Relationship between Work Improvement and Work Engagement in Financial Industry: Examination Based on the Level of Sense of Coherence

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to clarify the relationship between workplace improvement and work engagement based on the level of sense of coherence. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted on 1,845 regular employees in a financial industry (valid response rate, 78.5%). The questionnaire included the Japanese Sense of Coherence (SOC), Japanese Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-J), and Mental Health Improvement & Reinforcement Research of Recognition (MIRROR). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed with the total score of UWES-J as the dependent variable and the MIRROR items as the independent variables for each group with high and low SOC levels. Two MIRROR items namely, "It is easy to take a substitute vacation after work on holidays" and "In the workplace, the abilities and ingenuity of each person are utilized", were the negative factors common to the two groups. On the other hand, in the low-SOC-level group, the items "The work policy is decided in a way that everyone is satisfied with", "When the work breaks, I can go home without worrying about other people", and "The superior gives proper explanations about everything to his subordinates" showed negative relationships. In the high-SOC-level group, "The work environment (e.g., air conditioning and lighting) can be adjusted according to the wishes of workers", "No overtime day is set or utilized", "I am allowed to commute to work avoiding crowded times and routes", and "The superiors are trying to make everyone's work proceed smoothly" showed negative relationships. Depending on the level of SOC, workers' desire for workplace improvement related to UWES-J scores differed.