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The Intensification of Work

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Job Demands in a Changing World of Work

Abstract

In this chapter, we introduce causes and consequences of work intensification while also highlighting resources to help employees manage the intensification of work. In doing so, we argue that global socio-economic changes such as technological advancement , outsourcing and downsizing are important drivers of work intensification . Moreover, we trace the development of work intensity over the last three decades. Relying on analyses of international datasets and other findings, we discuss that even if the trend toward work intensification is far from universal, work intensification is a critical issue for employees in modern Western societies. This is even more the case as work intensification impairs employee well-being , reduces job satisfaction and is associated with more work-family conflict . Cognitive appraisal processes mediate the negative effects of work intensification on various outcomes. Finally, we introduce resources stemming from different sources such as the person, the organization and the social environment that help workers cope with work intensification.

My dear, here we must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place.

And if you want to go anywhere you must run twice as fast as that!

(Carroll 1865)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology, Universitätsstraße 7, 1010, Vienna, Austria

    Matea Paškvan

  2. University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Hagenberg im Mühlkreis, Austria

    Bettina Kubicek

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  1. Matea Paškvan
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  2. Bettina Kubicek
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Correspondence to Matea Paškvan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Christian Korunka

  2. Department of Applied Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Bettina Kubicek

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Paškvan, M., Kubicek, B. (2017). The Intensification of Work. In: Korunka, C., Kubicek, B. (eds) Job Demands in a Changing World of Work. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54678-0_3

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