Understanding Why People Work - Factors that Motivate Employees

This report covers analysis about various factors which motivate a person to work. It explains the meaning of motivation, Maslow's Hierarchy Theory, extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, and various factors which motivate employees to work. It also covers positive and negative factors employees experience as a result of their job roles. Subject: Human Resource Management, Course Code: HRM101, College/University: Not mentioned.

Understanding Why
People Work

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................4
Meaning of motivation?...................................................................................................................4
Various factors which motivate employees to work........................................................................6
Positive factors employees experience as a result of their job roles................................................6
Negative factors employees experience as a result of their job roles..............................................7
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
People are not only work for earning money but also for their independence and growth.
It boost their confidence level and provide them opportunity to enhance their skills. When an
individual work in a professional manner then it gives them opportunity to learn new things,
skills and also gives them a chance to make new friends. One of the reason to remain working is
that it gives opportunity to an individual to become part of communities. Existence of job is not
only benefit for an individual but it also helps another individual as well. This report covers
analysis about various factors which motivate a person to work. This research covers analysis
about positive and negative factors employees experience as a result of their job roles
Meaning of motivation
Motivation: Motivation refers to the process that guides, initiates and maintain goal
oriented behaviours. Motivation also involves certain factors which include biological, cognitive
forces, social and emotional that activate behaviour. Motivation is a term which is frequently
used to describe about the reason of why people does some particular actions. Motivation act as a
driving force behind human actions. Motivation not only refers to factor which activate
behaviours but it also involves the factors which direct and maintain goal-oriented actions.
Maslow's Hierarchy Theory
Maslow introduced this concept for first time in his paper named as “A Theory of Human
Motivation” in year of 1943. People are more motivated towards fulfilling its basic needs before
moving on to other as per the hierarchy. Maslow's different needs has been defined into
following manner:
Physiological needs: Under this head, the basic physiological needs includes those things that
are important to an individual survival. Some examples of physiological needs include food,
water, breathing etc. There are also some other basic requirements of nutrition, air and
temperature regulation. The physiological needs also include certain things such as shelter and
clothing. With respect to employer, these needs can be fulfilled in this manner that by providing
a positive place to work, regular monthly salary, comfortable working environment to their
employees so that they can properly show their full potential within the workplace.

Security and Safety needs: Under this head, when it moves to the second level of hierarchy
after satisfaction of psychological needs safety needs are more important to satisfy. There are
people in life who want some predictability and control which can be fulfilled by family, society
and organisation. People also want security in terms of their job so that it brings stability in their
life. These needs can be fulfilled in this manner that employer needs to ensure their employees
about their safety by providing job security, physical health and protection for private property.
Social Needs: Under this head, it is those kind of needs in Maslow's Hierarchy which include
such things such as love, acceptance and belonging. Human behaviour drives by the need for
emotional relationships at this level. There are some things that satisfy needs which include
friendships, family, social groups, community groups and religious organisations. These needs
can be fulfilled in this manner that companies host social activities and offer various kinds of
opportunities for relationship building outside the office. Through these ways chances of
employee engagement has also been increased.
Esteem Needs: At this level under maslow's hierarchy it is the need for appreciation and respect.
Esteem needs are another important needs which is required by a person and which includes self
of a person, accomplishment and respect. This can be categorised into two criteria's which
includes esteem for oneself and esteem for reputation. With respect to employee, by offering
appreciation and recognition on daily basis for the tasks employees are doing positively impact
esteem, even in the case of struggling time period.
Self-actualisation: Maslow has explained this level which refers to the need people have to
achieve their full potential as human beings. Self-actualisation has been defined in a manner that
it is the full use and exploitation of talents, potentialities and capabilities etc. Under this head,
supervisors need to focus on skills and abilities and also help employees for purpose of
advancing their career without pushing them in those roles that are not beneficial according to
their personality. An individual needs to feel challenged at workplace but not overwhelmed for
feeling self-actualized.

Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation
Extrinsic Motivation: It is that kind of motivation which is driven by external rewards.
These rewards considered under tangible criteria which include money and intangible are praise
or fame. Extrinsic motivation is that kind of motivation in which a person indulges themselves in
activities for purpose of earning rewards to avoid punishments. Under this type of motivation, an
individual is motivated towards performing a task.
Intrinsic Motivation: Intrinsic motivation is that kind of motivation where actions have been
performed without any obvious external rewards. It is that kind of motivation which refers to a
person who engages in behaviour or activity when they find it interesting. In this situation, a
person is performing activities for purpose of their own interests or satisfaction instead of
external rewards.
Various factors which motivate employees to work
To work in an organisation it is important that there should be motivation among
employees so that they are motivated towards performing their task for purpose of earning
rewards. There are various factors which motivate an employee to work which has been
described into following manner:
Salary: It refers to a fixed payment which an individual receives in exchange of work done
within an organisation. This factor is considered as an important factor for providing financial
stability to an individual.
Promotion: Promotion is also one of the factor which motivates an individual to work.
Promotion act as a strong parameter in terms of getting promotion as well as provides an
opportunity to learn new concepts. Under this parameter, an individual gets lots of
responsibilities and also gives them a higher level of confidence. When an individuals gets
promoted then they receives respect and prestige from employees working under them.
Work Environment: Work environment refers to that kind of surrounding which provides
employees with positive approach within the workplace. It creates positive as well as negative
impact on performance of employees. Working environment is an important factor which
motivates an employee towards their work. Positive working environment results into
engagement of employees and also allows them to develop new skills and takes responsibility
whereas negative environment leads towards employee turnover into an organisation.

Under positive working environment, employees are willingly ready to work for attainment of
business goals.
Positive and negative factors employees experience as a result of their job roles
There are number of factors which are experienced by employees as a result of their job
roles. These factors encourage and engages them towards their work and also increases job
satisfaction into professional manner. There are some factors faced by an individual as a result of
their job role which has been described into following manner:
Good relationship with colleagues: Good relationship with employees and colleagues is also
one of positive factor which is experienced by employees while working in an organisation.
Relationship with employees plays a very important role as they need someone with who they
can communicate in free manner. For purpose of attainment of goals, it is important to maintain
good relationship with each and every employee within an organisation. Good relationship helps
employees to be comfortable in working environment and focus on work in an appropriate
manner.
Learning and career development: Learning and career development is another factor which is
experienced by an employee in the workplace. This parameter helps employees to develop and
learn new skills like motivation, leadership, team work, communication and listening etc. An
individual always wants to work in such an environment where he or she gets opportunity to
develop themselves in a more capable and efficient manner.
Job Security: Job security is another factor which is experienced by an individual that makes
them satisfied. It is a kind of assurance which is given by an organisation to their employees in
terms of their job for the unpredictable future. In this way, it helps company to make employees
satisfied with job and allows them to work for period of time in the business.
Negative factors employees experience as a result of their job roles
There are various negative factors which employees experience as a result of their job roles
Workplace conflict: It is difficult to avoid workplace conflicts because there are different kinds
of people who belongs from different religion, styles and background and they work together for
attainment of goals. These conflicts are important to manage and needs to be resolved within a
time frame so that it will not impact the performance of business.

Negative working environment: It is also one of the factor which is experienced by an
individual from their job role. Negative environment creates hindrance in achieving daily tasks
of employees and also creates problems in terms of focus related to their work. These deviations
include gossips, workplace conflicts and politics. So, in this type of situation it is difficult for
employees to concentrate on work which reduces the overall productivity as well.
Poor Management: Poor management creates impact on morale of employees and productivity
of an individual as well. It also results into work place conflict and related stress which does not
allow people to communicate in an effective manner.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from above report that people are working into an organisation due
to various reasons as they want stability and control in their life. There are different factors
which motivate them to work towards their daily tasks. These factors include salary as it
provides financial stability to an individual. Promotion is also another factor which leads towards
further career growth and development and also engages them towards their work. With respect
to their job role employees have experienced various kinds of positive and negative factors such
as job security, relationship with colleagues etc. So it's really important for an individual to
remain continuous in a working environment so that they can grow themselves into positive
manner.

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