likely to report increased job satisfaction. Moreover, building on previous organizational research arguing that layoffs are likely to create detrimental workplace atmosphere and conditions, we test whether the relationship between innovation and job satisfaction is moderated by downsizing decisions among the examined firms. We draw several theoretical and managerial implications." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2022 Elsevier) ((en))

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Kortmann, Lisa Katharina, Julia Simonson, Claudia Vogel & Oliver Huxhold (2022): Digitalisation and Employees' Subjective Job Quality in the Second Half of Working Life in Germany. In: Social indicators research, Jg. 162, H. 2, S. 577-597. DOI:10.1007/s11205-021-02854-w

Abstract

"Since digitalisation alters occupational task profiles via automation processes, job quality is also likely to be affected. While existing literature mainly focusses on objective job quality, this study asks if and how digitalisation is associated with employees’ subjective job quality in the second half of working life in Germany. Analyses are based on the German Ageing Survey 2014. Our sample includes n = 1541 employees aged 40–65 years who are subject to social insurance contributions. Subjective job quality is operationalised with regards to job satisfaction and perceived occupational stress in general, and ten aspects of job quality in detail. Digitalisation is approximated by substitution potentials of occupations. We control the association for compositional effects in the workforce, as well as for the moderating effect of perceived job insecurity. The results indicate that digitalisation is predominantly beneficial but also unfavourable in a few other respects for employees’ subjective job quality. The higher the degree of digitalisation, the higher is the employee’s general job satisfaction on average; for general perceived occupational stress, we find no significant association. Regarding single aspects of subjective job quality, employees working in more digitalised occupations are found to report on average higher satisfaction with working hours and earnings, and lower levels of stress due to tight schedules. However, they also report higher levels of stress due to negative environmental factors." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Kümmerling, Angelika, Gerhard Bosch, Frederic Hüttenhoff & Claudia Weinkopf (2022): Viel Schatten, aber auch etwas Licht. Die Situation der Baubeschäftigten – Ergebnisse einer Online-Beschäftigtenbefragung. (IAQ-Report 2022-06), Duisburg ; Essen, 24 S. DOI:10.17185/duepublico/76127

Abstract

"Eine Online-Befragung unter 3052 Baubeschäftigten zeigt, dass rund jeder vierte Beschäftigte in “näherer Zukunft“ beabsichtigt, seinen Arbeitgeber oder sogar die Branche zu wechseln. Baubeschäftigte beschreiben ihren Beruf als abwechslungsreich, vielfältig und lernförderlich und schätzen die Entscheidungsspielräume. Negativ werden die hohe körperliche Belastung und die Verdichtung der Arbeit durch neue Technologien gesehen. Ein hoher Anteil berichtet auch, dass der Fachkräftemangel in ihrem Betrieb bereits spürbar sei. Die Unzufriedenheit mit den Arbeitsbedingungen insgesamt, den Arbeitszeiten und der Bezahlung ist hoch und stellt einen Hauptgrund für Wechselabsichten dar. Nur gut jeder fünfte Arbeiter ist der Meinung, seinen Beruf bis zum gesetzlichen Renten-Einstiegsalter durchhalten zu können. Arbeiter wünschen sich einen Renteneintritt mit 60,7 Jahren, Angestellte mit 61,7 Jahren. Die Wechselneigung ist nicht betriebsunabhängig: Beschäftigte, die ihren Betrieb für zukunftsfähig halten und die das Betriebsklima als gut einschätzen, zeigen eine geringere Wechselneigung." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Nikolova, Milena & Femke Cnossen (2022): Robots, Meaning, and Self-Determination. (GLO discussion paper / Global Labor Organization 1191), Essen, 54 S.

Abstract

"We are the first to examine the impact of robotization on work meaningfulness and autonomy, competence, and relatedness, which are key for motivation and human flourishing at work. Using worker-level data from 13 industries in 20 European countries and OLS and instrumental variables estimations, we find that industry-level robotization harms all work quality aspects except competence. We also examine the moderating role of routine and cognitive tasks, skills and education, and age and gender. While we do not find evidence of moderation concerning work meaningfulness in any of our models, noteworthy differences emerge for autonomy. For instance, workers with repetitive and monotonous tasks drive the negative effects of robotization on autonomy, while social tasks and working with computers - a tool that provides worker independence - help workers derive autonomy and competence in industries and jobs that adopt robots. In addition, robotization increases the competence perceptions of men. Our results highlight that by deteriorating the opportunities to derive meaning and self-determination out of work, robotization will impact the present and the future of work above and beyond its consequences for employment and wages." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Peters, Verena, Benjamin Herten, Katharina Kirstein, Nora Schulte-Coerne, Jonas Seidel, Amber Wellmer, Esther Stehle, Nils Müller, Patrick Beule, Andrea Laukhuf, Laura Müller, Benedikt Runschke, Sabrina Spies, Daniel Stohr, Sandra Zimmermann, Jan Schröder, Nina Bastian, Kathrin Meyer-Frieß, Thomas Reinhards, Notburga Ott, Kai-David Klärner & Martin Werding (2022): Endbericht zur Studie „Arbeitsplatzsituation in der Akut- und Langzeitpflege und Ermittlung sowie modellhafte Implementierung von Indikatoren für gute Arbeitsbedingungen in der Langzeitpflege“ - Los 1: Analyse, Befragungen und Maßnahmenempfehlungen zum Pflegearbeitsplatz der Zukunft. Bochum, 739 S.

