Doing boss‐like tasks and worker well‐being: Job enrichment revisited

This study revisits the relationship between job enrichment and worker well‐being by analysing worker‐level data from around 20 countries. Job enrichment, which vertically expands jobs, is primarily measured by the novel ‘boss‐like tasks’ indicator, constructed from 42 task‐frequency data. The aim of job enrichment is to motivate workers. However, the study finds that even though average non‐boss workers doing more boss‐like tasks earn higher wages, they are not necessarily more satisfied with their jobs. The non‐positive or slightly negative association with satisfaction becomes positive when workers have low‐skilled blue‐collar jobs or when tasks involving planning and organizing are enriched.