The Meaning of Work

The changing meaning of work: restructuring in the former coalmining communities of the South Wales Valleys

by Jane Parry

Work, Employment and Society, 17 (2): 227-246

This article examines how industrial restructuring has effected social transformation in terms of the type and meaning... more This article examines how industrial restructuring has effected social transformation in terms of the type and meaning of work in the post-closure context of the South Wales Valleys. A conceptual framework is developed which considers a range of experiences within and outside the paid labour market. This theorizes social movement and stasis, and analyses the resources and priorities invoked in pursuing different types of work. Restructuring has weakened occupation's role as a primary means of social cohesion in former coalmining communities, and labour market experiences have become more diffuse and dynamic. It is argued that while paid work remains important to some individuals, this overlooks the experiences of those excluded from or constrained in their economic activity. In order to understand these social solidarities it is necessary to employ less restrictive definitions of work, and examine the meaningful labour embedded in a more interconnected set of relationships and structures.

The changing meaning of work: restructuring in the former coalmining communities of the South Wales Valleys

by Jane Parry

Work, Employment and Society, 17 (2): 227-246

This article examines how industrial restructuring has effected social transformation in terms of the type and meaning... more This article examines how industrial restructuring has effected social transformation in terms of the type and meaning of work in the post-closure context of the South Wales Valleys. A conceptual framework is developed which considers a range of experiences within and outside the paid labour market. This theorizes social movement and stasis, and analyses the resources and priorities invoked in pursuing different types of work. Restructuring has weakened occupation's role as a primary means of social cohesion in former coalmining communities, and labour market experiences have become more diffuse and dynamic. It is argued that while paid work remains important to some individuals, this overlooks the experiences of those excluded from or constrained in their economic activity. In order to understand these social solidarities it is necessary to employ less restrictive definitions of work, and examine the meaningful labour embedded in a more interconnected set of relationships and structures.

Emerging Adults at Work and at Play: Leisure, Work Engagement, and Career Indecision

by Ilana Lehmann

The Sweetest Dreams That Labor Knows: Robert Frost and the Poetics of Work

by Gazi Islam

Authenticity and well-being in the workplace: a mediation model

by Julie Menard

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the link between authenticity at work and well-being. First, the... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the link between authenticity at work and well-being. First, the relationship between authenticity at work and hedonic and eudemonic well-being indexes is assessed. Second, the mediating role of meaning of work in the relationship between authenticity at work and subjective well-being at work is investigated.

Design/methodology/approach – In total, 360 managers from public organizations completed self-reported questionnaires. Multiple hierarchical regressions were used to assess the hypotheses.

Findings – Cognitive and behavioral components of authenticity at work explained a significant proportion of variance in each hedonic and eudemonic well-being indexes. Authenticity is positively associated with well-being at work. Moreover, meaning of work is a partial mediator of the relationship between authenticity and subjective well-being at work.

Practical implications – The results suggest that meaning of work is a mechanism in the relationship between authenticity and subjective well-being at work. The study highlighted a growing need to promote authenticity within organizations since it has been associated with public managers' well-being.

Originality/value – To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study showing the positive relationship between authenticity and well-being in the workplace amongst public organizations managers. It sheds a very new light on the importance of authenticity in work settings and on how it could be linked to meaningfulness in managerial roles.