Worked hours, job satisfaction and self-perceived health

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to analyse the potential confounding and moderator role of job satisfaction on the effect of working hours on self-perceived health and to analyse the effect of transitions between working hours and job satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachUsing longitudinal data for the Catalan economy in 2005–2009, first, it runs a linear probability random effects model, with self-perceived health as the dependent variable, on one-year lagged job satisfaction, working hours and its interaction. Second, it estimated an ordered logit model to test the effect of transitions to working hours and different levels of job satisfaction on self-perceived health.FindingsShort working hours ≤ 20 h/w predict good self-perceived health for women. Long working hours 41–47 h/w predict poor self-perceived health among men and women but not for very long hours ≥ 48 h/w. Interaction effects between working 41–47 h/w and job satisfaction levels were found for men and women. Improvements in job satisfaction for health are reduced when working long hours. For employees, a decrease in job satisfaction may suggest a health risk except if hours also reduce.Social implicationsWorkplace practices aimed at gaining flexibility in working hours may be offset, in terms of health outcomes, by lower job satisfaction. Flexible working hours from the employees' side should be favoured to face reductions in job satisfaction.Originality/valueThe novelty of this paper is that highlights differential effect of job satisfaction in the relation between working hours and health status.

Impact of the Working Conditions on Health and Selected Job-related Diseases. An International Comparison

“…Job satisfaction belongs among the most analyzed work-health related aspects. Our research showed an important relation between the job satisfaction and the self-perceived state of health what corresponds to other researches [2,8,9]. System of rewards (formal and informal appreciation) is closely related to the job satisfaction [23,24].…”

“…Job satisfaction belongs among the most widely analyzed work-related health aspects. Research [8] showed that job satisfaction relates to the level of self-perceived health. The findings also suggest that in the case of a low job satisfaction, reduced working hours might mitigate the health risks, what supports the trends in the flexible working hours contracts, especially in less satisfactory jobs.…”

Salaried Workers’ Self-Perceived Health and Psychosocial Risk in Guayaquil, Ecuador

“…The findings were similar between women and men. However, several studies have observed that a lack of social support from colleagues and particularly from employers, as well as high quantitative demands at work, may affect SHS among women to a greater extent [26][27][28][29][30]. In this sense, it would be useful for organizations in general and human resources personnel more specifically to design strategies aiming to strengthen collaboration in the workplace.…”

Salaried Workers’ Self-Perceived Health and Psychosocial Risk in Guayaquil, Ecuador

“…The findings were similar between women and men. However, several studies have observed that lack of social support from colleagues and particularly from employers, as well as high quantitative demands at work, may affect SHS among women to a greater extent [23,24,25,26,27]. In this sense, it would be useful for organizations in general and human resources personnel more specifically to design strategies aiming to strengthen collaboration in the workplace.…”