Abstract

"Im Rahmen der Konzertierten Aktion Pflege (KAP) wurde gemeinsam mit den in der Pflege beteiligten Akteuren im Juni 2019 Maßnahmen vereinbart, um mehr beruflich Pflegende zu gewinnen, sie zu stärken und zu entlasten und die Ausbildung und Arbeitsbedingungen attraktiver zu gestalten. Im Zuge dessen hat das Bundesministerium für Gesundheit die Studie Arbeitsplatzsituation in der Akut- und Langzeitpflege und Ermittlung sowie modellhafte Implementierung von Indikatoren für gute Arbeitsbedingungen in der Langzeitpflege beauftragt. Ziel der Studie war es, die Datengrundlagen zur Situation von beruflich Pflegenden zu verbessern und Maßnahmen zu identifizieren, die die Maßnahmen der KAP entweder bestätigen oder über diese hinausgehen bzw. mit denen die formulierten Ziele der Aktion vorangetrieben werden können. Los 1 der Studie umfasste dabei eine Analyse, Befragungen und Maßnahmenempfehlungen zum Pflegearbeitsplatz der Zukunft. Die Untersuchung beinhaltete eine umfassende systematische Analyse der bereits vorhandenen Literatur, eine Auswertung statistischer Daten sowie die Erhebung von Primärdaten in Form von qualitativen Interviews und einer quantitativen Erhebung unter beruflich Pflegenden in Deutschland. Die bereinigte, nicht repräsentative Stichprobe umfasst dabei Angaben von 5.514 Befragten, und sie ist damit eine der umfangreichsten Befragungen der letzten 10 Jahre bezogen auf Inhalte und Stichprobengröße. Sie bietet in besonderer thematischer Breite und Tiefe Einblicke in die Erfahrungen und Einschätzungen beruflich Pflegender in Deutschland. Die Ergebnisse dieser knapp dreijährigen Forschung sind in diesem Bericht zusammengefasst." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)

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Weiss, David, Mona Weiss, Cort W. Rudolph & Hannes Zacher (2022): Tough times at the top: Occupational status predicts changes in job satisfaction in times of crisis. In: Journal of vocational behavior, Jg. 139. DOI:10.1016/j.jvb.2022.103804

Abstract

"How do individuals with a higher versus lower occupational status experience major, unexpected changes to their work life? The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted most areas of work life and, thus, provides a unique opportunity to examine changes in work attitudes in response to a worldwide crisis. We predict that individuals with higher, but not with lower occupational status showed a decline in job satisfaction during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany (1st lockdown; March to May 2020), with subsequent recovery to initial job satisfaction levels. Based on role theory and social-psychological theories of hierarchical differentiation, we argue that, due to the profound work-related changes, individuals with higher (vs. lower) occupational status are more negatively affected in realizing their work goals and, thus, experience decreasing levels of job satisfaction. To test these predictions, we investigated trajectories of job satisfaction between December 2019 and August 2020 (7 measurement waves; N = 1583). Results of piece-wise growth curve models showed that individuals with higher occupational status showed a steeper decline in job satisfaction (followed by recovery) over time, whereas individuals with medium and lower occupational status did not experience a significant change in job satisfaction. In addition, we show that the decline in job satisfaction is moderated by perceived constraints at work associated with the pandemic among individuals with higher occupational status. Overall, these findings contribute to our understanding of the link between occupational status and job satisfaction in times of crisis." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2022 Elsevier) ((en))

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Wiedner, Jonas (2022): Political and Social Consequences of Qualification Mismatches: A Bounding Approach to Status Inconsistency. In: Social forces, Jg. 101, H. 1, S. 150-175. DOI:10.1093/sf/soab120

Abstract

"Many employees work in jobs that do not match their level of formal education. Status inconsistency theory (SIT) argues that such mismatches result in stress, dissatisfaction, political alienation, and social withdrawal. Status inconsistency may, therefore, pose a threat to social cohesion. However, extant SIT scholarship does not fully appreciate the consequences of an identification problem due to the perfect collinearity among the effects of occupation, education, and their mismatch. I review the literature and show that prior findings depend on implicit theoretical assumptions that are often implausible once spelled out. To overcome this problem, I propose a new approach to the study of mismatches that builds on recent advances in the modeling of age, period, and cohort effects. I demonstrate how a set of relatively weak assumptions that are transparently grounded in sociological theory allows for (partial) identification of mismatch effects. The empirical analysis draws on comparable large-scale survey data from the United Kingdom (UKLHS) and Germany (GSOEP), two countries with a very different institutional organization of education to job matching. Compared with previous research, I use theoretically justified identifying assumptions and provide more rigorous evidence by addressing non-random selection into mismatch. Constrained regression models show mismatch effects on work-related identities, satisfaction, and organizational integration. Contra SIT, my results suggest that the effects of mismatches do not arise from cognitive dissonance but from an expectation formation mechanism. I find only weak evidence that mismatch effects spill over into the political domain. Despite large institutional differences, the results are similar across countries." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Asuyama, Yoko (2021): Determinants of job interestingness: Comparison of Japan and other high-income countries. In: Labour Economics, Jg. 73. DOI:10.1016/j.labeco.2021.102082

