How to Increase Employees’ Proactive Vitality Management? Testing the Effect of a Training Intervention

Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources theory, we investigate the effectiveness of an online intervention based on training in energy management strategies using an experimental design. The intervention focused on creating awareness about the importance of energy in completing tasks, shaping the present state, and proactively identifying valuable strategies to manage vitality during work. Additionally, we expected an increase in work-related strategies (i.e., setting a new goal) and a decrease in micro-breaks (i.e., mental and physical). Participants were enrolled voluntarily in the intervention and randomly assigned to the experimental group (N = 42) and the control group (N = 44). Results of the ANCOVA showed that, in the experimental group, the intervention positively impacted changes in proactive vitality management. Furthermore, the results indicated that the participants from the experimental group used fewer physical micro-breaks after the intervention. Additionally, after the training and weekly level, the results showed a decrease in work-related strategies and physical micro-breaks in the experimental group. Thus, organizations could facilitate employees to learn to engage in different energy management strategies according to their preferences.