Paradigm shift in sustained employability: relevance of workaholism, job insecurity, job crafting, and presenteeism

This study extends the existing discourse on employability. Drawing on regulatory focus theory, we contend that workaholism (a pull factor) and job insecurity (a push factor) constitute two critical antecedents that predict sustained employability. Moreover, we investigate the mediating roles of job crafting and presenteeism. To explain and test these predictions, we employed a mixed-methods approach and conducted two studies. Study 1 was an exploratory study to explore the hidden motives behind presenteeism that can predict sustained employability. The findings (themes) from this study guide the conceptual framework tested in the second study. In Study 2, we conducted a field survey across two waves on 498 employees from private sector educational institutions. The results reveal that both the pull factor (workaholism) and push factor (job insecurity) predict sustained employability through two distinct paths. Furthermore, promotion-oriented job crafting and approach-motives presenteeism serially mediate the relationship between workaholism and sustained employability, whereas prevention-oriented job crafting and avoidance-motives presenteeism serially mediate the relationship between job insecurity and sustained employability. These findings offer valuable insights for organizations and HR managers, enabling them to create more supportive and adaptive work environments that align with varied employee approaches to sustained employability.