Workplace Dignity through the lens of Dispositions: A Qualitative Exploration

This study explores individual dispositions and their role in the perception of workplace dignity. A qualitative research study grounded in an interpretive paradigm was undertaken, in which employees from a public sector petrochemicals manufacturing company, a state-owned port, and the private sector in India were interviewed. Data were collected from 40 interviewees who worked at various levels within these organizations, including lower, middle, and upper-level positions. Using the Gioia et al. (2013) guidelines, first order codes, second order themes, and aggregate dimensions were formed. There are three key findings. First, situations do not impact certain dispositions. These were referred to as 'enduring dispositions'. Second, consistent recurrence of similar situations has developed certain dispositions that have become stable. These were referred to as 'formed dispositions'. Third, three organizational level factors that create affective events impacting individual perception of dignity were also identified. These are: 1) Biases, 2) Supervisory Dominance, and 3) Opportunistic Exploitation. This study highlights that individuals' perceptions of dignity result from the interaction between their dispositions and events stemming from systemic issues within their organizations.