Do Older Employees Suffer More from Work Intensification and Other Intensified Job Demands? Evidence from Upper White-Collar Workers

Abstract

Background: Working life today is characterized by acceleration and intensification due to social, and particularly technological, acceleration affecting the whole of society. These phenomena also affect working life by intensifying job demands, possibly imposing new job stressors on the workforce. At the same time workforce is aging, raising a question how older employees manage to cope with these work life changes. Methods: This study examined intensified job demands and their effects on occupational well-being from the age perspective utilizing Finnish survey data from upper white-collar workers (N = 2,200). Data was analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance and hierarchical regression analyses. Results: The findings show that older employees experienced more work intensification and intensified knowledge-and skill-related learning demands, whereas younger employees experienced more intensified career-related planning and decision-making demands. Intensified job demands were related to occupational well-being (job burnout, work engagement), but were rarely age-specific. Conclusion: Aging does not necessarily mean higher intensified job demands, yet work intensification and intensified learning demands can be more common among older employees. However, more research is needed concerning the relationships between aging, intensified job demands and occupational well-being as empirical evidence is still scarce.

Profiling a Spectrum of Mental Job Demands and their Linkages to Employee Outcomes

“…However, this profile did not differ significantly from certain other profiles when job performance and meaning of work were analyzed as dependent variables, although belonging to this high MJDs profile predicted poorer job performance and meaning of work. These results are consistent with those of earlier studies, which have already shown that IJDs, illegitimate tasks, and interruptions at work are severe job stressors implying higher strain, e.g., job burnout, anxiety or psychosomatic symptoms (e.g., Eatough et al, 2016;Fletcher et al, 2017;Kubicek et al, 2015;Liebl et al, 2012;Semmer et al, 2015;Mauno et al, 2019b;Mauno et al, 2020). Nevertheless, in contrast to our study, these prior studies have analyzed these MJDs separately, ignoring combinations of them (profiles) and their outcomes, which we focused on.…”

“…For instance, we found a large profile (30%) where employees scored relatively high on intensified job demands (IJDs; work intensification, intensified planningand decision-making demands, and learning demands (see Kubicek et al, 2015, Mauno et al, 2019bMauno et al, 2020), but moderately on illegitimate tasks and interruptions at work (MHIJD profile). On the one hand, the dimensions of IJDs tend to correlate, but on the other hand, they are also distinguish-able constructs with different antecedents and outcomes as indicated in earlier studies (Korunka et al, 2015;Kubicek et al, 2015;Mauno et al, 2019b;Mauno et al, 2020).…”

“…identified mental job demands which have intensified and increased due to technological and structural changes in working life and also to empowerment-focused management practices (see more, Chesley, 2014;Galy et al, 2012;Kubicek et al, 2015;Rosa, 2003;Mauno et al, 2019b;Mauno et al, 2020).…”

“…Contemporary working life is characterized by rapid technological acceleration in the form of increasing digitalization, robotization, and artificial intelligence, which are changing working conditions in many ways (see Chesley, 2014 ; Mustosmäki, 2017 ; Rosa, 2003 ; Paškvan et al, 2016 ). One hallmark of these changes is an intensification of work referring to work processes and work cultures, where the work effort required of employees has become more intense and efficacy-focused in terms of time and quality (e.g., Green, 2004 ; Kubicek et al, 2015 ; Mauno et al, 2019b ; Mauno et al, 2020 ). In this study, we approach intensified working life from the perspective of mental job demands (henceforth MJDs), referring to a spectrum of recently identified mental job demands which have intensified and increased due to technological and structural changes in working life and also to empowerment-focused management practices (see more, Chesley, 2014 ; Galy et al, 2012 ; Kubicek et al, 2015 ; Rosa, 2003 ; Mauno et al, 2019b ; Mauno et al, 2020 ).…”

Nakertaako työn intensiivisyyden lisääntyminen työssä suoriutumista ja työn merkityksellisyyttä?

“…2015;Mauno ym. 2019a, 2019b, Rosa 2003. Seuraavassa avaamme työn intensiivisyyden ilmenemismuotoja Kubicekin ym.…”