Exploration of work dysfunctions within the workplace based on the participants' lived experience and meanings

Abstract

This study aimed at exploring the “lived experiences” and “meanings” of employees who had been diagnosed with work related stress, anxiety, depression and/or burnout, referred to as work dysfunctions. The researcher wished to create an opportunity and safe environment that would allow the participants to have their “voices and stories” told, heard and understood. The researcher adopted social constructionism as an epistemological framework for dialogue with the participants. Five in-depth, semi-structured conversational interviews, using the qualitative research approach and the case study method, were conducted. Participants’ selection was effected through purposive sampling. The thematic content analysis method was used to analyse the data and later align it to the relevant literature. Thematically analysed content was reconstructed into individual participants’ stories. The conversational and relational process with the researcher also generated new meanings and insights beneficial for the participants. The rich and in-depth information around their unique experiences and realities contributed towards a better understanding of work dysfunctions and also towards the improvement of the well-being interventions. It is also argued that additional insights from the study would add value to the organisational incapacity management process of employees with work dysfunctions.