Attitude and Job Satisfaction

 

Dr. Suchitra Rathi

Associate Professor, Department of Management, RITEE College of Management, Raipur

 

ABSTRACT:

Attitude of an employee towards work is directly linked to the job satisfaction. An employee who is satisfied with his job performs better and excels at what he does. It is therefore imperative for an organization to understand the attitude of its employees and measure their level of job satisfaction, as it is an essential component of productivity of an organization. When an employee is happy, it is usually because they are satisfied with their work. A healthy employee is a productive employee and feels happy at the work place. There are various issues that need to be addressed, including the managerial leadership, organizational objectives, choice of profession by an employee, social behavior of employees, effective communication, cultural differences, and conducive work environment.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Attitude of an employee and job satisfaction are an important component of behaviour of an organization. It involves the management directing employees into improving organizational and personal effectiveness. When an employee is happy, it is usually because they are satisfied with their work. This also improves the quality of their work. Attitude and job satisfaction may not fall completely on the management side but is also affected by the employees. If employees enjoy their work, they will not need external motivation from management, but instead the satisfaction they attain from completing their work will motivate them.

 

 

 

Job satisfaction is an individual’s contentment with their work. It affects productivity either positively or negatively. The relationship between job satisfaction and job productivity is however not consistent. An individual may still obtain high job productivity without having the satisfaction in the work. This happens mostly when money is their motivation. Another motivator is improving in his or her work in order to receive a promotion. Other employees may increase their productivity due to the satisfaction they get from their work. A reason for job satisfaction may also come from an employee getting a good salary. It improves job satisfaction as long as an employee has knowledge of the fact that they get fair payment for their work.

 

Issues affecting employee’s attitude and job satisfaction at work

There are many factors which affect an employee’s attitude and the relationship with management. Negative attitude causes clashes, while positive attitude result into increased productivity at the work place. Psychological issues, jealousy for the position, appreciation of others work, etc. are a few examples of negative attitude at the work place. This attitude affects job productivity in a negative way. If the employee’s attitude is a negative one so is their ability to produce positive results. Employee’s attitude and job satisfaction are two factors that affect the overall effectiveness and productivity of an organization. There are different issues that affect the attitude and job satisfaction either in a negative or positive way. These issues include the managerial leadership, organizational objectives, choice of profession by an employee, social behavior of employees, effective communication, cultural differences, and conducive work environment.

 

Managerial Leadership

The management’s style of leadership plays a big role in developing employee’s attitude and job satisfaction. Empowering people can motivate for better productivity. If the management gives an employee opportunity to work according to their own standards, preferred that these standards measure up to those of the organization, job productivity will increase. Self-satisfaction leads to job satisfaction. An example of a way to motivate employees is the management offering them opportunities for promotions, giving work related authority, pay rise negotiations, etc. This encourages employee to be more productive and become eligible for receiving these rewards.

 

Organizational objectives

Organizational objectives also have an effect on how the management relates itself with the employees. If the organizational goal is to achieve a certain percentage of profit in a business year, then it will exert pressure on the employees to increase productivity. Positive influence is not the only way to ensure an increase in productivity. Some organizations clearly state the amount of productivity needed from employees. This is normally seen in the field of sales and marketing where a sales representative is supposed to achieve a target on a given deadline. This may mount pressure on the employees and in turn affect their level of job satisfaction. In some cases, the management is not so strict with the employees. An organization may also decide to add more working days depending on their goals. Complying with such a decision is hard and it may leave the employees bitter and resentful towards management. This attitude will affect job productivity, as the employees will arrive at work with lack of motivation. Another factor in work attitude is time away from work. Apart from free time on the weekend, which is compulsory according to work ethics, employees need to take time off from work. This normally is the leave period.

 

 

 

Choice of profession by an employee

Choice of a profession by an individual is a crucial decision in an individual’s life for his/her career. Some individuals choose profession according to their interest, while others select it due to some pressure. Pressure may come from the need to make money or from parent or guardian deciding on what they want their child to do. When one chooses something they love doing or it is of their interest, they feel contented and happy about what they are doing. Love for a profession encourages a positive attitude for work. A happy employee is a productive employee. When an employee loves what they are doing, they attain job satisfaction. This automatically affects productivity in a positive way. Productivity however suffers when employees work to make money. Their aim is to increase their productivity in order to get more money but this eventually makes them stressful and bitter. Since they have no interest in the work, satisfaction becomes a difficult thing to achieve. External factors such as the family, relationships, financial status are a few of other things that also affect the employees’ attitude. A healthy employee is a productive employee and a happy one.

