Decent work in Brazil: Context, conceptualization, and assessment

Publication date: Available online 23 March 2019Source: Journal of Vocational BehaviorAuthor(s): Marcelo Afonso Ribeiro, Marco Antônio Pereira Teixeira, Rodolfo Augusto Matteo AmbielAbstractDecent work (DW) is a topic that has only recently attracted the attention of psychology researchers. The Decent Work Scale (DWS) is an instrument developed to assess five dimensions of decent work: Safe Working Conditions, Access to Health Care, Adequate Compensation, Free Time and Rest, and Complementary Values. The aims of this study were to understand decent work in a Brazilian context both quantitatively and qualitatively. A total of 307 Brazilian working adults took part in the study. First, we adapted the DWS to Brazilian Portuguese and examined its psychometric properties. Mirroring the results o previous studies, a five-factor bifactor model showed the best fit to the data. Additionally, positive correlations with job satisfaction and work meaning, and negative correlations with withdrawal intentions provided evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. The meaning of decent work was investigated through a qualitative content analysis, which allowed the identification of already known aspects of decent work and a new aspect related to the idea of contributing to the common good. These findings suggest that the decent work construct and DWS are applicable within the Brazilian context, but also that other elements of decent work deserve further investigation.
Source: Journal of Vocational Behavior - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research