Meaning of work as a personal emergent power[?]: developing theory based on a critical realist study of Sri Lankan workers

Figures & data

Table 1. Selected findings.

Structure, culture and agency elements	Communicative reflexives (A) (example quotes)	Autonomous reflexives (B) (example quotes)	Meta-reflexives (C) (example quotes)
(1) Ultimate life concerns	… my son … [and] the family, the unity of the three of us. (Udesh, 37, development assistant – postal department)	… my job … because more than anything, if you do your job well, everything else will be successful … I am highly committed to my job. (Yohan, 51, General Manager)	Career will never be a concern in my life … [B]ecause I don’t have … a need or an attachment to money … What matters is my freedom. (Sanjaya, 43, Airline Pilot)
(2) Identity intentions	One must have a desire, an attachment to [work] and really commit. We need to take pride in what we do … I am dedicated to my duty and to ensure these duties will continue once my time is over … (Kamaladasa, male, 58, Drummer)	… [A]ll I knew was I was in love with [a bank] from the time I was going to school. All I wanted was to get in there and be a part of them. (Charu, 30, female, Senior Bank Manager)	Due to our caste difference (low caste) the officials stop all the … benefits given for farming such as water supply … we formed a … farming society [and] made two lakes … I was the president of the farming society … Also, we formed a thrift society, I am the treasurer … I joined the cultural centre to teach dancing and drumming. Active member in school development society too … demonstrated good leadership … was involved with social service in the village. I am a powerful member in the temple too. (Sumanadasa, 56, Drummer)
(3) Work attitudes and ethics	I am so fortunate to have this opportunity to serve the noble Tooth Relic … In the past, only a King performed these duties … this service has been continuing ever since, it is great to be doing this. (Bandara, 37, Kariya Korala)	When it comes to work, you must put everything out there and do what you must do. I believe my task is to make my boss looks good … I would just give it 110% if that meant boss never has to ask me twice … You should just do whatever you have to do, as much as you can. (Charu, 30, Senior Bank Manager)	I don’t have a separate life outside my profession … The most favourite hobby is my job … I like to be a surgeon again in my next life … [The job] gives me enormous satisfaction … (Wijaya, 49, Surgeon)
(4) Social mobility intentions	I graduated but stayed at home unemployed. There were good private-sector vacancies but only in Colombo. I didn’t like to go away. What I wanted from childhood was to stay at home peacefully … . Finally, found this job I can travel from home … (Udesh, 37, Development Assistant – Postal Department)	My first job was an audit-firm internship … Salary was Rs.1500 … I left that place, [for] Rs.15,000 … then joined [another company] for Rs.25,000 … as an accountant … Next, I joined [a company] for Rs.40,000 … I joined [present employment] in 2007. Today, my perks amount to 325,000rs, plus 18,000rs fuel a month … (Yasantha, 36, Finance Manager)	I was a [University] lecturer … I started doing an MBA, was also doing law. Both law college finals and MBA exams fell on the same month. I asked for three weeks’ no-pay leave, which wasn’t approved but I didn’t go to work. When I returned … the Head … scolded me … I just threw the keys on his table and left that job saying, ‘you keep it!’. (Channaka, 42, Senior Lecturer)
(5) The stance taken towards the socio-cultural influence	A big problem … is the lack of money, you can’t earn enough to live a normal life like others do … There are pressures stemming from family, relatives and society putting me in a difficult situation sometimes. But I try not to compare what I do with others … One must understand … this is a noble job. I must be devoted to it … (Bandara, 37, Kariya Korala)	I realised how poor and rural our lives were … the only way-out was to study well and get a good job … I studied hard … Chose arts subjects, so I could at least borrow notes to study as I didn’t have money to attend tuitions … I did several odd jobs to avoid the fate of a village-girl who must marry early … and continue in poverty … I was determined to become a teacher. (Sakuthala, 30, Teacher)	I have enough freedom to do as I like … I am not scared. I live on, if the path I tread on is correct why should I be scared? No one can ask me why I’m single, why I don’t get married or tell me how to live my life, I am very independent. (Padma, 40, Money Lender)
(6) A modus vivendi	I have sacrificed lucrative job opportunities. I can get better perks if I lived and worked in Colombo … I don’t like that fast-paced lifestyle … I don’t like competition. I don’t think it’s worth leaving the family for a job. (Yahampath, 36, banking executive)	I have managed to get where I wanted to be … I started as a trainee, decades ago. I completed M.Sc. and MBA … Got several computer diplomas … My job is great … MBA will help me, even after my retirement, to do counselling … (Sayuri, 50, Senior Manager – IT, Public Sector Bank)	I’m committed to social work. I like to help people. I advise and guide children, share what I know with them. I help our people who are in need through my contacts … I don’t expect big things in life. (Prabha, 36, Supervisor – Municipal Council)
(7) Socio-cultural influence (caste/class position, occupation and involuntary life circumstances)	Our lineage has a right for this rajakariya (king’s duty) … All my … grandfathers, great grandfathers have performed this duty … my father too … I have been beaten (punished) endlessly in my childhood in learning this art. That’s how I was taught and disciplined. (Kamaladasa, 58, Drummer)	As a child I had to live at a house nearby … helping that family with their chores … They had money … they supported me financially to study in return. My parents were landless labourers … They couldn’t afford my education. (Jayasiri, 37, Finance and Administration Manager)	I felt the caste divide in the village strongly. At school, we were left out … When we tried to associate other children caste divide worked badly on us. We were treated as lowly. Although I had talent for studies, I was not recognised. (Sumanadasa, 56, Traditional-Drummer)