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‘Burned out’ millennials! Can job crafting promote employee well-being in the SMEs?

Author

Listed:
  • Siti Khadijah Zainal Badri

    (University of Nottingham)

  • Michelle She Min Ngo

    (Monash University Malaysia)

  • Junaidah Yusof

    (Universiti Teknologi)

Abstract

Although job crafting is a proactive initiative to help organisations withstand dynamic business landscapes, little is known about its impact on employees’ burnout experience. Using structural equation modelling on a survey sample of 352 millennials working full-time in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this study examines millennials’ burnout experience through job crafting. It also examines the mediating role of job satisfaction in the job crafting–burnout linkage. Findings suggest that millennials in SMEs perceived two job crafting aspects, increasing structural resources and increasing social resources, help to boost their overall satisfaction at work. With none of the job crafting aspects found to have a direct link with millennial burnout, this study signifies the practicality of job crafting as a strategy to improve employee work experience instead of triggering burnout. Further results also reveal that millennials’ overall experience in terms of job satisfaction is the underlying reason that explains the link between job crafting and burnout. One practical implication drawn from this study includes the potential use of job crafting to improve millennials’ work experience in SMEs. Besides, this study highlights the importance of smaller companies in establishing more structural clarity and social resources to support millennials’ overall satisfaction and well-being at work.

Suggested Citation

  • Siti Khadijah Zainal Badri & Michelle She Min Ngo & Junaidah Yusof, 2025. "‘Burned out’ millennials! Can job crafting promote employee well-being in the SMEs?," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 19(12), pages 3643-3661, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:rvmgts:v:19:y:2025:i:12:d:10.1007_s11846-025-00862-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s11846-025-00862-5
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    JEL classification:

    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation
    • M20 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - General
    • M50 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - General
    • C15 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Statistical Simulation Methods: General

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