ResearchGate See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308042364 Meaningful work: differences among blue-, pink-, and white-collar occupations Article in Career Development International · September 2016 DOI: 10.1108/CDI-04-2016-0052 CITATIONS 16 READS 1,280 3 authors, including: Marjolein Lips-Wiersma Auckland University of Technology 20 PUBLICATIONS 690 CITATIONS Bryan J Dik Colorado State University 61 PUBLICATIONS 2,776 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE All content following this page was uploaded by Marjolein Lips-Wiersma on 15 August 2018. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. :
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at: www.emeraldinsight.com/1362-0436.htm Meaningful work: differences among blue-, pink-, and white-collar occupations Marjolein Lips-Wiersma Department of Management, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Auckland, New Zealand Sarah Wright Department of Management, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, and Bryan Dik Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Blue-, pink-, and white- collar occupations 1 Received 14 April 2016 Revised 22 June 2016 3 August 2016 Accepted 3 August 2016 Abstract Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to compare the importance currently placed on meaningful work (MFW), and determine the frequency by which it is experienced in blue-, pink-, and white-collar occupations. Design/methodology/approachs - Using the comprehensive meaningful work scale (Lips-Wiersma and Wright, 2012) with 1,683 workers across two studies, ANOVAs were conducted to examine differences in dimensions of MFW. Findings - While unity with others and developing the inner self were regarded as equally important for white-, blue-, and pink-collar workers, the authors data suggest that white-collar workers placed more importance on expressing full potential and serving others than blue-collar workers. The frequency of experiencing MFW differed across the three groups with white-collar workers experiencing higher levels of unity with others, expressing full potential, and serving others; however no mean differences were found for developing the inner self. Originality/value - This study is the first to empirically investigate an oft-discussed but previously untested question: does the experience of MFW differ across white-, blue-, and pink-collar jobs? Keywords Occupations, Blue-, Pink- and white-collar, Meaningful work Paper type Research paper Research on meaningful work (MFW) - a positively valenced construct referring to the amount of significance that people experience in their work - has experienced a significant renaissance within the career development and organizational behavior literature during the last two decades (Dik et al., 2013; Rosso et al., 2010). This research fits within a long and diverse history of philosophical and religious teachings on the value of cultivating eudaimonic well-being, which focusses on personal growth, strengths, and meaningfulness. In line with the dominant themes that emerge in the literature, we define "MFW" as the subjective experience of work as purposeful and significant (e.g. Pratt and Ashforth, 2003; Rosso et al., 2010) and linked to a sense of identity (e.g. Chalofsky, 2003), with a positive valence that is principally eudaimonic (growth- and purpose-oriented) rather than hedonic (pleasure-oriented) in nature (e.g. Steger et al., 2012). Emerald Career Development International Vol. 21 No. 5,