Browse by Work Context

Work context is physical and social factors that influence the nature of work. Open and explore the folders below to see the different categories and levels of information. Ratings on occupations are available at the most detailed level.

Folder (closedopen) Interpersonal Relationships
This category describes the context of the job in terms of human interaction processes.
- Folder (closedopen) Communication
  Types and frequency of interactions with other people that are required as part of this job.
  - Folder (closedopen) Communication Methods
    How frequently does this job require the use of the following communication methods?
    
    E-Mail
    How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
    
    Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
    How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
    
    Public Speaking
    How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
    
    Telephone Conversations
    How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
    
    Written Letters and Memos
    How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
  - Contact With Others
    How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
- Folder (closedopen) Conflictual Contact
  Amount of conflict that the worker will encounter as part of this job.
  - Conflict Situations
    How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
  - Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
    How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
  - Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
    How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
- Folder (closedopen) Responsibility for Others
  Amount of responsibility the worker has for other workers as a part of this job.
  - Health and Safety of Other Workers
    How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
  - Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
    How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
- Folder (closedopen) Role Relationships
  Importance of different types of interactions with others both inside and outside the organization.
  - Folder (closedopen) Job Interactions
    How important are interactions requiring the worker to:
    
    Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
    How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
    
    Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
    How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
    
    Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
    How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
Folder (closedopen) Physical Work Conditions
This category describes the work context as it relates to the interactions between the worker and the physical job environment.
- Folder (closedopen) Body Positioning
  Amount of time the worker will spend in a variety of physical positions on this job.
  - Folder (closedopen) Time Spent in Body Positions
    How much time in a usual work period does the worker spend:
    
    Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
    How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
    
    Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
    How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
    
    Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
    How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
    
    Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
    How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
    
    Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
    How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
    
    Spend Time Sitting
    How much does this job require sitting?
    
    Spend Time Standing
    How much does this job require standing?
    
    Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
    How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
    
    Spend Time Walking or Running
    How much does this job require walking or running?
- Folder (closedopen) Environmental Conditions
  Description of extreme environmental conditions the worker will be placed in as part of this job.
  - Folder (closedopen) Frequency in Environmental Conditions
    How often during a usual work period is the worker exposed to the following conditions:
    
    Exposed to Contaminants
    How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
    
    Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
    How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
    
    Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
    How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
    
    Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
    How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
    
    Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
    How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
    
    Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
    How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
- Folder (closedopen) Job Hazards
  Descriptions of types of hazardous conditions the worker could be exposed to as part of this job. This includes the frequency of exposure, and the likelihood and degree of injury if exposed.
  - Folder (closedopen) Frequency of Exposure to Job Hazards
    How often does this job require the worker to be exposed to the following hazards?
    
    Exposed to Disease or Infections
    How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
    
    Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
    How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
    
    Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
    How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
    
    Exposed to High Places
    How often does this job require exposure to high places?
    
    Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
    How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
    
    Exposed to Radiation
    How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
- Folder (closedopen) Work Attire
  Dress requirements of this job.
  - Folder (closedopen) Frequency of Wearing Work Attire
    How often does the worker wear:
    
    Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
    How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
    
    Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
    How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
- Folder (closedopen) Work Setting
  Description of physical surroundings that the worker will face as part of this job.
  - Folder (closedopen) Frequency Required to Work:
    How frequently does this job require the worker to work:
    
    In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
    How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
    
    In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
    How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
    
    Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
    How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
    
    Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
    How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
    
    Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
    How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
    
    Outdoors, Under Cover
    How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
  - Physical Proximity
    To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
Folder (closedopen) Structural Job Characteristics
This category involves the relationships or interactions between the worker and the structural characteristics of the job.
- Folder (closedopen) Competition
  Amount of competition that the worker will face as part of this job.
  - Level of Competition
    To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
- Folder (closedopen) Criticality of Position
  Amount of impact the worker has on final products and their outcomes.
  - Consequence of Error
    How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
  - Freedom to Make Decisions
    How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
  - Folder (closedopen) Impact of Decisions
    The frequency and nature of the impact of worker's decisions on the organization.
    
    Frequency of Decision Making
    How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
    
    Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
    What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
- Folder (closedopen) Pace and Scheduling
  Description of the role that time plays in the way the worker performs the tasks required by this job.
  - Duration of Typical Work Week
    Number of hours typically worked in one week.
  - Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
    How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
  - Time Pressure
    How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
  - Work Schedules
    How regular are the work schedules for this job?
- Folder (closedopen) Routine versus Challenging Work
  The relative amounts of routine versus challenging work the worker will perform as part of this job.
  - Degree of Automation
    How automated is the job?
  - Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
    How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
  - Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
    How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
  - Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
    How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?