PERCEPTIONS OF PLEASURE AND SUFFERING AT WORK AND MANAGERIAL ACTION

Purpose: To describe and analyze the perceptions of pleasure and suffering at work common to the occupants of managerial positions. Methodology/Approach:: Based on the theoretical framework of the psychodynamics of work, a descriptive, quantitative and qualitative research was carried out. The EIPST (Scale for Indicators of Pleasure and Suffering at Work) was applied to 220 managers, and 26 managers were interviewed. Data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate descriptive statistics and content analysis. Originality/Relevance:: Few studies have addressed how recent organizational transformations have subjectively affected managers. Main results: The perception of pleasure in managerial work comes from the identification with the tasks, the feeling of pride in the work, recognition and social status. The perceptions of suffering were related to stress, overload and emotional exhaustion.Theoretical contributions: Understand how recent organizational transformations and the increase in the psychic load at work subjectively affect managers and open the discussion on possible organizational interventions.