Six Areas of Worklife

Reduce Burnout and Increase Engagement in your Organization

Burnout is a serious problem. Staff feel stressed and pushed beyond their limits. Twenty years of research has shown that Burnout is not an individual problem. A shared work environment can make the difference between burnout and engagement with work.  The 4th Edition AWLS is available here

The Importance of Individual-Organization Match

The Truth About Burnout identifies six areas of the work environment that are considered the most relevant to the relationships people develop with their work. A mismatch between people and their work environment in these areas reduces their capacity for energy, involvement, and a sense of effectiveness. Matches in these areas enhance engagement.

Used with the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Areas of Worklife Survey helps organizations to identify the areas to change that have the greatest potential for significantly enhancing engagement with work.

The Areas of Worklife Survey contains 38 items that create six factors:

Workload

The extent to which work demands spill into personal life, the social pressures, as well as the physical and intellectual burden of job demands.
Read more...

Sample Item: I do not have time to do the work that must be done.

Control

The opportunity to make choices and decisions, to solve problems, and to contribute to the fulfillment of responsibilities.
Read more...

Sample Item: I have control over how I do my work.

Reward

Recognition - financial and social - you receive for your contribution on the job.
Read more...

Sample Item: I receive recognition from others for my work.

Community

The quality of the social context in which you work, encompassing your relationships with managers, colleagues, subordinates, and service recipients.
Read more...

Sample Item: People trust one another to fulfill their roles.

Fairness

The extent to which the organization has consistent and equitable rules for everyone, or he quality of justice and respect at work.
Read more...

Sample Item: Resources are allocated fairly here.

Values

The focus of this section is the consistency between the personal values you bring to your profession and the values inherent in the organization where you work.
Read more...

Sample Item: My values and the organization's values are alike.