Ability and motivation profiles among chronically ill employees: using latent profile analysis to understand the impact of utilization HR practices on work engagement
本研究对663名意大利慢性病员工进行潜在剖面分析，识别出高能力/动机的“蓬勃发展型”、中等能力/动机的“稳定贡献型”和低能力/动机的“挣扎型”三类员工，发现人力资源利用实践能提升前两类的投入，但对挣扎型无效，且感知到的疾病歧视会削弱这种积极效应。
As chronic illnesses affect more employees, organizations must understand how to support these workers to retain their value and promote well-being. This study draws on the job demands-resources model and conservation of resources theory to examine how ability and motivation shape the engagement of chronically ill employees (CIEs) in response to HR practices that help them recover functioning after a loss (i.e. utilization practices). It also investigates whether perceived illness discrimination moderates this relationship across CIEs subgroups. Survey data from 663 CIEs in an Italian company were analysed using latent profile analysis, identifying three groups: 'thriving employees' (high ability/motivation), 'steady contributors' (moderate ability/motivation), and 'struggling workers' (low ability/motivation). Multi-group SEM showed that utilization practices increased engagement for thriving employees and steady contributors, but not among struggling workers. Perceived illness discrimination weakened this positive effect for steady contributors and struggling workers. By adopting a person-centred approach, the study reveals patterns that would not emerge from traditional variable-based analyses, offering practical guidance for organizations aiming to build more inclusive workplaces.