The Job Leeway Scale: Initial Evaluation of a Self-report Measure of Health-Related Flexibility and Latitude at Work.
William S Shaw, Alicia G Dugan, Alyssa K McGonagle and 2 others
PMID 36971990WHAT IT FOUND
Workers with chronic health conditions reported more fatigue and lower self-efficacy when they felt less flexibility at work.
The new Job Leeway Scale correlates with these outcomes, but it is an untested measure of perception, not proof that granting flexibility improves health.
Key findings
01The Job Leeway Scale correlates with worker fatigue and self-efficacy, but not with work engagement or productivity loss.
02Workers with higher education and income reported significantly higher levels of job leeway.
03The scale measures perceived flexibility available when feeling unwell, such as pacing work or taking breaks, rather than objective accommodations.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot determine if lack of leeway causes fatigue or if fatigued workers perceive less leeway. The sample was heavily female (98/119), mostly White, and drawn from specific industries (healthcare and tech/manufacturing), limiting generalizability. The JLS measures perceived availability of flexibility, not whether that flexibility was actually used or if it was effective in managing symptoms. The scale has not been validated against objective workplace records or long-term employment outcomes. Data were collected prior to the widespread adoption of remote work, so the 'work from home' item may no longer reflect current workplace realities.
Declared interests
The study was supported by the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The lead author was affiliated with Liberty Mutual at the time of data collection.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that providing the flexibility measured by this scale will improve patient outcomes. The study shows an association between perceived leeway and better self-efficacy/less fatigue, but it does not prove that increasing leeway causes these benefits.