Quality of Work Life and its Relation to Quality of Life

Abstract

Cette etude s'est donne pour objectifs de parvenir a une definition d'ensemble du concept "Qualite de la vie au travail" (QVT) et d'eprouver empiriquement sa structure. On propose une definition multiple de la QVT et de ses relations avec la qualite de la vie en general basee sur la thiorie systemique de I'action. ce qui fournit des criteres pour la selection des items et la formulation des hypotheses sur la structure des interrelations entre les dimensions de la QVT. Utilisant des donnees recuellies sur des tchantillons de travailleurs hongrois. les hypotheses ont ete eprouvees au moyen de I'analyse du plus petit espace de Guttman. Les resultats confirment les hypotheses. O n a obtenu un systeme conceptuel empirique doublement ordonne, une structure "radex" qui exprime les deux aspects de la definition de la QVT: mode de fonctionnement (expressif. integrateur, adaptateur, conservateur) et domaine de fonctionnement (psychologique, physique, social, culturel). La structure du monde de la QVT et de la qualite de la vie est comme prCvu conique: la qualite de la vie occupe la base du c6ne et la QVT le sommet. La satisfaction procedant de la vie et du travail est situee entre les deux.The major objective of the present study was to suggest a comprehensive definitional framework for the quality of work life (OWL) concept and to test its structure empirically. A facet definition of QWL and its relation to quality of life (QOL) in general based on action systemic concepts is proposed. which provides guidelines for the selection of items and the formulation of hypotheses about the structure of interrelationships among components of OWL. Based on data collected from samples of Hungarian workers. the hypotheses were tested by means of Guttman's Smallest Space A.nalysis.Requehts for reprints should be sent to Dov Elizur. Bar-llan University. Department of Psychology. 52100 Rarnat Gan. Israel. The authors are grateful to Dr. Istvan Magyari Beck for his help in organising the fieldwork and providing the data. 0 I'HO Intcrniitiorial Ahsociation of Applied Psychology 276 ELIZUR AND SHYEThe results support the hypotheses. An empirical doubly ordered conceptual system, a radex structure, was obtained that reflects the two facets of the definition of OWL: mode of functioning-expressive, integrative, adaptive and conservative; and field of functioning-psychological, physical, social and cultural. The structure of the total universe of QWL and QOL is a conical structure as hypothesised. Quality of life occupies the base of the cone and QWL the top. Satisfaction with life and work were found to be located between the two.

The Perceived Quality of Working Life in Croatia and the European Union

“…The quality of working life is seen as a subjective construct, reflecting the individual's experiences and, by implication, their needs. Drawing on a number of sources (e.g., Efraty & Sirgy, 1990;Elizur & Shye, 1990;Lawler, 1982;Sirgy, Efraty, Siegel, & Lee, 2001) we conceive QWL in the terms of human needs satisfaction. Needs are internal states of an organism caused by a lack of something important for its survival or well-being.…”

Investigating the Relationship between Quality of Work Life and Organizational Commitment amongst Employees in Malaysian Firms

“…May, Lau and Johnson (1999) suggested that companies offering better QWL and supportive work environments would likely gain leverage in hiring and retaining valuable people and companies with high QWL enjoy exceptional growth and profitability (Lau & May, 1998). In the beginning, QWL is synonymous with employability rate, job security, earnings and benefits (Elizur & Shye, 1990). This listing of objective criteria soon changed to job satisfaction as the target assessment criterion.…”

Quality of life at sea in Polish seafarer’s evaluation

“…In contrast, our research model on QoL of people employed at sea uses definitions of quality of working life and work-related quality as introduced by Elizur and Shye [6].…”

“…Quality of work life depends largely on quality of organisation and management. Factors affecting quality of work are: the attitudes and needs of a person on an individual basis; those relating to the nature of work -the prize, the level of autonomy, the degree of diversification of activities; the variables of the working environment and organisation [6].…”