Promoting Flourishing at Work: Innovations in Positive Work and Organizational Psychology

Dear Colleagues,

Positive Work and Organizational Psychology represents an integrative field that merges insights from positive psychology and business/management studies to enhance the well-being and productivity of both employees and organizations. This discipline is dedicated to understanding and fostering the conditions under which individuals and organizations can flourish, promoting a thriving, productive, and positive workplace environment.

This special issue aims to explore the multifaceted dimensions of Positive Work and Organizational Psychology, inviting empirical research, theoretical work, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that advance our understanding of how positive psychological practices can be effectively integrated into workplace settings. We are particularly interested in submissions that bridge the gap between theory and practice, offering innovative solutions for real-world application.

We invite contributions that advance our understanding of Positive Work and Organizational Psychology across a range of key themes, unified by a commitment to fostering flourishing workplaces. Our call encompasses a broad spectrum of research areas, each integral to the development of a holistic understanding of workplace well-being and organizational success. Submissions are invited concerning, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Work/occupational well-being: Despite its central importance, the concept of occupational well-being remains ambiguous and underexplored. We seek both empirical and conceptual work that clarifies and enriches our understanding of work well-being, addressing its complexities and multifaceted nature.
• Factors affecting employee health, well-being, and job satisfaction: We welcome studies that investigate the physical, mental, and emotional health of employees and the factors that can promote flourishing at work and beyond. This includes research on initiatives and interventions that promote health, well-being and job design, as well as topics such as stress and burnout, and the factors that can help mitigate them. 
• Positive organizational behaviors: Contributions should explore the array of behaviors that can foster positive work environments, including but not limited to optimism, resilience, self-efficacy, prosocial behaviors and hope. Research identifying the mechanisms through which these behaviors contribute to a supportive and constructive workplace is particularly valued.
• Positive work and organizational psychology interventions: At the core of this applied discipline are positive psychology interventions applied in organizational settings. We therefore invite both empirical work and reviews of interventions that enhance positive organizational behaviors and outcomes.
• Engagement and performance: We are interested in analyses that examine the myriad factors affecting employee engagement and performance. Studies should consider both organizational structures and individual characteristics, providing insights into how these elements interact.
• Strengths-based approaches: Insights that focus on the identification and application of individual and team strengths are encouraged. Research should demonstrate how strengths-based strategies can be effectively leveraged to improve organizational outcomes and employee fulfilment.
• Meaning and purpose at work: Investigations into how employees derive meaning and purpose from their work and its subsequent impact on motivation and performance are sought. Studies should explore the conditions under which work becomes a source of personal and professional growth.
• Positive change management: We invite innovative strategies for managing organizational change in ways that are constructive and beneficial for both the organization and its members. Contributions should offer fresh perspectives on facilitating change that aligns with positive organizational principles.
• Work-life balance: Research aimed at understanding and achieving a healthy equilibrium between work commitments and personal life is essential. We look for studies that offer insights into policies, practices, and cultural shifts that support balanced living for employees.
• Positive leadership: We encourage investigations into leadership styles that promote positive workplace behaviors, with a particular focus on ethical and responsible leadership. Research should examine how leadership practices influence organizational climate and employee well-being.
• Organizational culture and climate: Studies examining the impact of the social and psychological environment within the workplace are welcomed. Research should delve into how organizational culture and climate affect employee morale, productivity, and retention, contributing to a thriving workplace.

Through this call, we aim to compile a diverse collection of research that collectively enriches our understanding of Positive Work and Organizational Psychology, offering actionable insights for practitioners and scholars alike to cultivate more positive, productive, and fulfilling work environments.

For queries related to the Special Issue, please contact the Guest Editors.

Dr. Rona Hart
Dr. Dan Hart
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• work/occupational well-being
• employee health
• job satisfaction
• positive work and organizational psychology interventions
• engagement
• performance
• work-life balance