Abstract

"Interest in a job enhances job satisfaction, learning, and task performance, and deters the job-holder from quitting. This paper quantifies the importance of the key determinants of job interestingness for the first time. It also explores the reasons why there are much fewer interesting jobs in Japan than in other high-income countries (H). Decomposition analyses are performed using the International Social Survey Programme and Japanese panel survey data. In both H and Japan, interest match and prosocial meaning of the job are two of the three most important predictors of job interestingness. The third top predictor is job autonomy in H, whereas in Japan it is relatedness (relationship with management and colleagues), implying that the most effective ways to make a job interesting vary across cultures and work organizations. The largest factor explaining the job interestingness gap between Japan and H is Japan's lower level of job autonomy, although promoting autonomy is a less effective way to enhance job interestingness in Japan." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2022 Elsevier) ((en))

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Erdogan, Berrin & Talya N. Bauer (2021): Overqualification at Work: A Review and Synthesis of the Literature. In: Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, Jg. 8, S. 259-283. DOI:10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-012420-055831

Abstract

"Both perceived and objective measures of employee overqualification can impact job attitudes, various workplace behaviors, and work relationships. Utilizing motivation and capability-based theoretical approaches, this review summarizes research regarding the antecedents (demographic influences, personality traits, relational influences, job characteristics) and outcomes (individual health and well-being, turnover intentions and turnover, job performance, organizational citizenship behaviors, interpersonal relationships, innovative behaviors, counterproductive work behaviors, and career success) of overqualification. In addition, we review work done to date regarding the moderators and mediators of these relationships. Finally, we offer future directions for research." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Gueguen, Guillaume & Claudia Senik (2021): Adopting Telework. The causal impact of working from home on subjective well-being in 2020. (PSE working paper / Paris School of Economics 2021-65), Paris, 36 S.

Abstract

"Using the UK household longitudinal survey, we uncover a positive effect of work from home on life satisfaction, which is driven by partnered people and those without children at home. Concerning mental health, there is no average effect of telework, except for those living in rural areas, but this hides a dynamic evolution, as mental health initially deteriorates in the first months of telework, but improves after a period of adaptation, especially the feeling of being useful, of being a worthy person, and of being able to concentrate." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Pagis, Michal (2021): Inhabiting the Self-Work Romantic Utopia: Positive Psychology, Life Coaching, and the Challenge of Self-Fulfillment at Work. In: Work and occupations, Jg. 48, H. 1, S. 40-69. DOI:10.1177/0730888420911683

Abstract

"Much has been said about the rise of work as a central identity marker in modern society. With the recent popularization of self-help and positive psychology, this identity marker broadened its signification to include new emotional needs such as love and passion, creating a new cultural imaginary: the “self-work romantic utopia.” Sociological studies have criticized this utopia as a myth that serves capitalist neoliberal structures, leading to frustration and self-blame. However, little is known about how workers themselves confront this myth and the strategies they employ when attempting to inhabit it in today’s precarious job market. Based on 60 in-depth interviews with upper-middle class Israeli workers who hired life coaches to improve their work experience, the author identifies five strategies used to inhabit this romantic utopia: starting over, healing, idealization, polygamy, and vision. Through the analysis of these strategies, the author illustrates how even the relatively privileged workers need to adapt the self-work romantic utopia to their life circumstances, inhabiting the myth in partial degrees. Such flexible implementation turns the “myth” into a cultural tool that directs workers’ lives and actions even in a precarious, unstable job market, maintaining subjective experiences of agency in a sphere characterized by growing structural constraints. Yet paradoxically, these strategies eventually strengthen the precarious, noncommitted, and individual-oriented structure of the job market, yielding flexible, individualistic solutions that replace workplace responsibility." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Blankenberg, Ann-Kathrin & Martin Binder (2020): Zum beruflichen Selbstbild und zur Arbeits- und Lebenszufriedenheit im Handwerk in Deutschland. (Göttinger Beiträge zur Handwerksforschung 42), Göttingen, 29 S. DOI:10.3249/2364-3897-gbh-42

Abstract

"Die Arbeit im Handwerk unterscheidet sich von vielen anderen Berufen durch Arbeitsmerkmale, die stark prägend für das berufliche Selbstbild sind und außerdem positiv das Wohlbefinden der Arbeitnehmer beeinflussen können. Dazu zählt, dass Handwerker die Ergebnisse ihrer Arbeit sehen können, und sie die Möglichkeit haben, das gesamte Werkstück (und nicht nur einen kleinen Teil davon) eigenständig herzustellen. Dadurch nehmen sie ihre Arbeit als nützlich und sinnstiftend wahr. Angesichts von Untersuchungen, die zeigen, dass Arbeit in manchen Berufszweigen zunehmend als sinnlos empfunden wird, ist es von großer Bedeutung zu verstehen, welche Facetten der Arbeit die Schaffung einer starken beruflichen Identität ermöglichen, die dazu führt, dass Arbeit als sinnvoll und befriedigend erlebt wird. Die Studie hat dieses Forschungsziel und nutzt dafür eine deutschlandweite Umfrage im Handwerkssektor mit rund 2000 Teilnehmern. Der Fokus der Datenerhebung lag dabei darauf, einen Einblick in das berufliche Selbstbild und die Arbeitszufriedenheit der im deutschen Handwerk Beschäftigten zu erhalten. Diese zeichnen sich in der Befragung durch ein stark ausgeprägtes berufliches Selbstbild aus und identifizieren sich stark mit ihrer handwerklichen Tätigkeit. Dabei weisen Beschäftigte im Handwerk eine hohe Arbeitszufriedenheit auf. Die Arbeitszufriedenheit kann in Teilen mit der Ganzheitlichkeit der Arbeit, dem Fokus auf manuelle Tätigkeit, der Wahrnehmung der Sinnhaftigkeit der Tätigkeit sowie einer hohen wahrgenommenen Autonomie in Zusammenhang gebracht werden." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Ge, Qi, Eun Jung Jordan, Myongjin Kim & Leilei Shen (2020): Returns to job satisfaction in the presence of horizontal mismatch. In: Applied Economics, Jg. 52, H. 27, S. 2913-2930. DOI:10.1080/00036846.2019.1696941

