HR-Specialist’s Professional Performance and Well-being at Work during Merger and Acquisition

This thesis was created to offer insights regarding individual’s responsibility during challenges caused by change on behalf of their own well-being at work which can be seen beneficial also for the work community and whole organization in a bigger picture. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to study the role and resources an individual human resources specialist has, to support their well-being and performance at work during organizational change resulted from the merger and acquisition of the employer company X. The study delved into the individual’s experiences of the topic and different factors that were acknowledged to have an influence during the process and theoretically. The central concept of the research was well-being at work and the organizational change formed the context for the research. The research was done as qualitative research, an autoethnographic study in a form of a diary which consisted of 11 weeks long observation period within observer’s work and holiday during summer 2022. Written notes and reflection were done daily, and analyses carried through on a weekly basis with selected themes and theories. The research results highlighted that individual experienced the areas of well-being at work very subjectively. Both work and well-being recognizably included different possibilities for individual to influence and develop in themselves and by themselves. The concepts recognized to influence individual’s success were the components of psychological capital, ergonomics, self-determination, tools and individual characteristics of stress management, social capital, levels of interaction, sense of professional know-how, organizational citizenship behavior and focus on recognition of recovery. In the end, conclusions of observer’s own professional development during the thesis process was examined. Furthermore, suggestions were made for other employees in similar situations as well as to organizations overall, to incorporate and recognize the need for individuals’ experiences in larger-scale work well-being strategies