Associate Professor Dr. Maša Tonković Grabovac is a university lecturer, scientist, and licensed psychologist. After years of teaching experience at various public and private higher education institutions, she is now part of the Faculty of Croatian Studies. At the University of Zagreb, she leads courses in the fields of work psychology, organizational psychology, and human resource management, mentoring students at undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels. She has published around thirty scientific and professional papers and is the co-author of the Croatian Integrity Test, used in selection practices to predict undesirable behaviors in job candidates. Her scientific work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the National Science Award for the popularization and promotion of science. Maša actively promotes insights from work and organizational psychology to the broader public and applies them in human resource management practices within the faculty, as well as in Croatian and multinational companies. She believes in a balance between work and family roles and finds her best recovery from work in leading a slow-paced life with her large family.
What to expect from“Rest as an Investment: Research on Work Recovery Among Croatian Employees”
Maša will discuss the importance of how employees spend their free time—not just for their well-being but also for their job performance. She will share findings from multiple studies on this topic conducted over the past 10 years with colleagues and students from the University of Zagreb. The results, based on a sample of a few thousand participants, clearly highlight the positive impact of work recovery strategies, such as reduced stress and burnout, alongside increased work engagement and job satisfaction. The lecture will also explore group differences in specific recovery strategies: psychological detachment, relaxation, skill-enhancing activities, and control over free time, emphasizing the factors that contribute to more effective recovery. It will conclude with practical guidelines for improving work recovery at both individual and organizational levels.