Abstract

"In this paper, we study the relationship among horizontal mismatch, job satisfaction and wages using data from the 2013 Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System (SESTAT). Estimates from 2SLS indicate that 1) field-occupation match in the highest degree has a positive effect on job satisfaction and wages; and 2) controlling for field-occupation matches, job satisfaction has a positive but diminishing effect on wages with a large heterogeneity across different age groups. In addition, we also distinguish between job satisfaction arising from benefits and job satisfaction that is productivity enhancing and find both to have a positive but nonlinear effect on wages." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Gerich, Joachim & Christoph Weber (2020): The Ambivalent Appraisal of Job Demands and the Moderating Role of Job Control and Social Support for Burnout and Job Satisfaction. In: Social indicators research, Jg. 148, H. 1, S. 251-280. DOI:10.1007/s11205-019-02195-9

Abstract

"Within an extended challenge–hindrance framework, it is assumed that job demands are subjectively appraised both as challenges (that is, as working conditions that are associated with potential personal gains) and hindrances (as working conditions associated with constrains) at the same time. In accordance with transactional stress theory, the association between demand intensity and work-related attitudes (work satisfaction) and psychological strain (burnout) is expected to be mediated by individual appraisal. Moreover, because curvilinear relationships between demand and challenge and hindrance appraisals are assumed, and appraisal is expected to be moderated by job control and social support, we tested complex nonlinear moderated mediation models for four types of job demands (task difficulty, time pressure, interruptions, and responsibility). Based on cross-sectional data of a heterogeneous sample of employees, we confirmed simultaneous challenge and hindrance appraisals. Challenge components are positively associated and hindrance components are negatively associated with favorable outcomes (higher work satisfaction and lower burnout). Challenge appraisals are found to be more relevant for work satisfaction, while hindrance appraisals are more relevant for burnout. The relationship between demand intensity and challenge appraisal is confirmed as curvilinear, whereas hindrance appraisals are approximately linearly related to demand intensity. The relationship between demand intensity and outcome variables is partly mediated by challenge and hindrance appraisal, and significant interaction effects suggest that the appraisal process is moderated by job control and social support." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Warren, Tracey & Clare Lyonette (2020): Ungrateful slaves? An examination of job quality and job satisfaction for male part-time workers in the UK. In: The British journal of sociology, Jg. 71, H. 2, S. 382-402. DOI:10.1111/1468-4446.12741

Abstract

"Research on part-time work has concentrated over many decades on the experiences of women but male part-time employment is growing in the UK. This article addresses two sizable gaps in knowledge concerning male part-timers: are men's part-time jobs of lower quality than men's full-time jobs? Are male part-timers more or less job-satisfied compared to their full-time peers? A fundamental part of both interrogations is whether men's part-time employment varies by occupational class. The article is motivated by the large body of work on female part-timers. Its theoretical framework is rooted in one of the most controversial discussions in the sociology of women workers: the “grateful slave” debate that emerged in the 1990s when researchers sought to explain why so many women expressed job satisfaction with low-quality part-time jobs. Innovatively, this article draws upon those contentious ideas to provide new insights into male, rather than female, part-time employment. Based upon analysis of a large quantitative data set, the results provide clear evidence of low-quality male part-time employment in the UK, when compared with men's full-time jobs. Men working part-time also express deteriorating satisfaction with jobs overall and in several specific dimensions of their jobs. Male part-timers in lower occupational class positions retain a clear “lead” both in bad job quality and low satisfaction. The article asks whether decreasingly satisfied male part-time workers should be termed “ungrateful slaves?” It unpacks the “grateful slave” metaphor and, after doing so, rejects its value for the ongoing analysis of part-time jobs in the formal labor market." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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OECD (2020): How's life? 2020. Measuring well-being. (How's life? 05), Paris, 244 S. DOI:10.1787/9870c393-en

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Avgoustaki, Argyro & Hans T. W. Ffrankort (2019): Implications of work effort and discretion for employee well-being and career-related outcomes. An integrative assessment. In: ILR review, Jg. 72, H. 3, S. 636-661. DOI:10.1177/0019793918804540

