Time Enough to Work

This article frames an individual-level theoretical framework for the application of McGrath and Kelly’s (1986) social entrainment model to employee task work from a motivation theory perspective. We review theoretical constructs and empirical research findings that may elucidate how social entrainment shapes the direction, level, and persistence of efforts of individuals at work. We present propositions to guide research on motivational factors in task entrainment, and present suggestions for future elaborations and extensions of our theoretical framework for the temporal features of task work at the group level of analysis.