Employee perceptions of decent work: a systematic literature review of quantitative studies

Abstract

Although job creation has received considerable attention, an economy's ability to produce high-quality jobs providing decent work is also crucial. A job with a fair wage, safe working conditions, equal opportunities and treatment, social protection for employees and their families, personal development, social integration opportunities, and the freedom to express opinions and concerns at work are all examples of decent work. Our study examines empirical quantitative decent work studies that used an individual-level lens and identifies the indicators and outcomes of decent work tested in these studies. We used the Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases to identify empirical research articles that included and measured decent work in their research model. A total of 48 studies that had been published till the end of 2021 have been systematically reviewed. Our study provides an integrated framework that displays the antecedents and outcomes of decent work including mediators and moderators that have been tested. Also, we categorize the theories, methods, and contexts of the reviewed studies. We identify the possible gaps and potential research directions. We found marginalization and economic constraints are among the most studied antecedents of decent work. Survival needs satisfaction, and job and life satisfaction are among the important outcomes of decent work. The majority of individual-level decent work studies have relied on the Psychology of Working Theory as their framework. Future studies may expand this framework and discuss decent work from the perspective of other theories such as the Theories of Justice, Job Characteristics Model or the Two Factor Theory. The findings can be helpful to further research in decent work as well as help managers understand this important concept.