Abstract
Work demands within the knowledge economy of the 21st century have changed as a result of numerous factors, including technology, globalisation and an information society. Coupled with the prominence of knowledge workers and generation-Y individuals, alterations in the characteristics of the workplace are evident. The implication for work demands on generation-Y knowledge workers is under researched, particularly with regard to their experiences on an individual, detailed and intricate level. An inductive, qualitative survey design was employed and semi-structured interviews were held with 10 participants to explore: How do generation-Y knowledge workers experience the demands of work? Thematic analysis was utilised within the data analysis process. A conceptual map was developed highlighting the subjectivity of experienced work demands and resulting implications for well-being. This was attributed to the mediatory construct psychological meaningfulness; where work was seen to fulfil a sense of meaning in the lives of generation-Y knowledge workers. Participants negotiated psychological meaningfulness, including purposeful contribution, personal values, growth and development, and personal excellence through the means of determining preferences. The extent to which alignment or dissonance was achieved led to positive or negative experiences of work demands respectively, and impacted well-being similarly. This demonstrated a personal or individualised rather than standardised perspective on the implications of work demands, as participants expressed varying and diverging experiences and effects on well-being. Three areas of strain on well-being were identified: Psychological, physical and psycho-social. It was concluded that generation-Y knowledge workers’ experience of work demands requires an interpretive and subjective understanding. However, the consuming nature of work as well as the extremity towards achieving psychological meaningfulness and the impact on the psycho-social well-being of the individual is questioned.
M.Com. (Industrial Psychology)