TY - JOUR
T1 - Work disengagement
T2 - A review of the literature
AU - Afrahi, Bahar
AU - Blenkinsopp, John
AU - Fernandez de Arroyabe, Juan Carlos
AU - Karim, Mohammed Shamsul
PY - 2021/3/9
Y1 - 2021/3/9
N2 - Engagement with work has been one of the most influential management ideas of recent decades. A prevalent assumption is that engagement is inherently beneficial and disengagement is a problem to be addressed. Yet theory and research on disengagement show it may not have the assumed negative impact on organizations, and at times may be beneficial for employees. This research seeks to unpack the underlying assumptions of work disengagement through collating and reviewing studies of the phenomenon. The paper makes three contributions. First, it provides a clear argument for why disengagement is a concept worth studying in its own right, as a functional coping response. Second, it offers a typology of the antecedents that applies to current theoretical frameworks. Third, it suggests differentiating between engaged, not engaged, and disengaged to address various levels of dedication to work domains and provide a basis for more evidence-based HR interventions.
AB - Engagement with work has been one of the most influential management ideas of recent decades. A prevalent assumption is that engagement is inherently beneficial and disengagement is a problem to be addressed. Yet theory and research on disengagement show it may not have the assumed negative impact on organizations, and at times may be beneficial for employees. This research seeks to unpack the underlying assumptions of work disengagement through collating and reviewing studies of the phenomenon. The paper makes three contributions. First, it provides a clear argument for why disengagement is a concept worth studying in its own right, as a functional coping response. Second, it offers a typology of the antecedents that applies to current theoretical frameworks. Third, it suggests differentiating between engaged, not engaged, and disengaged to address various levels of dedication to work domains and provide a basis for more evidence-based HR interventions.
KW - Antecedents
KW - Outcomes
KW - Resources and demands
KW - Systematic literature review
KW - Work disengagement
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85101051024&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.hrmr.2021.100822
DO - 10.1016/j.hrmr.2021.100822
M3 - Literature review
VL - 32
JO - Human Resource Management Review
JF - Human Resource Management Review
SN - 1053-4822
IS - 2
M1 - 100822
ER -