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Employee well-being: the role of perceived competence

Susanna Kultalahti (Department of Management and Organisation, University of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland)
Riitta Viitala (Department of Management and Organisation, University of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland)
Maija Hujala (Department of Business Studies, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Lappeenranta, Finland)
Tauno Kekale (Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Hanken Svenska handelshogskolan – Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland)

Journal of Workplace Learning

ISSN: 1366-5626

Article publication date: 29 September 2023

Issue publication date: 12 October 2023

626

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to gain more understanding of how competence might matter from the perspective of well-being at work. The authors explore how perceived competence is connected to perceived work-related well-being among Baby Boomer, Generation X and Generation Y employees.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors explore how perceived competence is connected to perceived work-related well-being among Baby Boomer, Generation X and Generation Y employees. The frames of reference of the study are based on literature on employee well-being (measured with work engagement and overcommitment) and competence, as well as on generational discussions. The quantitative, questionnaire-based study was conducted in 88 companies in Finland, with the total number of respondents being 4,418.

Findings

The main finding was that perceived competence related to current duties is statistically significantly connected to employee well-being. The results indicate that high competence results in high employee well-being in all generational groups. Further, Generation Y estimated their work well-being, both in terms of work engagement and overcommitment, lower than Baby Boomers or Generation X. The results suggest that developing competence of employees in organizations seems to be an important means to also support work well-being. It is especially important to pay attention to that among Generation Y, who take their first steps in working life. Competence is a meaningful factor for coping in working life in continually changing work environments. Incompetence is not just a factor for poor performance but also a potential threat to employee well-being.

Originality/value

Most of the competence/workplace learning results research concentrates on cognitive competence and skills, often from the employers’ benefit viewpoint (useful skills, productivity increase). This study starts from the finding that new generations of workers rather look for a meaningful work life, and thus, a feeling of having the necessary competences directly improves their well-being and, thus, life quality. Furthermore, the study is based on an original questionnaire-based study conducted in 88 companies in Finland, with the total number of respondents being 4,418.

Keywords

Citation

Kultalahti, S., Viitala, R., Hujala, M. and Kekale, T. (2023), "Employee well-being: the role of perceived competence", Journal of Workplace Learning, Vol. 35 No. 7, pp. 648-661. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-06-2023-0095

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited

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