Working Environment and Well-Being: Empirical Evidence from the 5th European Working Condition Survey

Abstract

The main aim of the paper is the definition of the constructs well-being, demands, resources and flexibility out of an existing and available data set. For this purpose we used the 5th European Working Conditions Survey, the theoretical assumptions from the Job Demands-Resources model (JD-R model) and further theoretical and empirical findings. Thus, we gained more information out of the data structure and the interdependence of the constructs, their dimensions and further explanatory variables as gender, work-life-balance, work-health-attitude, financial ease and type of contract. We also found interesting geographical pattern in the distribution of constructs. Hence, well-being is rather high in the northern part of West Europe and in North Europe. The resources, which affects well-being positive, are high in North Europe, while in South Europe they are low. Interestingly, also high demands with a negative influence on well-being, are found in the northern part of West Europe for the United Kingdom and Ireland. Flexibility is clearly high in North Europe and rather medium in the other countries. Thereby, overall flexibility is neutral concerning well-being, whereas the impact in the individual case can be positive as well as negative. Resources and demands are significant for employees well-being.