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The mismanaged soul: existential labor and the erosion of meaningful work

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Listed:
  • Bailey, Katherine
  • Madden, Adrian
  • Alfes, Kerstin
  • Shantz, Amanda
  • Soane, Emma

Abstract

Meaningful work has been defined as work that is personally enriching and that makes a positive contribution. There is increasing interest in how organizations can harness the meaningfulness of work to enhance productivity and performance. We explain how organizations seek to manage the meaningfulness employees experience through strategies focused on job design, leadership, HRM and culture. Employees can respond positively to employers’ strategies aimed at raising their level of experienced meaningfulness when they are felt to be authentic. However, when meaningfulness is lacking, or employees perceive that the employer is seeking to manipulate their meaningfulness for performative intent, then the response of employees can be to engage in “existential labor” strategies with the potential for harmful consequences for individuals and organizations. We develop a model of existential labor, drawing out a set of propositions for future research endeavors, and outline the implications for HRM practitioners.

Suggested Citation

  • Bailey, Katherine & Madden, Adrian & Alfes, Kerstin & Shantz, Amanda & Soane, Emma, 2017. "The mismanaged soul: existential labor and the erosion of meaningful work," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 68342, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:68342
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sajjad A. Afridi & Bilal Afsar & Asad Shahjehan & Zia U. Rehman & Maqsood Haider & Mehboob Ullah, 2020. "Retracted: Perceived corporate social responsibility and innovative work behavior: The role of employee volunteerism and authenticity," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(4), pages 1865-1877, July.
    2. Jui-Chen Peng & Chiu-Mei Chen, 2023. "Linking proactive personality to proactive customer-service performance: a moderated parallel mediation model," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Frank Martela, 2023. "The Normative Value of Making a Positive Contribution–Benefiting Others as a Core Dimension of Meaningful Work," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 185(4), pages 811-823, July.
    4. Mai Chi Vu & Nicholas Burton, 2022. "The Influence of Spiritual Traditions on the Interplay of Subjective and Normative Interpretations of Meaningful Work," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(2), pages 543-566, October.
    5. Gregori, Patrick & Holzmann, Patrick & Wdowiak, Malgorzata A., 2021. "For the sake of nature: Identity work and meaningful experiences in environmental entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 488-501.
    6. Niki Panteli & Andriana Rapti & Dora Scholarios, 2020. "‘If He Just Knew Who We Were’: Microworkers’ Emerging Bonds of Attachment in a Fragmented Employment Relationship," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 34(3), pages 476-494, June.
    7. Arslan, Ahmad & Ahokangas, Petri & Haapanen, Lauri & Golgeci, Ismail & Tarba, Shlomo Y. & Bazel-Shoham, Ofra, 2022. "Generational differences in organizational leaders: an interpretive phenomenological analysis of work meaningfulness in the Nordic high-tech organizations," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    8. Zhou, Qin & Sacramento, Claudia & Martinaityte, Ieva, 2023. "Work meaningfulness and performance among healthcare professionals: The role of professional respect and participative management," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
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    11. Dwyer, Sean M. & Lerman, Michael & Gras, David, 2023. "When the going gets tough: Stressors and purpose in life among social and commercial entrepreneurs," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 20(C).
    12. Mai Chi Vu & Roger Gill, 2023. "Are Leaders Responsible for Meaningful Work? Perspectives from Buddhist-Enacted Leaders and Buddhist Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 187(2), pages 347-370, October.
    13. Jessica van Wingerden & Laura Berger & Rob Poell, 2018. "The Role of Person-Organization Value Fit in Employees’ Experience of Meaningful Work, Use of Strengths and Work Engagement," Business Management and Strategy, Macrothink Institute, vol. 9(2), pages 1-17, December.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    existential labor; meaningful work; job design; values.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J50 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - General

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