Expressing a wish to continue or stop working as related to the meaning of work

Abstract

Non-financial reasons for continuing employment were determined by posing the “lottery question”, which asked individuals: “If there were no financial reasons to carry on working, would you stop or continue working?” Approximately 90% of two representative samples of the Israeli labour force indicated that they would continue working. Significant predictors of an inclination to stop working in 1981 were a strong instrumental orientation, low work centrality, organizational obligation, intrinsic orientation, and being a female. In 1993, significant predictors of discontinuing work included low work centrality, low occupational satisfaction, high instrumental orientation, and strong interpersonal relations. These findings are examined in light of recent changes observed in Israeli society, as well as implications to work and employment.