Chapter 4 - Job Satisfaction

Summary

Mr. Clarence Francis, manager in a food processing company, once said that you can buy a man's time; you can buy his physical presence at a given place; you can even buy a measured number of his skilled muscular motions per hour. But you cannot buy the devotion of hearts, minds or souls. You must earn these. When employees join an organisation, they bring with them a set of wants, desires, and past experiences that combine together to form job expectations.

Job satisfaction expresses the amount of agreement between one's emerging expectations and the rewards that the job provides. It typically refers to the attitude of a single employee. It is another determinant of positive work culture. If the employees have positive attitude towards work, then they will get satisfaction out of their job. Job satisfaction and positive work culture have a direct bearing upon each other.

People involvement

Economic life without productive work is meaningless and sterile. Engaging in purposeful activity is in the nature of man. Purposeful work provides satisfaction, especially when directed towards a common good. This common good may be manifested in many ways, such as salaries for raising employees' standard of living. People experience great satisfaction when they know they are contributing to this common good. Great inspiration is generated when opportunities are available. Every single person in an organisation aims to be the best. It is a fact that a person derives self-respect from a job well done. If all the employees work with an aim to excel and synchronise their efforts, the organisation would excel in its performance.