Abstract :
[en] Quality of work is a very often used and complex concept. We will present a new conceptualization of quality of work, compare it with the European Working Conditions Survey framework to measure job quality (Eurofund, 2017), and structure it with the help of the Job Demands-Resources model (Bakker & Demerouti, 2017).
Based on this conceptualization we developed and validated a new measure of quality of work, the Quality of Work Index – Luxembourg (QoWIL) in three different languages (German, French, Luxembourgish). The QoWIL is composed of 43 items, focusing on four areas of work – work intensity, job design, physical conditions, and social conditions (subdivided in eleven components) – which are particularly important for employees’ well-being. Data were collected via computer-assisted telephone interviews in a representative sample of 1,522 employees working in Luxembourg (aged 17–67 years; 57.2% male). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the proposed factors structure and scalar measurement invariance for the three different language versions. Internal consistencies were satisfactory for all subscales (Cronbach’s α between .70 and .87). Correlations and hierarchical regression analysis with different psychological health measures (i.e., burnout, general well-being, psychosomatic complaints, work satisfaction, vigor) and subjective work performance confirmed the construct validity of the new questionnaire.
We conclude that the QoWIL is globally and on the level of the sub-categories an effective tool to measure work quality, which could be used to compare work quality between organizations and different countries. Furthermore, the current study confirms associations between the different components of quality of work and employees health. Therefore, this new tool allows to monitor and to benchmark quality of work and health outcomes and compare them with each other, across gender, age, nationality and work sector.
