Typologies of workload among IT employees in Austria

Abstract

Background: The IT industry is characterized by high demands, rapid innovation, and tight deadlines, which can significantly affect employee well-being and organizational success. This study aims to explore workload typologies among IT professionals in Austria, with a focus on the impact of personnel responsibilities and gender. A few sentences to place the question addressed in a broader context and highlight the purpose of the study. Methods: Utilizing the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire, we analyzed a stratified sample of 200 IT employees based on gender and leadership roles. The analysis included Ward’s cluster and discriminant analysis to identify three distinct workload typologies: resilient, moderate (semi)-resilient, and non-resilient. Results: The analysis revealed significant disparities across the identified workload typologies in all five COPSOQ domains. Specifically, personnel in leadership roles were more likely to fall into the non-resilient cluster (18.9%, p = .008). A notable gender difference was observed, as females in leadership positions were disproportionately represented in the non-resilient cluster (35.7%, p = .137). Conclusions: The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to mitigate workload challenges and occupational stress within the IT sector. Incorporating typology-based approaches into organizational strategies may enhance support for employee resilience and stress management, addressing the specific needs of different employee groups.