Determinants of employee work schedule and method control

Abstract

Employee control over the work schedule and work method has long been considered an important quality of work and has received attention in different social science disciplines. Oftentimes the research has focused on the implications of control rather than variability in employee control. The current study constructs a conceptual framework of employee work control determinants. Relying on previous theoretical and empirical research, the framework outlines plausible explanations for selecting and interpreting both organization-level and employee-level determinants. Using a nationally representative linked study of organizations and their employees, the article tests the proposed theoretical model. The study shows that there are significant differences in employee work control that could be explained only by taking into account both employee-level and organization-level determinants. It was found that job design and characteristics, skills and competencies and managerial practices explain variance in both employee work schedule control and work method control.