Abstract

MORETTO, Marcela Rucireta Germano  and  PADILHA, Valquíria. Those who give orders also suffer: a study on suffering in managerial work. Cad. psicol. soc. trab. [online]. 2020, vol.23, n.2, pp. 157-174. ISSN 1516-3717.  http://dx.doi.org/10.11606/issn.1981-0490.v23i2p157-174.

Based on the Psychodynamics of Work, this article summarizes a research that studied the causes of suffering in managerial work; to identify how managers perceive suffering and pleasure in their work, and what are the main causes of labour pleasure. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers of different hierarchical positions in companies from different sectors, in the countryside of the state of São Paulo. The interpretation of the interviews was made through Meaning Core Analysis. We identify seven meaning cores used to understand the experiences of suffering and pleasure in managerial work and identify their causes: a) Prescribed work; b) Worship of goals and performance; c) Interpersonal relationships; d) Responsibility burden; e) Autonomy; f) Acknowledgment, and g) Balance between work and personal life. We confirm that managers present labor suffering.

Keywords : Pleasure and suffering at work; Suffering in managerial work; Psychodynamics of work.

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