Research: Autonomy in Paid Work and Employee Subjective Well-Being
Key findings:
- Levels of autonomy among employees differed considerably between occupations and by gender.
- Those in management roles reported the highest levels of autonomy in their work.
- Control over work tasks and schedule have the potential to generate benefits for the employee, which was evident in the levels of reported wellbeing.
- Women sought control over the timing and location of their work to allow them to balance other tasks, while men were more effected by job tasks and pace of work.
The research, written by Dr Daniel Wheatley of University of Birmingham Business School, was published in the journal of Work and Occupations. Please note there is a charge to access the full report.