Review
BibTex RIS Cite

A NEGLECTED CONCEPT RELATED TO BUSINESSES: WORKPLACE BOREDOM PROBLEM

Year 2022, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 59 - 84, 22.12.2022

Abstract

Workplace boredom is one of the major problems facing businesses today. An employee who is physically in workplace but unable to use his/her full potential due to boredom problem, experiences loss of motivation, loss of working enthusiasm in that workplace and this can have negative consequences that can be costly for the businesses. Potential health problems, increase in intention of quitting from job, increase in the stress level and inefficiency are among the negative consequences of workplace boredom. For these reasons, the problem of boredom is a negative situation that renders the employee ineffective and pushes her to work below his/her capacity. In this study, a general informing about workplace boredom problem was made, the typology of the boredom experience was explained. In the following parts of the study, factors that caused the workplace boredom problem were mentioned. According to the important studies conducted on the subject in the literature, it has been observed that the most prominent cause of boredom problem is that the assignments given to the employee does not force the employee enough. On the other hand, another detail included in the study is the research in which the professions of law and project management, which are considered as the occupational group in which the employees have the most boredom problems, were determined. Moreover, in the study, the strategies in order to cope with this problem were stated. A related literature study was compiled. In the last part of the study, the suggestions of the managers and employees about the boredom problem were presented. This study contributes to the literature on employee well-being by extending the current knowledge on workplace boredom.

References

  • Ambrose, M.L., Seabright, M.A., & Schminke, M. (2002). Sabotage in the workplace: The role of organizational injustice. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 89, 947-965.
  • Bargdill, R. (2000). The study of life boredom. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 31, 188-219.
  • Bruursema, K., Kessler, S.R., & Spector, P.E. (2011). Bored employees misbehaving: The relationship between boredom and counterproductive work behavior. Work & Stress, 25:2, 93-107.
  • Chin, A., Markey, A., Bhargava, S., Kassam, K.S. & Loewenstein, G. (2016). Bored in the USA: Experience sampling and boredom in everyday life. American Psychological Association, 1-10.
  • Cleary, M., Sayers, J., Lopez, V., & Hungerford, C., (2016). Boredom in the workplace: Reasons, impact and solutions. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 37, 83-89.
  • D’Abate, C.P. & Eddie, E.R. (2007). Engaging in personal business on the job: Extending the presenteeism construct. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 18:3, 361-383.
  • Emolument Web Page, (2017). Which are the most boring jobs? https://www.emolument.com/career_advice/most_boring_jobs#gsc.tab=0; [Date of Access: 25.03.2022].
  • Fisher, C. D. (1993). Boredom at work: A neglected concept. Human Relations, 46, 395-417.
  • Game, A. (2007). Workplace boredom coping: Health, safety and HR implications. Emerald Personal Review, 36:5, 701-721.
  • Gorton, N. (2018). Bored at work? You’re not alone. https://www.roberthalf.com.au/press/bored-work-youre-not-alone; [Date of Access: 19.03.2022].
  • Guglielmi, D., Simbula, S., Mazzetti, G., Tabanelli, M.C. & Bonfiglioli, R. (2013). When the job is boring: The role of boredom in organizational contexts. Work, 45:3, 311-322.
  • Harju, L., Hakanen, J.J., & Schaufeli, W.B. (2014). Job boredom and its correlates in 87 Finnish organizations. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 56:9, 911-918.
  • Harju, L., & Hakaneni J.J (2016). An employee who was not there: A study of job boredom in white-collar work. Personal Review, 45:2, 374-391.
  • Heijden, G.A.H., Schepers, J.J.L., & Nijssen, E.J. (2012). Understanding workplace boredom among white collar employees: Temporary reactions and individual differences. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 21:3, 349-375.
  • Hoare, R. (2012). Is workplace boredom the new stress. CNN Business, https://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/02/business/workplace-boredom-stress/index.html; [Date of Access: 05.04.2022].
  • Hooff, M.L.M, & Hooft, E.A.J. (2016). Work related boredom and depressed mood from a daily perspective: The moderating roles of work centrality and need satisfaction. Work & Stress, 30:3, 209-227.
  • Kaas, S., Vodanovich, S.J., & Callender, A. (2001). State-trait Boredom: Relationship to absenteeism, tenure and job satisfaction. Journal of Business and Psychology, 16:2, 317-327.
  • Kong, C. (2017). Bored at work. https://www.roberthalf.com/blog/management-tips/bored-at-work ; [Date of Access: 19.03.2022].
  • Lufkin, B. (2021). The damaging effects of boreout at work. BBC Worklife, https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210701-the-damaging-effects-of-boreout-at-work; [Date of Access: 25.03.2022].
  • Mael, F., & Jex, S. (2015). Workplace boredom: An integrative model of traditional and contemporary approaches. Group & Organization Management, 40:2, 131-159.
  • Malachovski, D. (2005). Wasted time at work costing companies billions. www.salary.com; [Date of Access: 22.04.2022].
  • Mäkikangas, A., Rantanen, J., Bakker, A., Kinnunen, M.-L., Pulkkinen, L., & Kokko, K. (2015). The circumplex model of occupational well-being: Its relation with personality. Journal for Person- Oriented Research, 1, 114–129.
  • Mikulas, W.L., & Vodanovich, S.J. (1993). The essence of boredom. The Psychological Record, 43, 3-12.
  • Powell, I. (2013). Can you see me? Experiences of nurses working night shift in Australian Regional Hospitals: A qualitative case study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69:10, 2172-2184.
  • Rosenwald, M. (2008). Rising underemployment contributes to pain of jobs slump. The Washington Post. p.d01.
  • Vodanovich, S.J. (2003). Psychometric measures of boredom: A review of the literature. Journal of Psychology, 137, 569-595.
  • Vodanovich, S.J., Weddle, C., & Piotrovski, C. (1997). The relationship between boredom proneness and internal and external work values. Social Behavior and Personality, 25(3), 259-264.
  • Watt, J.D., & Hargis, M.B. (2010). Boredom proneness: Its relationship with subjective underemployment, perceived organizational support and job performance. Journal of Business and Psychology, 25:1, 163-174.

