Perceived Wasteful Work in Long-Term Care Facilities in Japan: Associations with Organizational Culture and Care Workers’ Quality of Work Life

This study examined care workers' perceptions of wasteful work and its associations with organizational culture and quality of work life (QWL) in Japanese long-term care facilities. Survey data from 548 care workers were analyzed using content analysis and structural equation modeling. Psychological safety and staff proactivity were positively associated with organizational learning, while psychological safety and organizational learning were associated with lower perceived wasteful work. Lower perceived wasteful work was associated with higher QWL. The findings suggest that perceived wasteful work may function as an organizational mechanism linking organizational culture and worker well-being, with implications for workforce sustainability in long-term care.