Can I Take Control of My Work Engagement? – The Relationship Between Job Crafting, Leisure Crafting and Work Engagement

Work engagement has been declining in recent years. Although numerous factors influence work engagement, it depends largely on the individual. In the present study, we focused on two relatively new constructs: job crafting and leisure craf­ting. These two terms represent alternative ways to potentially increase emplo­yees’ work engagement. We explored the connections between work engagement, job crafting and leisure crafting, as well as whether there are differences in job crafting regarding gender. A total of 129 working individuals (including 95 women), aged between 20 and 66, participated in the study. According to our results, individuals who tend to change the working environment according to their needs and spend their leisure time proactively are also more work-engaged. Secondly, it was found that, compared to women, men perceive that they have more possibilities to adapt their work tasks and conditions. The present study provides an introductory insight in an area not yet explored in the Slovenian region. It emphasizes the importance of active participation in work and leisure activities for work engagement, and the positive consequences that promoting such activities would have in the workplace.