Abstract

"How does work effort affect employee outcomes? The authors bridge distinct literatures on the well-being versus career-related implications of work effort by analyzing the relation of overtime work and work intensity to both types of outcomes. They also extend examination of the role of discretion in modifying the effects of work effort from well-being to career-related outcomes. Using data from the fifth and sixth European Working Conditions Surveys, the authors show that greater work effort relates strongly to reduced well-being and modestly to inferior career-related outcomes, while discretion may attenuate these adverse implications. Even with discretion, work intensity generally is a stronger predictor of unfavorable outcomes than is overtime work. Implications include the need for employees to become aware of the broader limitations of excessive work effort, for employers to give discretion when viable, and for public policy to devise strategies that help limit the adverse consequences of work intensity." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Dur, Robert & Max van Lent (2019): Socially useless jobs. In: Industrial relations, Jg. 58, H. 1, S. 3-16. DOI:10.1111/irel.12227

Abstract

"Recent research suggests that many workers in modern economies think that their job is socially useless, i.e., that it makes no or a negative contribution to society. However, the evidence so far is mainly anecdotal. We use a representative dataset comprising 100,000 workers from forty-seven countries at four points in time. We find that approximately 8 percent of workers perceive their job as socially useless, while another 17 percent are doubtful about the usefulness of their job. There are sizeable differences among countries, sectors, occupations, and age groups, but no trend over time. A vast majority of workers cares about holding a socially useful job and we find that they suffer when they consider their job useless. We also explore possible causes of socially useless jobs, including bad management, strict job protection legislation, harmful economic activities, labor hoarding, and division of labor." (Author's abstract, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Léné, Alexandre (2019): Job satisfaction and bad jobs: Why are cleaners so happy at work? In: Work, employment and society, Jg. 33, H. 4, S. 666-681. DOI:10.1177/0950017019828904

Abstract

"Our analysis is based on the French DARES Working Conditions survey which contains a very large sample of individuals representative of the French working population. We demonstrate that employees working in the cleaning sector report significantly higher levels of satisfaction than the other employees. This statistical result is robust; it persists when we introduce a large number of control variables. This result is puzzling insofar as it is generally agreed that these workers hold 'poor quality' jobs: low pay, an abnormal pattern of work, arduous working conditions. We suggest that cleaners' expectations and standards are influenced by an adaptation process. Their job satisfaction needs to be considered in the light of their past experience. Their employment history shapes their wants and needs and thus affects the way they evaluate their work." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Weeks, Kelly Pledger & Caitlin Schaffert (2019): Generational Differences in Definitions of Meaningful Work: A Mixed Methods Study. In: Journal of Business Ethics, Jg. 156, H. 4, S. 1045-1061. DOI:10.1007/s10551-017-3621-4

Abstract

"The search for meaningful work has been of interest to researchers from a variety of disciplines for decades and seems to have grown even more recently. Much of the literature assumes that employees share a sense of what is meaningful in work and there isn't much attention given to how and why meanings might differ (Rosso et al. in Res Organ Behav 30:91–127, 2010). Researchers have not only called for more research studying demographic differences in definitions of meaning (e.g., Michaelson et al. in J Bus Ethics 121(1):77–90, 2014), but also moreresearch utilizing mixed methods to study psychological concepts like meaningful work (e.g., Eid and Diener, in Eid, Diener (eds) Handbook of multimethod measurement in psychology, American Psychological Association, Washington, 2006). This study specifically examines differences across generational cohorts on their prioritization of sources of meaningful work through qualitative, in-depth interviews followed by a more generalizable, quantitative survey. Findings from the qualitative study show that generational cohorts define the meaning in their jobs differently, and they hold negative perceptions about the lack of desire for meaning in each of the other cohorts. Study 2 maps generational cohorts on the comprehensive model of meaningful work designed by Lips-Wiersma and Morris (J Bus Ethics 88(3):491–511, 2009) to reveal that although there are some differences in prioritization of sources of meaningful work, all generational cohorts share similar desire to “develop and become themselves” when asked about their definitions of meaningful work. Implications and future research are discussed." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Zafari, Setareh, Martina Hartner-Tiefenthaler & Sabine Theresia Koeszegi (2019): Flexible work and work-related outcomes: The role of perceived organizational alignment. In: Management Revue, Jg. 30, H. 1, S. 63-92. DOI:10.5771/0935-9915-2019-1-63

Abstract

"Recent developments in information and communication technology have led to renewed interest in the impact of flexible work on work-related outcomes such as job satisfaction, organizational identification and work engagement. Although there is a vast amount of literature indicating the positive association between job autonomy and work-related outcomes, there has been little discussion about the contextual conditions that strengthen this relationship. This paper analyzes the role of perceived organizational alignment as a conditional factor and shows that autonomy alone cannot explain an organization's success in improving work-related outcomes. An analysis of online survey from 481 employees shows that the perceived organizational alignment moderates the positive effect of autonomy on work-related outcomes in the context of flexible work. For employees who perceive organizational alignment to be high, the positive relationships are strengthened for work engagement and organizational identification, but attenuated for job satisfaction. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Bell, David N. F. & David G. Blanchflower (2018): The well-being of the overemployed and the underemployed and the rise in depression in the UK. (NBER working paper 24840), Cambrige, Mass., 36 S. DOI:10.3386/w24840

