The meaning of work and work orientation: a study in public universities of Minas Gerais and Quebec

Abstract

This study evaluates the relationship between the meaning of work and job orientation for professors of Minas Gerais and Quebec and correlate these results with Quality of Working Life. The sample consisted of 274 professors from Minas Gerais and 252 professors from Quebec. Data were collected through an online questionnaire sent to three public universities of Minas Gerais and three universities in Quebec, during the first semester of 2013. There were significant differences between the means of perception of the two groups of professors for my work is a job and my work is a career. Regarding the meaning of work and the meaning at work, it was observed that these two quality of working life indicators are directly related to calling for the professors who participated in the survey. These results can guide university administrators to conduct actions to improve the conditions of physical work environment and job relations, as these aspects may help to improve the quality of working life and give more meaning to the work as a whole.