Impact of the Economic and Organizational Context of Companies on the Meaning of Work for Employees
This article aims to establish links between the meaning of work for employees and the economic and organizational context in which they work. This economic environment is marked in particular by an increase in relationships between contractors and subcontractors, more flexible management of production or employment and by the financialization of companies. This study uses two French databases: Enquête Conditions de Travail 2013, conducted among 6724 employees, working in 5496 establishments and the Database ESANE-FARE 2008-2012, INSEE, to collect information on the economic environment of companies. Four meaning of work conditions were identified and measured by four scores: utility, autonomy, time pressure and working relationships. The variations in these four scores are studied. Through a multilevel analysis, we seek to measure the impact of the organizational context (level 2) and the macro-sectoral context (level 3) of establishments on these four conditions related to meaning at work. The results show how the organization of work in establishments and the financialization of firms impact on the meaning of work for employees. The meaning of this impact largely depends on the establishment’s position in the value chain.