A very common word, workplace, is deeply rooted in today’s world. A fixed official place where you go to work on a daily basis to fulfill your job responsibilities and commitments is a workplace. But it should not be confused with a workspace which can consist of any variable space you use to get your work done. Is this all about the workplace? Definitely, there is much to know. Let us deeply understand the workplace definition and this blog will also help you in identifying which workplace is suitable for your personality type.
Key Takeaways
- A workplace is a fixed location for fulfilling job responsibilities, distinct from a variable workspace.
- Various definitions highlight the workplace as a place for producing goods/services, self-definition, and social interaction, with both positive and negative experiences.
- Types of workplaces can be categorized based on personality: pragmatic, inquisitive, creative, sociable, ambitious, and traditional.
- Identifying a suitable workplace involves understanding one’s personality and following steps such as examination, investigation, inquiry, inspection, consultation, assessment, review, and clarification.
Workplace Definition
This article will explore a few workplace definitions extracted from different research authors to answer our considered question of what is workplace:
Murad Jurdak sees the workplace as a loci for people to perform such activities for their environment and humans that result in manufacturing some useful services or goods. This workplace definition gives it various forms which can range from single traders to multinational companies.
Beate Muschalla gives another workplace definition labelling it as a place for self-defining yourself and making a living from there by spending a substantial period of time in that area. The workplace has its own set of rules, social relations with all their complexities, and some requirements to sustain. A workplace has both negative and positive features providing both positive and negative experiences to people. Rewards and burdens both come side by side at a workplace where the negative forces at times are heavier causing a great deal of unmanageable stress. There could be a couple of reasons causing stress at a workplace including conflictual situations, bullying, rivalries, aggression, economic problems, isolation, group interactions, job insecurity, hierarchies, and the desire to achieve more and stay on top of the line.
Judith Rainhorn has explored the history of the workplace with a major focus on industrial workplaces relating it to human health and related safety hazards. He says that in social history, the workplace is a well-established arena of industrialization and labor.
Sandra Lowe is another author to explore the workplace definition titling it as a social institution. This place is marked by many individuals in competition with each other striving for upward mobility and in a continuous quest of fulfilment. She defines the workplace as having both positive and negative tendencies where negative forces are detrimental to health causing adverse impacts on human body functioning and mental capabilities.
Sarwar Khawaja has also given some insights on the workplace definition in his article discussing private higher education in the United Kingdom and the related resources and infrastructure. For him, the workplace differs across industries and can take the shape of either a psychosocial or physical work environment. The office workers here are directly impacted in domains of health, office performance, well-being, and even work productivity. The workplace he took for research was higher education institutions in the United Kingdom where he concluded that for producing impactful results in teaching and learning it is essential to have resources and infrastructure of high quality.
These five are the most commonly used workplace definitions to have a comprehensive understanding of the workplace and to understand its dynamics.
Types of Workplace
Since we have already seen in detail the workplace definition, in this section we will explore the types of workplaces to further find out the suitable one for you. These types are created by considering the working conditions, environment, and physical constituents of the company. Some of these types are based on an individual’s personality:
- Pragmatic
People with the personality of doers perform in a realistic workplace environment. These are hands-on employees mostly associated with physical activities. A pragmatic workplace environment suits kinesthetic employees who are skilled in working manually using tools. The relevant jobs might include construction, plumbing maintenance, carpentry, automotive repair, engineering, etc.
- Inquisitive
People with the personality of thinkers perform in an investigative workplace environment. Thus, the inquisitive workplace environment fosters a culture of problem-solving, experimentation, and critical thinking. Thereby, the people who prefer and enjoy gathering evidence, performing analysis, and drawing conclusions are suitable for this workplace environment. The relevant jobs might include scientific research, technology, data analysis, engineering, academia, healthcare, software development, etc.
- Creative
People with the personality of creators perform in an artistic workplace environment. A creative workplace environment offers a flexible setting for people to express themselves fully while also encompassing some features of testing and innovation. The relevant jobs might include theater, fine art, fashion design, filmmaking, performance, graphic design, etc.
- Sociable
People with the personality of healers perform in a social workplace environment. A sociable workplace environment promotes healing, helping others, positive and constructive communication, and educating colleagues or others. So, individuals having qualities including kind-heartedness, empathy, and humanity are better suited for this workplace environment. The relevant jobs might include human resources, education, healthcare administration, psychology, nursing, counseling, occupational therapy, social work, etc.
- Ambitious
People with the personality of persuaders perform in an enterprising workplace environment. An ambitious workplace environment consists of the force to push people towards achieving their goals though it also emphasizes communication. People who enjoy competition and prefer the art of convincing, selling, and debating often fit in such a workplace environment. The relevant jobs might include entrepreneurship, sales, financial advising, politics, real estate, corporate management, politics, etc.
