Measuring job greediness: Development and validation of an Italian scale

Andrea Laudadio, Greta Mazzetti, Dina Guglielmi, Giulia Paganin

First published April 30, 2025

Abstract

Greedy jobs demand excessive time, energy, and emotional investment, eroding boundaries between
work and personal life. They perpetuate inequalities, notably by limiting flexibility for those with caregiving responsibilities.
The current study aims to validate the Greedy Job Scale (GJS) to assess perceptions of job demands and their intrusion
into personal life. A multi-step process involving item development, refinement, and testing was conducted. Using a
sample of 1,208 Italian workers, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were employed
to validate the scale. The obtained results supported a single-factor solution and demonstrated adequate psychometric
properties of the GJS in terms of internal consistency and construct validity. In addition, greedy jobs significantly blur the
boundaries between work and personal life, demanding constant availability and responsiveness. Greedy jobs significantly
strain individuals, especially when they can undermine work-life balance, especially for individuals managing caregiving
responsibilities. The GJS offers a critical tool for future research in understanding how job-related greediness impacts
employee well-being, career trajectories and organisational outcomes.

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Laudadio Andrea . Mazzetti Greta . Guglielmi Dina . Paganin Giulia . Measuring job greediness: Development and validation of an Italian scale. BPA Applied Psychology Bulletin. 2025;8.