Abstract

"In this paper we build on our earlier work on underemployment using data from the UK. In particular, we explore their well-being based on hours preferences rather than on involuntary part-time work used in the prior literature. We make use of five main measures of well-being: happiness; life satisfaction; whether life is worthwhile; anxiety and depression. The underemployed have higher levels of well-being than the unemployed and disabled but lower levels than any other group of workers, full or part-time. The more that actual hours differ from preferred hours the lower is a worker's well-being. This is true for those who say they want more hours (the underemployed) and those who say they want less (the over employed). We find strong evidence of a rise in depression and anxiety (negative affect) in the years since the onset of austerity in 2010 that is not matched by declines in happiness measures (positive affect). The fear of unemployment obtained from monthly surveys from the EU has also been on the rise since 2015. We find evidence of an especially large rise in anxiety and depression among workers in general and the underemployed in particular. The underemployed don't want to be underemployed." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Cassar, Lea & Stephan Meier (2018): Nonmonetary incentives and the implications of work as a source of meaning. In: The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Jg. 32, H. 3, S. 215-238. DOI:10.1257/jep.32.3.215

Abstract

"Empirical research in economics has begun to explore the idea that workers care about nonmonetary aspects of work. An increasing number of economic studies using survey and experimental methods have shown that nonmonetary incentives and nonpecuniary aspects of one's job have substantial impacts on job satisfaction, productivity, and labor supply. By drawing on this evidence and relating it to the literature in psychology, this paper argues that work represents much more than simply earning an income: for many people, work is a source of meaning. In the next section, we give an economic interpretation of meaningful work and emphasize how it is affected by the mission of the organization and the extent to which job design fulfills the three psychological needs at the basis of self-determination theory: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. We point to the evidence that not everyone cares about having a meaningful job and discuss potential sources of this heterogeneity. We sketch a theoretical framework to start to formalize work as a source of meaning and think about how to incorporate this idea into agency theory and labor supply models. We discuss how workers' search for meaning may affect the design of monetary and nonmonetary incentives. We conclude by suggesting some insights and open questions for future research." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Chadi, Adrian & Clemens Hetschko (2018): The magic of the new. How job changes affect job satisfaction. In: Journal of economics & management strategy, Jg. 27, H. 1, S. 23-39., 2017-07-02. DOI:10.1111/jems.12217

Abstract

"We investigate a crucial event for job satisfaction: changing one's workplace. For representative German panel data, we show that the reason why the previous employment ended is strongly linked to satisfaction with the new job. Workers initiating a change of employer experience extraordinarily high job satisfaction, though in the short term only. To investigate causality, we exploit the event of plant closure as an exogenous trigger of job switching. In this case, we ?nd no signi?cantly positive e?ect of job changes on job satisfaction. Our ?ndings complement research on workers' well-being and concern labor market policies and human resource management." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Gutermann, Daniela (2018): Work engagement as a key for unlocking performance. An investigation across different organizational levels. Amsterdam, 225 S.

Abstract

"Constructive leadership and leaders' work engagement itself are important levers for employees' work engagement. Individual and organizational work engagement leads to individual and organizational performance. The Engagement-Index (ENG-I) is a statistically valiated and well accepted measurement of behavioral work engagement in organizations. These are the results of the dissertation by Daniela Gutermann.
Work engagement
Since people spend around one third of their day at work, the question of which factors enhance their well-being and their motivation at work is an important one. Moreover, organizations have to face several challenges, such as a quickly changing global economic market, digitalization, and continuous need for innovation. Work engagement is a construct that is an asset for both employees and organizations. Gutermann aims to answer the question which factors may foster work engagement within organizations and how this is related to individual and organizational performance across different organizational levels.
Constructive and destructive leadership
Daniela Gutermann investigated how constructive and destructive leadership is related to work engagement and which role leaders' work engagement itself may play for followers' tendency to engage in their work. Additionally, since a lot of organizations are interested in the topic of work engagement, she introduced a new engagement assessment - the Engagement Index (ENG-I) - that faces both, scientific and organizational requirements. Finally Gutermann analyzed the link between individual and organizational work engagement and performance by considering causality issues." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Jones, Daniel, Mirco Tonin & Michael Vlassopoulos (2018): Paying for what kind of performance? Performance pay and multitasking in mission-oriented jobs. (CESifo working paper 7156), München, 40 S.

Abstract

"How does pay-for-performance (P4P) impact productivity, multitasking, and the composition of workers in mission-oriented jobs? These are central issues in sectors like education or healthcare. We conduct a laboratory experiment, manipulating compensation and mission, to answer these questions. We find that P4P has positive effects on productivity on the incentivized dimension of effort and negative effects on the non-incentivized dimension for workers in nonmission- oriented treatments. In mission-oriented treatments, P4P generates minimal change on either dimension. Participants in the non-mission sector - but not in the mission-oriented treatments - sort on ability, with lower ability workers opting out of the P4P scheme." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Lerch, Nils (2018): The causal analysis of the development of the unemployment effect on life satisfaction. (SOEPpapers on multidisciplinary panel data research at DIW Berlin 991), Berlin, 51 S.

