Importance of the key characteristics of work in the satisfaction with rewards

Abstract

The objective of this research is to analyse the influence of the key characteristics of work on satisfaction with the rewards, at two distinct points in time - around a decade apart - in the same organisation. There were 258 participants in the study in 1996 and 142 in 2007; they completed the same questionnaire in the same public organisation, which acted as a service-provider. In 1996, variety in the work and the feedback from superiors had a statistically significant direct and positive effect on prediction of the contentment with rewards and the significance of the work had a negative effect. At the second point of analysis, around 10 years later, only the feedback from superiors had a statistically significant, direct and positive effect. Since leadership practices have an impact on worker contentment with rewards, it is suggested that, besides remuneration policies, plans be drawn up to provide managers with training on feedback, to increase effective communication between supervisors and workers.