Ralitsa Karakasheva, Jascha Achterberg, Jana Berkessel, Alessia Cottone, Julia Dhar, Jon Jachimowicz, Yuna Lee, Ashley Whillans, Kai Ruggeri, Ludvig Bjorndal
Work and workplace decision-making

Work is a major part of many of our lives. While individual experiences with work will differ – from how long we work to what jobs we have and to what extent we enjoy them – everyone is affected by employment, whether they have a job or not. Over the decades, research in the behavioral sciences has focused specifically on the workplace, dating back to some of the most influential studies in psychology. Given the wealth of accumulated research, a tremendous opportunity now exists to link theory and results to successful interventions. This chapter introduces several approaches to workplace interventions and looks at how certain tools such as commitment devices, nudges, personalized incentives, framing, and even the physical environment itself may lead to better outcomes for employees and organizations. We present these interventions as opportunities for change, from the earliest steps in finding a new job through the later stages of career progression. We consider not only job performance but also the health and well-being of employees, employers, and the communities they serve.