THE MEANING OF WORK AND QUALITY OF WORKING LIFE FACTORS: PERCEPTIONS OF BRAZILIAN AND CANADIAN PROFESSORS

Authors

  • Ana Alice Vilas Boas UFLA
  • Estelle M. Morin HEC Montreal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14210/alcance.v23n3(Jul-Set).p272-292

Keywords:

QVT. Professores universitários. Sobrecarga de trabalho.

Abstract

This study assesses quality of working life (QWL) factors among professors working in Brazil and Canada, and correlates them with the meaning of work. The sample consisted of 274 Brazilian professors and 252 Canadian professors. Data were collected through an online questionnaire sent to three public universities in Minas Gerais and three universities of Quebec, in the first half of 2013. Through the questionnaire, the following factors were evaluated: work purpose, autonomy, opportunities for professional development, relationship with colleagues, moral righteousness, recognition, job security, workload and working hours per day and per week; these were then correlated with the “meaning of work” and “meaning at work” indicators. Canadian professors perceived more autonomy, professional development opportunities and recognition in the workplace than Brazilian professors. On the other hand, mental workload and working hours per week were higher in the federal universities of Minas Gerais than in the universities in Québec. Factors describing the characteristics of work and work relations were positively related to the meaning of work, while physical and mental loads were negatively related to the meaning of work.

Author Biographies

Ana Alice Vilas Boas, UFLA

Doutora em Administração pela Univerity of Reading - UK Pos-doutora pela HEC Montreal

Estelle M. Morin, HEC Montreal

Doutora em Psicologia pela Universidade de Montreal

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Published

2016-09-29

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 3(Jul-Set) (2016)

Section

Article

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