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Job Satisfaction

in a positive manner on job satisfaction so that employees ive, and the coworkers are friendly, then employees will be
feel that all the personnel activity is for their benefit. satisfied” (1999).
A primary reason for the emergence of labor unions The following list of suggestions may contribute to
during the early 1920s was to develop safety measures for job satisfaction:
working conditions and equipment. Throughout the years
• Flexible work arrangements, possibly including
labor unions appear to have played an uncertain role in
telecommuting
achieving job satisfaction. In some cases, employees join
labor unions primarily because they are the only organiza- • Training and other professional growth opportuni-
ties
tions that bring health insurance benefits and increased
legal benefits. Sometimes union members get better vaca- • Interesting work that offers variety and challenge
tion and retirement benefits than do nonunion members. and allows the workers to put their “signature” on
the finished product
ADDITIONAL FACTORS RELATING • Opportunities to use one’s talents and to be creative
TO JOB SATISFACTION • Opportunities to take responsibilities and direct
When considering job satisfaction, probably the most one’s own work
important point to bear in mind is that many factors that • A stable, secure work environment that includes job
affect it. What makes workers happy with their jobs varies security and continuity
from worker to worker and from day to day. Apart from • An environment in which workers are supported by
the factors previously mentioned, job satisfaction is influ-
an accessible supervisor who provides timely feed-
enced by the employee’s personal characteristics, the man- back as well as congenial team members
ager’s personal characteristics and management style, and
the nature of the work itself. Managers who want to main- • Flexible benefits, such as child-care and exercise
tain high levels of satisfaction in the workforce must facilities
understand the needs of each member of the workforce. • Up-to-date technology
• Quality health insurance
JOB ENRICHMENT
If the pleasures associated with one’s job outweigh the
Managers who are serious about the job satisfaction of pains, there is some level of job satisfaction.
workers can also take other deliberate steps in increasing a
stimulating work environment. One such step is job SEE ALSO Management/Leadership Styles; Motivation
enrichment, a deliberate grading of responsibility, scope,
and challenge in the work itself. Job enrichment usually BIBLIOGRAPHY
includes increased responsibility, recognition, and more Brief, Arthur P. (1999). Attitudes in and around organizations.
opportunities for growth, learning, and achievement. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Large companies that have used job enrichment include Brown, Mark G. (1996). Keeping score: Using the right metrics to
IBM and DaimlerChrysler. drive world-class performance. New York: Quality Resources.
Daft, Richard L. (2005). Management (7th ed.). Mason, OH:
Thomson South-Western.
STEPS TO ACHIEVING JOB
Herzberg, Frederick, Mausner, B., Peterson, R. O., et al. (1957).
SATISFACTION Job attitudes: Review of research and opinion. Pittsburgh: Psy-
What are the elements of jobs that increase job satisfac- chological Service of Pittsburgh.
tion? Organizations can help to increase job satisfaction Sirota, D., Mischkind, L. A., & Meltzer, M. I. (2005). The
by putting systems in place that will ensure that workers enthusiastic employee: how companies profit by giving workers
what they want. Indianapolis, IN: Wharton School Pub.
are being rewarded for being successful. Arthur P. Brief
wrote: “If a person’s work is interesting, the pay is fair, the
promotional opportunities, and the supervisor is support- G. W. Maxwell

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