(in German)

High work intensity can be a health hazard for employees. In designing work to promote health, it is crucial to identify determinants of increased work intensity. This article deals with the question of what empirical database exists to describe the distribution and in particular the determinants of work intensity in Germany. For this purpose, six employment surveys were systematically analysed. A total of 662 items on the topic of "work intensity and its determinants" were identified and classified according to 11 main categories - six categories for work intensity and five for determinants - with more than 65 sub-categories. It turned out that there is already a broad database available to deal with the topic of work intensity and its determinants in Germany. Nevertheless, empirical gaps are also apparent. Future surveys should, among other aspects, collect information regarding performance control like costumer orientation as well business trips, target agreements at work, the degree of result orientation and self-responsibility as possible determinants of work intensity. The detailed survey of operational conditions, such as staff shortages, and business forms should also be given greater consideration in future surveys.

Practical Relevance: The present study shows which database is available in Germany to examine determinants of work intensity and thus also to identify the potential for an appropriate design of work intensity.

Please download the article "Work intensity and its determinants. An overview of the analytical potential of employment surveys" (in German only).

First Online: 5 October 2021