Do you really lie flat? A study on the influence mechanism of minimalism on work effort

According to classical management theory, material need motivation is a critical driver of work effort. In social practice, the state and society encourage minimalist lifestyles and reduction of material desires. Therefore, does reducing individual material demands result in less work effort? Based on the Hierarchy of Needs theory, this paper examines why and when minimalists work hard and explores the influencing mechanisms and boundary conditions between minimalism and work effort through a questionnaire. The results demonstrate that minimalism positively influences work effort, meaning in life plays a partial mediating function in minimalism and work effort, and the influence of minimalism on work effort is moderated positively by subjective social status. This research reveals minimalism’s mediating mechanism and boundary conditions on work effort, which enriches the related studies of the Hierarchy of Needs Theory, Meaning of Life Theory, and Minimalism. This study has a guiding value for companies on how to improve employees’ work effort and enhance corporate sfficiency.