Fostering Flexibility in the New World of Work: A Model of Time-Spatial Job Crafting

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Christina Wessels¹  Michaéla C. Schippers¹  Sebastian Stegmann²  Arnold B. Bakker³  Peter J. van Baalen⁴  Karin I. Proper⁵ 

[1] Department of Technology and Operations Management, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University;Institute of Psychology, Goethe University Frankfurt;Center of Excellence for Positive Organizational Psychology, Erasmus University;Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Amsterdam;Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment

关键词: flexible working practices;    new world of work;    job crafting;    time-spatial job crafting;    work engagement;    person-job fit;    time/spatial-demands fit;    work-life balance;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00505

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

In today’s “new world of work,” knowledge workers are often given considerable flexibility regarding where and when to work (i.e., time-spatial flexibility) and this has become a popular approach to redesigning work. Whilst the adoption of such practices is mainly considered a top-down approach to work design, we argue that successful utilization of time-spatial flexibility requires proactivity on the part of the employee in the form of time-spatial job crafting . Previous research has demonstrated that time-spatial flexibility can have both positive and negative effects on well-being, performance, and work-life balance; yet remains mute about the underlying reasons for this and how employees can handle the given flexibility. Drawing on research from work design, we posit that in order for employees to stay well and productive in this context, they need to engage in time-spatial job crafting (i.e., a context-specific form of job crafting that entails reflection on time and place), which can be considered a future work skill. We propose a theoretical model of time-spatial job crafting in which we discuss its components, shed light on its antecedents, and explain how time-spatial job crafting is related to positive work outcomes through a time/spatial-demands fit.

【 授权许可】

CC BY