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New Work Poses New Challenges—The Importance of Work Design Competencies Revealed in Cluster Analysis

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  • Fiona Niebuhr

    (Institute of Occupational Medicine, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Greta M. Steckhan

    (Institute of Occupational Medicine, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Susanne Voelter-Mahlknecht

    (Institute of Occupational Medicine, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

The continuous transformation process in the world of work, intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, is giving employees more scope to shape their own work. This scope can be experienced as a burden or as a resource for employees. Work design competencies (WDC) describe employees’ experience of their scope for design. Our study draws on existing datasets based on two Germany-wide studies. We used hierarchical cluster analyses to examine patterns between WDC, the age of employees (range: 18–71 years), the amount of weekly work time working from home (WFH), and work ability. In total, the data of N = 1232 employees were analyzed, and 735 of them participated in Study 1. To test the validity of the clusters, we analyzed data from N = 497 employees in Study 2. In addition, a split-half validation was performed with the data from Study 1. In both studies, three clusters emerged that differed in age and work ability. The cluster with the highest mean of WDC comprised employees that were on average older and reported a higher mean of work ability. Regarding WFH, no clear patterns emerged. The results and further theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Overall, WDC appear to be relevant to work ability and, in a broader sense, to occupational health, and are related to sociodemographic factors such as age.

Suggested Citation

  • Fiona Niebuhr & Greta M. Steckhan & Susanne Voelter-Mahlknecht, 2022. "New Work Poses New Challenges—The Importance of Work Design Competencies Revealed in Cluster Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:21:p:14107-:d:956757
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Antimo Moretti & Fabrizio Menna & Milena Aulicino & Marco Paoletta & Sara Liguori & Giovanni Iolascon, 2020. "Characterization of Home Working Population during COVID-19 Emergency: A Cross-Sectional Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Melanie Ebener & Hans Martin Hasselhorn, 2019. "Validation of Short Measures of Work Ability for Research and Employee Surveys," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-15, September.
    3. Fiona Niebuhr & Prem Borle & Franziska Börner-Zobel & Susanne Voelter-Mahlknecht, 2022. "Healthy and Happy Working from Home? Effects of Working from Home on Employee Health and Job Satisfaction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-14, January.
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