Scientific research in the quality of working-life (QWL): Generic measuring of the global working life quality with the SEQWL questionnaire.

Abstract

We have constructed a “self evaluation of working life quality” questionnaire (SEQWL). It was developed on the basis of the philosophy and theory of quality of working life (QWL), strongly inspired by recent quality of life theories, especially the integrated quality of life theory (the IQOL theory) with a focus on the quality of human relations. The QWL-theory considers four fundamental domains of working life: quality of life, mastery, fellowship and creation of real value. These dimensions arise from four fundamental relations at work: the relations to one self (quality of life), to the job function (mastery), to other members of the working team (fellowship), and to what extend the individual contributes to the surrounding world (creation of real value). Thus good quality of working life is about much more than job-satisfaction, stress, the working environment, personal functioning, performance, health and immediate subjective well-being at work, although these factors are also covered by the QWL-concept, and measured by the SEQWL questionnaire. The SEQOL measure is an objective and valid measure, which together with good leadership will determine companies of value.