Preconditions for Coping with Time and Performance Pressure in Different Ways

Time and performance pressure (TPP) is one of the most prevalent job demands in todays’ working world. TPP often elicits coping behaviours of work extension (e.g., working overtime) and intensification (e.g., skipping breaks) that can be detrimental to employee health and well-being, at least in the long run. Therefore, a central research question is which preconditions employees need to cope differently, in a more problem-focused and healthy way with TPP. We addressed this question with research case studies in four different companies, integrating multiple stakeholders and using a multimethods approach. The primary method within the case studies were qualitative interviews with employees performing service or knowledge work. We could identify structural as well as climatic and personal factors. Factors lie on four different levels (organization, task, team, and individual) as important preconditons for alternative coping behaviours. Results of a two-step cross-case analysis show that preconditions on the task level, such as control at work, seem to be very central. Preconditions on the different levels are closely intertwined and some themes can be found across levels, such as “control at and over work” or the theme of “care”. The identified preconditions are important starting points for interventions to foster alternative coping with TPP.