Wellbeing in project-based organisations: the experience of project workers

The rise in project-based organisations (PBOs) is a key trend affecting the way employees are managed and how they experience wellbeing at work. Wellbeing is a key human resource management (HRM) area which can lead to individual and organisational performance. Yet less in known about the impact of the temporary nature of project work in PBOs on worker perceptions of wellbeing. In this paper, we use Guest’s (2017) analytic framework of HR practices leading to wellbeing to empirically examine (i) the project workers’ perceptions of their wellbeing and (ii) their experience with wellbeing-related HR practices implemented in their organisations. Using a qualitative methodology, we interviewed 21 project workers employed in PBOs. Key concerns that our study reveals include stress, bullying/harassment, reduced opportunities for career development/progression, and reduced opportunities for voice. We contribute to HRM theory and practice by providing an insight into how project workers in PBOs perceive their own wellbeing and by highlight wellbeing-related areas of HR practice that require further development in order to yield a positive impact on the worker experience.