When work is meaningful but not always decent: Associations with burnout and turnover intention

The present study explores, through the lens of the Psychology of Working Theory and the Conservation of Resources Theory, decent work and meaningful work, and their differences in terms of burnout and turnover intention. Data were collected from a sample of 765 French workers and latent profile analysis was used. The results of analysis identified four distinct profiles, highlighting different combinations of decent work dimensions and meaningful work. Furthermore, a divergence in burnout and turnover intention has been identified among different profiles. The combination of decent and meaningful work was associated with lower levels of burnout and turnover intention. However, the sole experience of one of these variables has been found to rise the independent variables levels, while a lack of experience in both areas has been shown to have a detrimental effect on burnout and turnover intention. The findings of this study underscore the necessity to prioritize both working conditions and work experience in order to mitigate the prevalence of burnout and its associated turnover intention. The present study contributes to the Psychology of Working Theory by examining burnout as a correlate of mental health and provides practical implications for organizations aiming to enhance mental health for their workers.