Abstract

This qualitative study makes an empirical contribution to the Meaningful Work (MW) literature from a sociological perspective. It investigates the meaningfulness of work as socially constructed by the employees of a German newspaper publishing house. An eclectic methodology was applied with the aim to fundamentally enhance extant understanding of the nature of the phenomenon of MW. Thirty open-ended and semi-structured interviews were collected from organizational members across different hierarchical levels, functions, and divisions. Different dimensions of verbal interactions (e.g., language in context, stories, and narratives) and nonverbal interactions (e.g., gaze, gestures, body posture) were analyzed, and findings documented in multidimensional thick description. The key contributions of the study include especially a more comprehensive understanding of the nature of MW and the mechanics of its construction, and the study suggests an innovative methodology for the investigation of social constructions in organizations. A practical implication of the study is the identification of constructionist competency as necessary for leadership, therewith fostering the meaningfulness of work for employees and, thereby, providing legitimacy for the workplace, promising enhanced motivation and organizational commitment of workers.