İşletmelerin İhmal Ettiği Bir Kavram: İşyerinde Can Sıkıntısı Sorunu

Year 2022, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 59 - 84, 22.12.2022

Abstract

İşyerinde can sıkıntısı günümüzde işletmelerin yüzleştiği büyük problemlerin başında gelmektedir. İşyerinde can sıkıntısı sorunu sebebiyle fiziksel olarak işyerinde bulunduğu halde sahip olduğu tüm potansiyelini kullanamayan bir çalışan motivasyon kaybı yaşar, o işyerinde çalışma hevesini kaybeder ve bu da işletmeler için önemli ölçüde maliyetli olabilecek negatif sonuçlara sebebiyet verebilir. Oluşturacağı negatif sonuçlara örnek olarak çalışanın yaşayabileceği sağlık sorunları, çalışanın işten ayrılma niyetinin artması, stres seviyesinin artması ve çalışanın yaptığı işte verimsizlik yaşaması sayılabilir. Bu sebeplerden dolayı, can sıkıntısı problemi çalışanı etkisiz kılan ve sahip olduğu kapasitenin altında çalışmaya iten olumsuz bir durumdur. Bu çalışmada, işyerinde can sıkıntısı sorunun konusuyla alakalı genel bilgilendirme yapılmış, can sıkıntısı deneyiminin tipolojisi anlatılmıştır. Çalışmanın ilerleyen bölümlerinde ise can sıkıntısı sorununa neden olan faktörlerden bahsedilmiştir. Literatürde konuyla ilgili yürütülmüş önemli çalışmalara göre en göze çarpan can sıkıntısı problemi sebebi çalışana verilen sorumluluğun çalışanı yeterince zorlamaması sonucu oluştuğu gözlemlenmiştir. Öte yandan, çalışmada yer verilen bir diğer detay ise, çalışanlarının en çok can sıkıntısı problemi yaşadığı meslek grubu olarak değerlendirilen hukuk ve proje yönetimi mesleklerinin tespit edildiği araştırmadır. Ayrıca çalışmada, önemli negatif sonuçlara neden olabilecek can sıkıntısı problemi ile başa çıkma stratejilerine yer verilmiştir. Konuyla alakalı bir literatür çalışması da derlenmiştir. Çalışmanın son bölümünde ise, yöneticilerin ve çalışanların işyerinde can sıkıntısı sorunu konusunda çözüm önerileri sunulmuştur. Bu çalışma, iş yerinde can sıkıntısı problemi ile ilgili mevcut bilgileri genişleterek çalışan refahı konusunda literatüre katkı yapmaktadır.

