Dimensions of Work
Reward
Work is often done specifically for a reward, or at least something in return. Income, including bonuses or accessible services, is a fundamental reward mechanism in market economies. There are, however, other forms of reward – e.g. the product itself, if it can be consumed or used by the producing person themselves, or the gaining of skills and experience.
Power structures
Recognition
Reward mechanisms
Reaping the fruits
While some jobs offer a comfortable income, benefits, bonuses, and opportunities for promotion, other activities are rewarded with a handshake, a smile, or one’s own satisfaction. The majority of work activities lie between these extremes.
Interactive Example
Move the slider to discover different types of reward
In Conversation
Recognition and pay
Beate Littig explains how recognition and rewards are linked in industrialised economies:
Beate Littig, Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna
Understanding work quality
Dimensions of Work
Research shows that not just the surrounding conditions matter when evaluating whether people experience higher or lower quality of work. Here you can find information and illustrations on the diverse aspects that matter for work quality. We have further developed a tool based on this model which allows you to explore and reflect on your own work quality. This tool is suitable for both paid and unpaid activities – so you don’t have to be in employment to give it a try.
Conditions
Scope
Aesthetic
Character
Recognition
Reward
Power structures