- Traditional
People with the personality of organizers perform in a conventional workplace environment. A traditional workplace environment is defined by certainty, specificity, and organization. People who enjoy and prefer value dependability, practicality, and clear order are suitable for this workplace setting. The relevant jobs might include administrative support, traditional office settings, accounting, assistant positions, data entry, finance, compliance management, etc.
How to Identify a Suitable Workplace
The answer to this question can be found in Holland’s Theory of personality and job compatibility. It gives the assumption that to identify a suitable workplace environment, one needs to give importance to their own personality type. The types of workplace environments are discussed already but you can also follow some other tips to identify suitable workplaces during the hunt for a job. Consider the given tips:
- Examination
You need to thoroughly review the details of the job listing while applying for any position. You can get some idea about the physical environment from it like you can sense the type of physical office environment, daily tasks you will have to perform, etc. While examining the description, try to find out what the employer might be expecting from you.
- Investigation
The world has gone digital, use it. You can conduct an online investigation into the company’s background. The social media handles and website of the company indicate the activities that it carries out along with its relationship with clients and each other.
- Inquiry
The employers usually give you space to ask some questions if you like at the end of the interview. You need to do research about the company before appearing and prepare sensible questions to inquire about during your interview. The questions can focus on asking about nearby eating options, free lunch at the office, type of equipment being used, workplace conflict resolution strategies, separate sitting areas, etc.
- Inspection
During the hiring process, if the employer invites you for an informal introduction at your workplace you must grab the opportunity to take a tour of the workplace. You can pay attention to the available facilities in the office that will make you aware of the work conditions that you will probably get.
- Consultation
The best way to seek insights is by consulting your acquaintances employed there. This will help you know better about the workplace culture and especially the employer and employee relationship.
- Assessment
To identify a suitable workplace, you need to assess the company by checking online feedback and testimonials. You can hunt for it on job or career search websites which inform you about employee experiences. You can evaluate the company by the positive and negative reviews. You may later use these to draw a cost-benefit analysis by calculating the pros and cons that might affect you at the workplace.
- Review
After receiving the job offer, you should go through your employment agreement and initial paperwork. These documents pretty much refer to the conditions that define your workplace setting. The job contract has information related to the salary, working hours, and requirements. For more information, you may also access the employee handbook to review the policies and procedures of the company.
- Clarification
After getting answers to the above queries, address any remaining doubts or questions you might have. You might get confused after getting the offer, in that case, you should contact the hiring manager or human resources representative. This will guide you better about the management and your upcoming experience with the company.
Conclusion
This blog digs into various definitions and perspectives on the workplace, emphasizing the importance of understanding different workplace environments and their impact on individuals. It outlines how personalities align with specific types of workplaces and provides practical tips for identifying a suitable workplace. By considering one’s personality type and thoroughly investigating potential workplaces, individuals can find environments that enhance their productivity, well-being, and job satisfaction.
Frequently Asked Questions About Workplace Definition
- What is the difference between a workplace and a workspace?
A workplace is a fixed official place where job responsibilities are fulfilled, while a workspace can be any variable space used to get work done.
- What are the positive and negative aspects of a workplace according to Beate Muschalla?
Beate Muschalla highlights that workplaces offer both positive experiences (self-definition, making a living) and negative experiences (stress from conflicts, bullying, job insecurity).
- How does Murad Jurdak define the workplace?
Murad Jurdak defines the workplace as a locus for activities that produce useful services or goods, encompassing entities from single traders to multinational companies.
- What historical aspect of workplaces does Judith Rainhorn focus on?
Judith Rainhorn focuses on industrial workplaces and their impact on human health and safety within the context of social history.
- What is Sarwar Khawaja’s perspective on the workplace?
Sarwar Khawaja discusses the workplace in the context of private higher education in the UK, emphasizing the importance of quality resources and infrastructure for productivity.
- How does Sandra Lowe view the workplace?
Sandra Lowe views the workplace as a social institution marked by competition and the pursuit of upward mobility, with both positive and negative impacts on health and mental capabilities.
- What are the types of workplaces based on personality?
The types of workplaces include pragmatic, inquisitive, creative, sociable, ambitious, and traditional.
- What is Holland’s Theory of personality and job compatibility?
Holland’s Theory suggests that job satisfaction and performance are higher when there is a good match between one’s personality type and the work environment. This helps in identifying a suitable workplace.
- How can one identify a suitable workplace?
Identifying a suitable workplace involves understanding one’s personality and following steps such as examination, investigation, inquiry, inspection, consultation, assessment, review, and clarification.
- Why is it important to review the employment agreement before accepting a job offer?
Reviewing the employment agreement helps understand the workplace setting, salary, working hours, and other requirements, ensuring the job aligns with one’s expectations and needs and it gives you insights about the physical workplace setting.
