What is Meaningful Work?

B E N C H M A R K I N T E R N AT I O N A L

WHAT IS MEANINGFUL WORK?

WHAT I S M EA NI NGF UL WORK?

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For many people, work fulfils a desire to be part of something meaningful or to contribute to a cause bigger than themselves. Through work, people seek a connection with others and a sense of purpose that a pay cheque alone cannot achieve. As such, there is a growing need within employees to find meaning in the work they perform.

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QUALITIES OF MEANINGFUL WORK According to research conducted by Professor of Management Katie Bailey (University of Sussex) five qualities distinguish meaningful work. These include:

Self-Transcendent: This quality highlights how people will view work as more meaningful if it impacts others. For example, a refuse collector may see their contribution to keeping the streets clean as something that benefits their family.

Episodic: Meaningful work is not experienced daily; a feeling of accomplishment occurs periodically or according to the situation at hand.

Personal: Intensely personal feelings or desires often drive people’s motivation to find meaning in their work.

Reflective: People experience the meaningfulness of their work retrospectively rather than ‘in the moment’. It is often upon reflection that the connection between accomplishment and meaning becomes clear.

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Poignant: Meaningful work is not always associated with positive experiences, and poignant moments can be associated with mixed or uncomfortable feelings.

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To l e a r n m o r e a b o u t t h i s t o p i c , v i s i t t h e Benchmark International blog.