Abstract

"The long-term negative effects of unemployment, especially on subjective well-being, have been indicated by many studies. Therefore, unemployment and its effects on the individual life course must remain an important challenge for social policy. Many studies have focused on the cognitive component of subjective well-being, i.e., life satisfaction, and have analysed in particular its development during the unemployment period. The trajectory is usually characterized by the effects of anticipation, reaction and adaption. Studies have shown different findings regarding the shape of the effect development. The present study discusses the effect development in greater detail and analyses whether the development of the effect is different depending on unemployment experience using longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) and applying fixed effects regressions. The findings of this study support a non-linear effect development, which begins with the anticipation of unemployment. The trend can be described by a linear function and polynomials up to the fifth degree. The introduction of a model according to modern causal analysis and the interpretation of the dynamic development of the counterfactual outcomes are the secondary focuses of the study. A detailed discussion of causal assumptions and necessary control variables is needed to reveal the effect of unemployment on life satisfaction. The SOEP provides information about employment status on a monthly basis. This study shows possibilities for using this information for the construction of control groups and treatment groups and analyses with ideal episode patterns." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Lup, Daniela (2018): Something to Celebrate (or not): The Differing Impact of Promotion to Manager on the Job Satisfaction of Women and Men. In: Work, employment and society, Jg. 32, H. 2, S. 407-425. DOI:10.1177/0950017017713932

Abstract

"The literatures on gender status stereotyping and the 'glass-ceiling' have shown that women managers have more difficult job experiences than men, but whether these experiences result in lower job satisfaction is still an open question. Using fixed-effects models in a longitudinal national sample, this study examines differences in job satisfaction between women and men promoted into lower and higher-level management, after controlling for key determinants of job satisfaction. Results indicate that promotions to management are accompanied by an increase in job satisfaction for men but not for women, and that the differing effect lasts beyond the promotion year. Moreover, following promotion, the job satisfaction of women promoted to higher-level management even starts declining. The type of promotion (internal or lateral) does not modify this effect. By clarifying the relationship between gender, promotion to managerial position and job satisfaction, the study contributes to the literature on the gender gap in managerial representation." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Warr, Peter & Ilke Inceoglu (2018): Work Orientations, Well-Being and Job Content of Self-Employed and Employed Professionals. In: Work, employment and society, Jg. 32, H. 2, S. 292-311. DOI:10.1177/0950017017717684

Abstract

"Drawing on psychology-derived theories and methods, a questionnaire survey compared principal kinds of work orientation, job content and mental well-being between self-employed and organisationally employed professional workers. Self-employment was found to be particularly associated with energised well-being in the form of job engagement. The presence in self-employment of greater challenge, such as an enhanced requirement for personal innovation, accounted statistically for self-employed professionals' greater job engagement, and self-employed professionals more strongly valued personal challenge than did professionals employed in an organisation. However, no between-role differences occurred in respect of supportive job features such as having a comfortable workplace. Differences in well-being, job content and work orientations were found primarily in comparison between self-employees and organisational non-managers. The study emphasises the need to distinguish conceptually and empirically between different forms of work orientation, job content and well-being, and points to the value of incorporating psychological thinking in some sociological research." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Böckerman, Petri, Alex Bryson, Antti Kauhanen & Mari Kangasniemi (2017): Does job support make workers happy? (IZA discussion paper 10486), Bonn, 43 S.

Abstract

"Using linked employer-employee data for Finland we examine associations between job design and ten measures of worker wellbeing. In accordance with Karasek's (1979) model we find positive correlations between many aspects of worker wellbeing and job control. However, contrary to the model, job demands have no adverse effects on worker wellbeing. We find a strong positive correlation between job support and all aspects of worker wellbeing that is independent of job controls and job demands, a finding that has not been emphasized in the literature. The effects are most pronounced in relation to supervisor support. We also find evidence of unemployment scarring effects: substantial experience of unemployment has long-term consequences for the wellbeing workers experience in their current jobs, even controlling for the quality of those jobs." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Hakenes, Hendrik & Svetlana Katolnik (2017): On the incentive effects of job rotation. In: European Economic Review, Jg. 98, H. September, S. 424-441. DOI:10.1016/j.euroecorev.2017.07.003

Abstract

"A new employee may work hard to build his reputation. This effect is greatest when he starts. The longer he is employed at his job, the more the firm will already have learned about his ability. The incentives for an employee to influence the firm's perceptions of his ability decrease over time. If rotating the employee to a different job leads to new uncertainty about his ability, this generates a fresh impulse for effort. However, job rotation also reduces the employee's time horizon, thus reducing future rents from reputation. This trade-off leads to a unique optimum. We derive a simple rule of thumb for an optimal rotation time. Our main results still hold for cases of complete but imperfect information transmission. The incentive effects of job rotation also prevail in a setting in which skills are job-specific. We study several extensions: rotations across multiple employees, absence of commitment to a rotation time, different bargaining positions, discounting over time, and learning by doing effects." (Author's abstract, © 2017 Elsevier) ((en))

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Hammermann, Andrea & Oliver Stettes (2017): Qualität der Arbeit in Europa. Eine empirische Analyse auf Basis des EWCS 2015. (IW-Report / Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft Köln 2017,24), Köln, 46 S.

