Job satisfaction is an attitude reflects the extent to which an individual is gratified or fulfilled .by his or her work. Extensive research conducted on job satisfaction has indicated that personal .factors such as an individual's needs and aspirations determine this attitude, along with group and organizational factors such as relationships with co-workers and supervisors, working conditions, work policies and compensation.
A satisfied employee also tends to be
absent less often, makes positive contributions, and stays with the
organization. In contrast, a dissatisfied employee may be absent more often may
experience stress that disrupts co-workers, and may keep continually looking
for another job.
Organizational factors that influence
employee satisfaction include pay, promotion, policies and procedures of the
organizations and working conditions. Group factors such as relationship with
co-workers and supervisors also influence job- satisfaction. Similarly,
satisfaction depends on individual factors like individual's needs and
aspirations. If employees are satisfied with their job, it may lead to low
employee turnover and less absenteeism and vice-versa.
FACTORS RELATING TO JOB SATISFACTION
Some of the most important factors relating to job satisfaction are briefly stated below:
Personal
Factors
These factors include the individual
employee's personality, age, sex, educational level, intelligence etc.
Most of the evidence on the relation
between age and satisfaction seems to indicate that there is generally a
positive relationship between the two variables up to the pre-retirement years
and then there is a sharp decrease in satisfaction.
There is no clear research evidence between educational level and job satisfaction. As regards the relationship between the intelligence level and job satisfaction, it usually depends upon the level and range of intelligence and the challenge of the job. There is as yet no consistent evidence as to whether women are more satisfied with their jobs than men.
Job
Factors
These factors include the type of work
to be performed, skill required for work performance, occupational status
involved in the job etc.
The type of work is very important, as a number of research studies have shown that varied work generally brings about more satisfaction than routine work. Where skill exists to a considerable degree it tends to become the main source of satisfaction to the employee. As regards the relation of occupational status to job satisfaction, research evidences indicate that employees are relatively more dissatisfied in those jobs, which have less social status or prestige.
Organizational
Factors
These factors include security, wages
and salaries, fringe benefits, opportunities for advancement, working
conditions etc. Social and economic security to employees increases job
satisfaction, the wages and salaries and fringe benefits are definitely the
main factors that affect job satisfaction of employees. As regards the relation
of opportunity for advancement to job satisfaction, it has been found that this
factor is most important to skilled personnel and least important to unskilled
personnel. Desirable working conditions are also important to job satisfaction.
Besides, an effective downward flow of communications in an organization is
also important to job satisfaction as employees are keen to know more about the
company and its plans, policies etc.
Basically, job satisfaction is determined by the discrepancy between what individuals expect to get out of their jobs and what the job actually offers. A person will be satisfied if there is no discrepancy between desired and actual conditions
Importance of Job Satisfaction
Obviously, job satisfaction
significantly contributes to employee productivity and morale. An organization
can be substantially benefited if it develops general attitudes of its
employees that can effectively contribute to job satisfaction. If employees are
satisfied, turnover and absenteeism will be less and productivity will be more,
Further, satisfaction of individual expectations results in group integration
and cohesiveness.