Job Crafting: Autonomy and workload as antecedents and the willingness to continue working until retirement age as a positive outcome

Authors

  • Els Vanbelle KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
  • Anja Van Den Broeck KU Leuven Campus Brussels, Brussels, Belgium & Optentia Research Focus Area, Vanderbijlpark Campus, North West University
  • Hans De Witte KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium & Optentia Research Focus Area, Vanderbijlpark Campus, North West University

Keywords:

job crafting, active jobs, willingness to continue working until retirement age

Abstract

This study focuses on job crafting and explores autonomy and workload as antecedents and the willingness to continue working until retirement age as a positive outcome of job crafting in a population of employees aged between 45 and 65 years. We define job crafting as making changes in one’s job in order to optimize one’s functioning in terms of well-being, work-related attitudes or behaviour. Building on the selective optimization compensation theory, we expect job crafting to be a successful aging strategy which enhances the willingness to continue working. Furthermore, starting from the activation hypothesis of Karasek, we expect that employees in active jobs (i.e., a combination of high autonomy and workload) will craft their jobs to a higher extent. Results among 1168 governmental employees generally confirmed our hypotheses. An active work environment, in terms of high autonomy and high workload associated indirectly with an enhanced willingness to continue working via job crafting. Results and steps forward are discussed.

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Author Biographies

Els Vanbelle, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Anja Van Den Broeck, KU Leuven Campus Brussels, Brussels, Belgium & Optentia Research Focus Area, Vanderbijlpark Campus, North West University

KU Leuven Campus Brussels, Brussels, Belgium & Optentia Research Focus Area, Vanderbijlpark Campus, North West University

Hans De Witte, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium & Optentia Research Focus Area, Vanderbijlpark Campus, North West University

KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium & Optentia Research Focus Area, Vanderbijlpark Campus, North West University

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Published

2019-10-19

How to Cite

Vanbelle, E., Van Den Broeck, A., & De Witte, H. (2019). Job Crafting: Autonomy and workload as antecedents and the willingness to continue working until retirement age as a positive outcome. Psihologia Resurselor Umane, 15(1), 25–41. Retrieved from https://hrp-journal.com/index.php/pru/article/view/56

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2017): Psihologia Resurselor Umane

Section

Research articles

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