Why should I do it? Examining the dual impact of illegitimate tasks on employee outcomes

Illegitimate tasks are work assignments perceived as unreasonable or unnecessary. Such tasks fall outside the boundaries of duties considered appropriate for a given professional role. Illegitimate tasks are a widespread issue in the health care sector. Literature has largely emphasized the negative outcomes of illegitimate tasks. However, we suggest that the consequences of illegitimate tasks might not always be uniformly negative but could be paradoxical, depending upon the appraisal mechanisms.

Using the lens of the transactional model of stress and coping, we suggest that when individuals appraise illegitimate tasks as challenges, it is associated with positive outcomes like employee resilience. However, if they appraise illegitimate tasks as hindrances, it is associated with negative outcomes like the intention to quit.

The study was conducted using a time-lagged survey of 207 nurses in the health care sector in India, where illegitimate tasks are highly prominent.

Illegitimate tasks were positively associated with challenge and hindrance appraisals. The appraisal mechanisms mediated the relationship between illegitimate tasks and employee outcomes (employee resilience and intention to quit). Individuals with higher calling orientation were less likely to perceive illegitimate tasks as hindrances.

Organizations should ensure that illegitimate tasks are appraised as challenges rather than hindrances through workload and stress management techniques.