 

Social behaviour of employees

Our social behavior affects our work. This depends upon our personality type i.e. introversion and extroversion. An introvert person does not easily socialize with people. This affects their performance in a situation that needs teamwork. Teamwork requires all individuals to communicate with each other. If employees cannot work well together, it affects productivity. An organization that encourages teamwork experiences higher productivity. Extroverts are aggressive, outgoing people and some people may try to avoid them. Relationships in the work place affects attitudes and in turn productivity. If employees have a close relationship with each other, employees work well and their attitudes improve as well. An improvement in attitude improves job productivity and satisfaction. In order to improve this relationship, some organizations encourage team building, conduct sensitivity training programmes, and dedicate a few days for members to socialize. This is through encouraging games in this sessions or providing projects for them to do. Interaction between employees helps them know each other better in and beyond the work place. It improves their relationship and attitude towards each other.

 

Social role also involves the relationship between employees and management. In most organizations, this relationship is usually strictly professional. The only time the two interact is while it involves work. This is a way for the management to ensure that they have an upper hand towards the employees. This may lead to employees withdrawing from the management due to fear. Fear affects productivity, as the employee cannot approach the management if he/she is having trouble. They may imagine that the management will see this as a weakness. A good relationship is one where the management associates with its employees openly. Respect is the only thing that needs establishment between the two. This way, it is easy for employees to approach the management. A good relationship will improve employee productivity by improving their attitude and encouraging job satisfaction.

 

Another social factor is work place competition which is due to human nature to prove themselves. Employees may compete with each other for appraisal or a chance to grab an available higher position. This is a way for productivity to improve. Their attitude will depend on whether the competition is a healthy or an unhealthy one. An unhealthy competition leads to stress and conflicts, while healthy competition leads to development of the organization.

 

Effective Communication

Communication is how information transmits between the management and employees or between the employees themselves. Employees need to be free with the management in order to approach them when they are having trouble. Good communication has a positive effect on the employee’s job satisfaction. When all their needs are met, they can efficiently perform their duties. This increases job productivity and in turn improves the attitude of the employee. Communication is also important between employees. Employees need to maintain a good relationship with each other in order to communicate efficiently. Respect is an important factor in communication. A good way to implement communication between management and employees is by planning meetings. These meetings should allow employees to ask questions and express their opinion. Management should ask employees for their inputs and suggestions in matters concerning them. This makes them feel more connected to the organization. Good communication leads to cordial relationships that in turn improve employee attitude and job productivity.

 

Cultural Differences

The differences in culture also affect people’s attitude towards work. Different cultures have different values and practices. Some cultures do not allow their employees to work for certain amounts of hours. This may affect performance of an individual if he has to work for more working hours. He/she will develop a negative attitude towards work. In some cultures, individuals are risk takers. They enjoy doing things beyond their capabilities. They attain satisfaction both in life and in work. There is no better motivation to improve their job productivity than this. In others, employees are hardworking. Their attitude towards work is usually a positive one.

 

Conducive Work environment

A positive work environment also improves an employee’s attitude. This depends on other employees, the management of the organization and the available resources. If an organization takes care of their employees by providing all needed resources, then their productivity will improve. Job productivity increases economic and non-economic performance. When the business performs well then the employees are happy. A good performance in the organization develops a positive attitude that improves their individual performance. As long as the employees are happy and performing, job productivity will increase. Job satisfaction improves employee’s relationships with customers and others associated.

 

CONCLUSION:

The duty of management and the employee in improving employee’s attitude is debatable. Some may argue that it is up to the employee to ensure that they attain job satisfaction from their work, as they are the only ones in control of their attitude and performance. It is also possible to say that all the responsibility is entirely that of the management. They decide on the nature of the environment in which the employee works. The management holds the power to control employee salary, off time and promotion. External factors such as the environment, social situations, and culture also affect employee attitude and job satisfaction. A mid way has to be found where both the parties to work on developing employee attitude and increasing the level of satisfaction from the job.

 

REFERENCES:

1.     Bradshaw, L, Employee Attitude and Job Satisfaction, October, 2011, www.customwritings.com

2.     Jagodaarachchi, B, Research Project: Employee Satisfaction, www.academia.edu

3.     Noah, Y and Steve, M, Work Environment and Job Attitude among Employees in a Nigerian Work Organization, Journal of Sustainable Society, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2012

4.     Robbins, Stephen, Organizational Behaviour, Prentice Hall, Edition 14, 2010

5.     Singh, Akankshi and Gupta, R, The Employee Attitude towards Organizational Change, IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences, Vol. 15, Issue 2, Feb. 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

Received on 02.04.2018                Modified on 21.04.2018

Accepted on 29.04.2018           ©A&V Publications All right reserved