With the increasing shift of the economy towards knowledge economy, the meaning and quality of work life has undergone a drastic change. Meaning: Quality of work life (QWL) refers to the favourableness or unfavourableness of a job environment for the people working in an organisation. The traditional job design needs to be replaced by enriched job design. This demand for redesigning of jobs has come to be known as quality of work life. It enjoins management to treat workers as human resources that are to be developed rather than simply used.
Quality of work life is an employee's self reported satisfaction with a job. This is usually interpreted to include how well the job contributes to their overall quality of life. The following are common elements of quality of work life.Hygiene Factors
A work environment that meets basic employee expectations such as an office that is clean, comfortable, quiet and safe.Workload
A reasonable workload. Both overtime and having too little to do can be the source of employee dissatisfaction.Stimulation
Work that isn't overly repetitive.Productivity
Getting things done at a reasonable pace.Stability
Some employees with thrive on an environment of constant change while others value stability and may feel stress about changes.Disillusionment
Negative emotions that can occur after a series of failed changes or promised change that never materializes. For example, a firm where executives are always talking about aggressive innovation without ever accomplishing it.Tone at the Top
Trust in an organization and its management. For example, the sense that promotions are fairly administered as opposed to given out to friends of executives.Mission & Vision
Employees who believe in the mission and vision of a firm may be more satisfied.Goal Planning
Clear goals and objectives at the organizational, team and individual level.Engagement
Employees who are fully engaged. Feeling excluded from an important decision or effort generally leads to dissatisfaction.Rewards
Compensation and other financial rewards.Opportunity
Employees who feel that their career is advancing and that they have a bright future.Learning
The opportunity to explore and acquire new knowledge.Recognition
Recognition both formal and informal such as an employee who earns the respect of their team.Feedback
Some employees crave validation of their results and are happier when the receive regular feedback.Demands
Work that isn't overly cognitively or emotionally demanding. For example, dealing with customer complaints all day may be more emotionally demanding than working on a creative work product such as a design.Office Politics
The norms and behaviors of office politics at an organization. For example, an environment where people are afforded personal respect amidst disagreement.Personal Resilience
The ability to handle the daily demands of a job without becoming overly stressed out. Some individuals are determined to be happy whatever their circumstances.Connectedness
A sense of social fulfillment such as an employee who has plenty of friends at work and often enjoys outings such as lunches.Control
Control such as creative control over a design.Freedom
Employees may be unhappy if they feel that their employer infringes on their personal freedoms such as privacy.Balance
An employee who feels they are able to balance work demands with other aspects of their life such as family, friends, hobbies, personal reflection, physical fitness and sleep.Commute
An employee's commute can have a surprisingly large impact on job satisfaction.Well Being
An employee's overall well being such as their health.Quality of Life
An employee who is satisfied with their life is more likely to be satisfied with their work. For example, employee satisfaction rates may be higher in a city with an usually high quality of life.| Overview: Quality Of Work Life | ||
| Type | ||
| Definition | An employee's self reported satisfaction with a job. | |
| Related Concepts | Quality Of Life »Hygiene Factors »Boreout »Employee Dissatisfaction »Productivity »Tone At The Top » | |
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Some people get excited about working overtime, seeing nothing but dollar signs. While occasional overtime can be a blessing if it equates to some unexpected cash, in the long run there can be some major disadvantages that will have you thinking twice about over-extending yourself. Overtime can take a toll on your health and quality of life, while causing stress on your relationships and ultimately leaving you burned out and ready to leave your job altogether.
Burnout
Burnout is a condition where you feel completely exhausted and overwhelmed. It is often caused by stressful work or being overworked, and leaves you feeling drained and sick and can cause sleep problems. According to a recent study from the Aragon Institute of Health Sciences, people who work more than 40 hours a week increase their risk of burnout six-fold, in comparison to people who work less than 35 hours a week. Prioritize your time and consider your happiness if you think you are headed toward burn-out.
Budget Dependency
If you are working overtime regularly, it is likely you will begin to rely on this additional income and let your expenses creep up to match it. This can be a problem. While there may be plenty of overtime available at the moment, the situation can change with little notice and so, too, will your finances. In the end, you may feel stressed by working overtime and equally stressed about what you will do if you are no longer offered overtime. Avoid counting on income from overtime to pay day-to-day expenses.
Reduced Quality of Life
People can only be in one place at a time, and if you are working late, you are missing something else -- hopefully not your child's birthday party or another equally important event. While making more money may benefit your family financially, your family is likely to suffer in other ways. In addition to losing time with family and friends, you may be more irritable toward them when you do have time off. Balancing work and life is hard enough, even without the added constraints of overtime.
Health Consequences
ABC News reported that people working 10-hour shifts increased their risk of heart-related problems. Alarmingly, the 'European Heart Journal' conducted a study that revealed people working 10-hour days were 60 percent more likely to experience problems than those working fewer hours. Additional adverse health effects associated with long work hours include ulcers, depression, stomach problems and breast cancer.
Occupational Injury
Based on data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, which included the work histories of over 10,000 American workers, people who work overtime have a 61 percent greater chance of injury on the job. The more hours worked, the greater the individual risk is. Injustice free download pc. In another study of 1.5 million German workers, work-related accidents were more common toward the end of an extended shift, after the eighth hour.
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About the Author
Sara Mahuron specializes in adult/higher education, parenting, budget travel and personal finance. She earned an M.S. in adult/organizational learning and leadership, as well as an Ed.S. in educational leadership, both from the University of Idaho. Mahuron also holds a B.S. in psychology and a B.A. in international studies-business and economics.
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