What's Job Satisfaction?

Relevance in modern organizations

Frederick Herzberg’s theory states job satisfaction depends on two elements: hygiene issues
(dissatisfiers) and Motivators (satisfiers). Hygiene issues are directly related to the employee’s working
environment where as Motivators create satisfaction by fulfilling individual’s needs for meaning and
personal growth.

In a knowledge driven open economy where competition cut throat characteristics like Innovation,
thinking out of the box and customer orientation are the keys for success of a company; At the same
time these are ownership traits and they can only be brought by motivated work force rather than dis-
engaged or just “satisfied” work force.

Gallup’s study “State of the American Workplace Report 2013” states that disengaged employees cost
U.S. companies up to $550 billion a year and highly engaged teams show 21% greater profitability. It’s no
wonder that employee engagement and wellness are increasingly identified an integral part of business
strategy rather than fringe responsibility of HR;

CareerBuilder’s survey of 2017 on stress in the workplace finds 31% of respondents report extremely
high levels of stress at work where as 61% of employees are burned out on the job resulting in poor
physical health and mental health. These findings emphasize the connections between wellness and
engagement, and how stress undermines both.

Employee engagement and Motivation is not just driven by good pay and benefits. Factors like Respect,
Trust, Security, Healthy Environment, and Career Path play a significant role in motivating the work force
and strive for excellence instead of mediocrity. Great employees are an organization’s number one
resource. Keeping workers happy helps strengthen a company in many ways, including Lower Turnover,
Higher Productivity, Increased Profits and Loyalty.

American Psychological Association’s study states while 92% of CEOs feel their organization is
empathetic, only 50% of their employees say their CEO is empathetic. Employees are nearly unanimous
in agreeing on the importance of empathy—yet 92% feel empathy remains undervalued.

The 2017 Global Human Capital Trends say that 69 percent of executives rate diversity and inclusion an
important issue. New research by Deloitte and other academic institutions demonstrates that diverse
and inclusive teams are more innovative, engaged, and creative in their work. The research states that
high performance teams have employees who feel their voice is heard feel empowered to perform their
best work up to are 4.6 times.

SHRM/Globoforce Survey 2018, reveals that 89% of HR leaders agree that ongoing peer feedback and
check-ins are key for successful outcomes. The survey states that human-centered approaches in the
workplace, which may help resolve retention, recruitment, and culture management challenges. This is
another reminder that employee engagement should not be relegated to the HR department, but
instead, be featured as a central part of overall business strategy.

A Human shouldn’t be viewed as a resource rather they should be felt as a possibility to innovate, create
and synergize with ability to catapult the organization into next orbit. And the current trend is rightly
Employee engagement and wellness are about protecting your human capital, your most valuable asset.
References:

1. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/human-capital-trends/2017/diversity-and-
inclusion-at-the-workplace.html
2. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2016/06/workplace-well-being
3. http://press.careerbuilder.com/2017-05-23-Do-American-Workers-Need-a-Vacation-New-
CareerBuilder-Data-Shows-Majority-Are-Burned-Out-at-Work-While-Some-Are-Highly-Stressed-
or-Both
4. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/246036
5. https://www.nasscom.in/sites/default/files/uploads/events2012/hr_summit/Happiness%20and
%20Satisfaction%20in%20Jobs.pdf
6. https://wikispaces.psu.edu/display/PSYCH484/Job+Satisfaction+Case+Study
7. https://wikispaces.psu.edu/display/PSYCH484/11.+Job+Satisfaction
8. https://www.ukessays.com/essays/education/job-satisfaction-and-its-importance-in-the-
workplace-education-essay.php
9. https://www.villanovau.com/resources/hr/importance-of-job-satisfaction-in-the-workplace/
10. https://www.willistowerswatson.com/
11. https://www.globoforce.com/press-releases/globoforce-shrm-human/