PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Idle time at work is a phase of involuntary downtime during which employees experience that they cannot carry out their work tasks. In contrast to breaks, interruptions, procrastination, or withdrawal behavior, employees cannot work because of the absence of work-related tasks. Based on action regulation theory, we develop an integrative conceptual model on the antecedents and consequences of the subjective experience of idle time. We propose that work constraints (i.e., regulation problems) have negative effects on occupational well-being and task performance, and that these effects are mediated by subjective idle time. The strength of these effects is further assumed to be influenced by individuals\' use of proactive (i.e., prevention) and adaptive (i.e., coping) strategies. Results of a supplemental qualitative study, for which we interviewed 20 employees from different occupations, provided preliminary support for the propositions. Finally, we develop theory on how individual, situational, and organizational characteristics may influence the proposed effects on and of idle time. Overall, this conceptual development paper contributes to a better theoretical understanding of idle time at work by extending its definition and applying action regulation theory to this practically important phenomenon.
摘要：
工作空闲时间是非自愿停机的一个阶段，在此期间，员工会体验到他们无法执行工作任务。与休息相反，中断,拖延症,或戒断行为，由于没有与工作相关的任务，员工无法工作。基于行动调节理论，我们建立了一个关于空闲时间主观体验的前因后果的综合概念模型。我们建议工作约束(即，法规问题)对职业幸福感和任务绩效有负面影响，这些影响是由主观空闲时间介导的。进一步假设这些影响的强度受个人使用主动(即，预防)和适应性(即，应对)策略。补充定性研究的结果，为此，我们采访了来自不同职业的20名员工，为命题提供了初步支持。最后,我们发展了关于个体如何，情境,和组织特征可能会影响拟议的对空闲时间的影响。总的来说,通过扩展其定义并将行动调节理论应用于这一实际重要的现象，这篇概念发展论文有助于对工作中的空闲时间有更好的理论理解。
