Job demands and resources of managing directors of micro- and small enterprises: A qualitative study of the German transport industry

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Winkler, Eva

Affiliations: Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health, German Social Accident Insurance Institution for Commercial Transport, Postal Logistics and Telecommunication (Berufsgenossenschaft Verkehrswirtschaft Post-Logistik Telekommunikation), Ottenser Hauptstraße 54, 22765 Hamburg, Germany Tel.: +49 40 3930 1961, E-mail: eva.winkler@bg-verkehr.de.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:In many European countries, entrepreneurs have to consider psychosocial factors in the workplace risk assessment. Little is known about psychosocial working conditions in micro- and small companies. Even less is known about the entrepreneur in these settings. OBJECTIVE:The present study was conducted to develop and examine the job demands and resources of small business owners and managers, who serve as important designers of their businesses’ working characteristics. METHODS:N = 29 semi-structured interviews with a unique sample of owners and managers of the transportation sector were analysed via qualitative content analysis. RESULTS:The data suggest the presence of specific demands (time-, management-, and organisational demands) and resources (support and feedback). In particular, the variability and load of the demands indicate that the existing theoretical framework for employees is inadequate for evaluating the working characteristics of micro- and small business managers. CONCLUSION:Occupational health activities in small companies should include the working situation of the entrepreneur/manager.

Keywords: Psychosocial factors, micro- and small companies, entrepreneur, manager

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205167

Journal: Work, vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 601-613, 2022