The mismanaged soul: Existential labor and the erosion of meaningful work

• Published in: Human resource management review Vol. 27; no. 3; pp. 416 - 430
• Main Authors: Bailey, Catherine, Madden, Adrian, Alfes, Kerstin, Shantz, Amanda, Soane, Emma
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greenwich Elsevier Inc 01.09.2017; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Employees; Existential labor; Existentialism; Human resource management; Job design; Meaningful work; Mismanagement; Productivity; Studies; Values; Values; Existential labor; Job design; Meaningful work
• ISSN: 1053-4822; 1873-7889
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hrmr.2016.11.001

Meaningful work has been defined as work that is personally enriching and that makes a positive contribution. There is increasing interest in how organizations can harness the meaningfulness of work to enhance productivity and performance. We explain how organizations seek to manage the meaningfulness employees experience through strategies focused on job design, leadership, HRM and culture. Employees can respond positively to employers' strategies aimed at raising their level of experienced meaningfulness when they are felt to be authentic. However, when meaningfulness is lacking, or employees perceive that the employer is seeking to manipulate their meaningfulness for performative intent, then the response of employees can be to engage in “existential labor” strategies with the potential for harmful consequences for individuals and organizations. We develop a Model of Existential Labor, drawing out a set of propositions for future research endeavors, and outline the implications for HRM practitioners. •Meaningfulness can arise through tasks, roles, interactions and organizations.•Employers can use strategies of job design, HRM, leadership and culture to manage meaningfulness.•Meaningfulness management strategies can achieve positive outcomes for individuals and organizations.•Meaningfulness management strategies can also be used for negative or performative intent.•Employees can engage in forms of “existential labor” if they discern their work is not meaningful.