The needs satisfied through employment
GOOD DAY, everyone. The specific objective of this lesson is that you should be able to discuss the personal needs that are satisfied through employment. The needs that will be considered are economic, social, psychological and physiological needs.
I am sure you will agree that most people spend a large percentage of their time at work. It is obvious, therefore, that they must get some amount of satisfaction from their jobs. What constitutes job satisfaction?
Like many, you may respond that a job that pays well is satisfying. You may, therefore, regard the need for money to be the chief need that is satisfied through work. It is true that for many persons the main reward of work is money. However, this factor may not be important to some who may have other dominant factors that make their work satisfying. Often, it is a combination of factors that causes people to work, and that makes them satisfied with their jobs.
We will now consider the main needs that are satisfied through work. These needs may be perceived as the rewards of work and, ultimately, they result in people wanting to work rather than staying at home.
First of all, we have the economic needs. Here we look at the fact that people work to get money so as to be able to sustain themselves. Money is needed for food, clothing, shelter, bill payments, etc. It is also a means of acquiring material possessions and power.
Second, we have the social needs. For many, the main reward of work is that it enables them to socialise with their colleagues during, before and after working hours. They often join clubs, societies and other social groups, for example, sports clubs, as a means of fostering the kind of interaction that they desire. Through socialization, people often learn to do things that they could not do before, and this makes their job satisfying. Through communication at the workplace, many persons are kept ‘alive’.
The third reason why people work is to fulfil the psychological needs. Work allows many people to exercise their talents, and especially if the work is challenging, they will feel proud of the end result. When people achieve their actual potential, they will feel self-fulfillment and the desire to work will be even stronger.
Finally, we have the physiological needs. Here, work is seen as a means of keeping the worker fit and active. Many old-age pensioners continue to work after they have reached the age of retirement for this very reason. Work provides a means of getting rid of boredom and many housewives choose to go out to work for this particular reward. Now, work on this question related to the information in this lesson.
The production manager of De Valt Beverages Limited observed that some employees never accepted the company’s offer to work overtime for twice the rate of normal hours. A few others, however, were always requesting overtime work. Mr Bunker, who works in another department, donated most of his pay to charity. (a) (i) List three major needs that are satisfied through work. (3 marks) (ii) For each need listed in (a) (i) above, discuss what management can do to help workers to realise some needs. (6 marks) (b) Suggest, giving reasons in each case, what needs seem to be critical for: (i) Employees who always requested overtime work. (ii) Employees who never accepted overtime work. (iii) Mr Bunker, who donated most of his pay to charity (9 marks) (c) Indicate the type of incentive that might motivate Mr Bunker to work harder, giving a reason for your answer. (2 marks) Total marks: 20 Which need or needs would cause you to want to work? Think about it. Next week, we will begin Section 3 of the syllabus. Have a good week.