Day-level job crafting and service-oriented task performance The mediating role of meaningful work and work engagement

Purpose This study examines whether job crafting is related to service-oriented task performance (i.e. performance aimed at providing high-quality services) through meaningful work and work engagement. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 156 employees of a Dutch unemployment agency (4 days, 531 observations). Multilevel SEM was used to analyze the data. Findings Results showed that job crafting was related to service-oriented task performance via meaningful work and work engagement. Specifically, seeking resources and seeking challenges were positively related to service-oriented task performance via meaningful work and work engagement, whereas reducing demands was negatively related to service-oriented task performance via meaningful work and work engagement. Originality/value The study concludes that seeking resources and seeking challenges are beneficial for service-oriented task performance.