Thinking Allowed
Meaning of Work
Oct 22, 2024
Jana Costas, Chair of People, Work & Management at the European University Viadrina, explores the unseen lives of cleaners in Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz, discussing the dignity they carve out despite societal stigmas. Katie Bailey, Emeritus Professor of Work and Employment at King's College London, analyzes why workers in fields like nursing and the arts find deep meaning in their jobs. Together, they uncover the contrasting worlds of corporate professionals and cleaners, shedding light on the invisible labor that often goes unrecognized.
28:08
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Quick takeaways
- Personal dignity in work is challenged by societal perceptions, as seen in the experiences of unseen cleaners at Potsdamer Platz.
- Meaningful work varies significantly across professions, influenced by factors such as personal interactions, societal validation, and feedback recognition.
Deep dives
Defining Meaningful Work
Meaningful work is characterized by the personal significance and value individuals place on their jobs, where they feel their work makes a difference. Researchers have approached this concept from various disciplines, primarily psychology and sociology. In psychology, meaningful work is often linked to job satisfaction, engagement, and the factors that enhance the meaning people derive from their work. In contrast, sociology examines broader societal perceptions of work and how these perceptions influence individual feelings of meaningfulness.
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