Abstract

"Die Arbeitszufriedenheit signalisiert, ob die Beschäftigten die Qualität des eigenen Arbeitsplatzes als gut einschätzen. Der Anteil der Arbeitnehmer in einem Land, die mit ihrer Arbeit zufrieden sind, ist damit ein Gradmesser für die Qualität der Arbeitsplätze in einer Volkswirtschaft insgesamt. Die Qualität der Arbeit ist vor diesem Hintergrund in der Europäischen Union und in den einzelnen Mitgliedstaaten hoch. Rund 86 Prozent der Arbeitnehmer in der Europäischen Union sind mit ihrem Beschäftigungsverhältnis zufrieden. In Deutschland sind es mit 88 Prozent etwas mehr. Dies entspricht dem Wert aus dem Jahr 2010. In vielen Ländern, insbesondere in Ostmitteleuropa, ist das Ausmaß der Arbeitszufriedenheit zwischen 2010 und 2015 von einem relativ niedrigen auf ein vergleichbares Niveau wie in Deutschland angestiegen. Für eine schleichende Verschlechterung der Qualität der Arbeit fehlt daher sowohl hierzulande als auch in der Europäischen Union insgesamt der empirische Beleg. Politischer Handlungsdruck existiert von dieser Seite nicht. Ökonometrische Schätzungen mit den Beschäftigtenstichproben für die Europäische Union und für Deutschland zeigen, dass die Wertschätzung und die Anerkennung, die in Geld, Aufstiegsperspektiven und Worten ausgedrückt werden, ein hohes Gewicht bei der Frage erhalten, ob ein Arbeitnehmer mit dem Job zufrieden ist. Eine ähnlich hohe Bedeutung fällt einem guten sozialen Umfeld am Arbeitsplatz zu. Die empirischen Befunde lassen zudem vermuten, dass vielerorts als eher belastend empfundene Arbeitsplatzmerkmale, die für sich genommen mit einer niedrigeren Arbeitszufriedenheit einhergehen, durch andere als unterstützend empfundene Arbeitsbedingungen kompensiert werden. Dadurch wird die Qualität der Arbeit von den Beschäftigten in diesen Fällen bei einer ganzheitlichen Betrachtung als gut wahrgenommen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Hofbauer, Reinhard & Michael Schwingsmehl (2017): Bedeutet hohe Arbeitszufriedenheit, dass die Arbeitsbedingungen gut sind? In: Momentum Quarterly, Jg. 6, H. 2, S. 85-106. DOI:10.15203/momentumquarterly.vol6.no2.p85-106

Abstract

"Die Qualität des Arbeitslebens ist eine wichtige Dimension der Lebensqualität und findet in vielen modernen Wohlfahrtsmaßen Berücksichtigung. Sowohl objektive als auch subjektive Indikatoren kommen bei der Messung der Arbeitsplatzqualität zur Anwendung. Anhand von Daten einer Bevölkerungsbefragung wird gezeigt, dass von hoher Arbeitszufriedenheit, die mittels Single-Item-Fragen gemessen wird, nicht einfach auf gute Arbeitsbedingungen geschlossen werden kann. Arbeitszufriedenheit erweist sich als komplexes Konstrukt, in dem Adaptions- und Vergleichsprozesse eine wichtige Rolle spielen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Jeworrek, Sabrina (2017): Arbeit ohne Sinn gefährdet die Produktivität. In: Wirtschaft im Wandel, Jg. 23, H. 3, S. 49-52.

Abstract

"Arbeit ohne Sinn ruft nicht nur negative Emotionen wie Enttäuschung oder das Gefühl, ersetzbar zu sein, hervor; vielmehr wird auch die zukünftige Arbeitsmotivation der Beschäftigten beeinflusst. Eine experimentelle Studie, die auf einer realen Arbeitssituation beruht, zeigt, dass Beschäftigte einen signifikant niedrigeren Arbeitseinsatz leisten, wenn ein vorangegangenes Projekt seinen ursprünglichen Sinn verloren hat. Die Information, dass das Projekt auch einen alternativen Zweck erfüllte, kompensiert die negativen Effekte allerdings vollständig, sowohl was den Arbeitseinsatz als auch den emotionalen Zustand der Beschäftigten angeht. Unternehmen und Personalverantwortliche sollten daher die Sinnhaftigkeit von Arbeitsaufgaben klar an ihre Beschäftigten kommunizieren sowie versuchen, auch gescheiterten Projekten eine Sinnhaftigkeit beizumessen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Jiang, Lixin, Tahira M. Probst & Wendi L. Benson (2017): Organizational context and employee reactions to psychological contract breach. A multilevel test of competing theories. In: Economic and Industrial Democracy, Jg. 38, H. 3, S. 513-534. DOI:10.1177/0143831X15579288

Abstract

"This study examines how organizational context affects employee reactions to perceived psychological contract breach. Using Conservation of Resources and Social Comparison theories, the authors develop competing hypotheses regarding the potential exacerbating vs. buffering effects of organizational context on the relationships between psychological contract breach and job security satisfaction, job satisfaction, work - family conflict, and burnout. They collected a multi-source, multilevel data set composed of faculty and departmental administrators at a university experiencing repeated budget reductions. It was found that psychological contract breach was related to detrimental job outcomes (i.e., decreased job security satisfaction and job satisfaction, increased work - family conflict, and burnout). However, this relationship was stronger among faculty in departments reporting low rather than high departmental budget cuts, thus supporting Social Comparison theory rather than Conservation of Resources theory. Social comparison matters when it comes to psychological contract breach." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))