References

  • Ambrose, M.L., Seabright, M.A., & Schminke, M. (2002). Sabotage in the workplace: The role of organizational injustice. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 89, 947-965.
  • Bargdill, R. (2000). The study of life boredom. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 31, 188-219.
  • Bruursema, K., Kessler, S.R., & Spector, P.E. (2011). Bored employees misbehaving: The relationship between boredom and counterproductive work behavior. Work & Stress, 25:2, 93-107.
  • Chin, A., Markey, A., Bhargava, S., Kassam, K.S. & Loewenstein, G. (2016). Bored in the USA: Experience sampling and boredom in everyday life. American Psychological Association, 1-10.
  • Cleary, M., Sayers, J., Lopez, V., & Hungerford, C., (2016). Boredom in the workplace: Reasons, impact and solutions. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 37, 83-89.
  • D’Abate, C.P. & Eddie, E.R. (2007). Engaging in personal business on the job: Extending the presenteeism construct. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 18:3, 361-383.
  • Emolument Web Page, (2017). Which are the most boring jobs? https://www.emolument.com/career_advice/most_boring_jobs#gsc.tab=0; [Date of Access: 25.03.2022].
  • Fisher, C. D. (1993). Boredom at work: A neglected concept. Human Relations, 46, 395-417.
  • Game, A. (2007). Workplace boredom coping: Health, safety and HR implications. Emerald Personal Review, 36:5, 701-721.
  • Gorton, N. (2018). Bored at work? You’re not alone. https://www.roberthalf.com.au/press/bored-work-youre-not-alone; [Date of Access: 19.03.2022].
  • Guglielmi, D., Simbula, S., Mazzetti, G., Tabanelli, M.C. & Bonfiglioli, R. (2013). When the job is boring: The role of boredom in organizational contexts. Work, 45:3, 311-322.
  • Harju, L., Hakanen, J.J., & Schaufeli, W.B. (2014). Job boredom and its correlates in 87 Finnish organizations. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 56:9, 911-918.
  • Harju, L., & Hakaneni J.J (2016). An employee who was not there: A study of job boredom in white-collar work. Personal Review, 45:2, 374-391.
  • Heijden, G.A.H., Schepers, J.J.L., & Nijssen, E.J. (2012). Understanding workplace boredom among white collar employees: Temporary reactions and individual differences. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 21:3, 349-375.
  • Hoare, R. (2012). Is workplace boredom the new stress. CNN Business, https://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/02/business/workplace-boredom-stress/index.html; [Date of Access: 05.04.2022].
  • Hooff, M.L.M, & Hooft, E.A.J. (2016). Work related boredom and depressed mood from a daily perspective: The moderating roles of work centrality and need satisfaction. Work & Stress, 30:3, 209-227.
  • Kaas, S., Vodanovich, S.J., & Callender, A. (2001). State-trait Boredom: Relationship to absenteeism, tenure and job satisfaction. Journal of Business and Psychology, 16:2, 317-327.
  • Kong, C. (2017). Bored at work. https://www.roberthalf.com/blog/management-tips/bored-at-work ; [Date of Access: 19.03.2022].
  • Lufkin, B. (2021). The damaging effects of boreout at work. BBC Worklife, https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210701-the-damaging-effects-of-boreout-at-work; [Date of Access: 25.03.2022].
  • Mael, F., & Jex, S. (2015). Workplace boredom: An integrative model of traditional and contemporary approaches. Group & Organization Management, 40:2, 131-159.
  • Malachovski, D. (2005). Wasted time at work costing companies billions. www.salary.com; [Date of Access: 22.04.2022].
  • Mäkikangas, A., Rantanen, J., Bakker, A., Kinnunen, M.-L., Pulkkinen, L., & Kokko, K. (2015). The circumplex model of occupational well-being: Its relation with personality. Journal for Person- Oriented Research, 1, 114–129.
  • Mikulas, W.L., & Vodanovich, S.J. (1993). The essence of boredom. The Psychological Record, 43, 3-12.
  • Powell, I. (2013). Can you see me? Experiences of nurses working night shift in Australian Regional Hospitals: A qualitative case study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69:10, 2172-2184.
  • Rosenwald, M. (2008). Rising underemployment contributes to pain of jobs slump. The Washington Post. p.d01.
  • Vodanovich, S.J. (2003). Psychometric measures of boredom: A review of the literature. Journal of Psychology, 137, 569-595.
  • Vodanovich, S.J., Weddle, C., & Piotrovski, C. (1997). The relationship between boredom proneness and internal and external work values. Social Behavior and Personality, 25(3), 259-264.
  • Watt, J.D., & Hargis, M.B. (2010). Boredom proneness: Its relationship with subjective underemployment, perceived organizational support and job performance. Journal of Business and Psychology, 25:1, 163-174.
There are 28 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Sezin Açık Taşar 0000-0002-0406-7734

Özcan Demir 0000-0001-9382-6781

Publication Date December 22, 2022
Submission Date May 28, 2022
Published in Issue Year 2022 Volume: 6 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Açık Taşar, S., & Demir, Ö. (2022). A NEGLECTED CONCEPT RELATED TO BUSINESSES: WORKPLACE BOREDOM PROBLEM. Firat University International Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 6(2), 59-84.