A Good Living Versus A Good Life: Meaning, Purpose, and HRD

摘要

The Problem. The expectation for meaningful work and work-life integration is firmly entrenched in the minds of the GenerationY/Millennial generations in the workplace. Yet, in updating the literature and rethinking the impact on Chalofsky's (2003) construct for meaningful work, the question arose as to whether meaningful work can and should exist in a vacuum or should it be viewed as part of a meaningful life. If so, what are the implications for the construct and for human resource development (HRD). How far can and should HRD go to help ensure a meaningful and purposeful life for present and future generations in the workplace? The Solution. This article provides a sketch of the current research and thinking about meaningful work and a basis for the rest of the articles in this issue. The tightness of the "fit" between self and work can determine how meaningful one's work is perceived. How work fits within a meaningful life, and how one's life fits within the context of the organization, the community, the society, and the planet can shape a meaningful existence. The Stakeholders. The intended audience for this article includes HRD scholars, scholar-practitioners, consultants, and students interested in the construct of meaningful work, and the implications of reframing HRD around meaning and purpose.