Workload: friend or enemy? :The role of goal orientation for the appraisal of workload

In the research literature, workload is considered a challenging task requirement which can lead to both exhaustion and engagement. This study questions this a priori categorization and aims to provide more insight into the processes that relate workload to exhaustion and engagement. The first assumption holds that individuals’ appraisal of their workload determines whether workload will relate to engagement or exhaustion. It is also assumed that workers’ goal orientation will moderate the relationship between workload and appraisal. These assumptions were investigated in a cross-sectional study with 233 workers. The findings showed that hindrance appraisal was positively related to exhaustion while challenge appraisal was positively related to engagement. Moreover, learning goal orientation (GO) played a role; with workers high in learning GO appraising their workload as more challenging; an effect that sharply decreased with increasing workload. No moderating effect was found for performance-prove GO and performance-avoid GO. This research contributes to a better understanding of the role of appraisal processes in the relationship between workload and employee well-being. Implications for future research and practical implications are discussed