Article Analysis Report: Employee Satisfaction and McJobs in Australia

This report analyzes an article that investigates employee perceptions within the fast-food industry, specifically focusing on the experiences of student workers in Australia. The study, based on a survey, reveals that while employees are often dissatisfied with industrial relations and workplace organization, they tend to have a positive view of human resource management and social aspects of their jobs. The analysis delves into the factors affecting employee motivation, drawing upon Herzberg's two-factor theory, and highlights the impact of cost-minimization practices. The report also addresses key issues such as the challenges of 'McJobs,' employee satisfaction levels, and the implications for human capital development in the fast-food sector. The study emphasizes the need to address issues like poor payment structures, anti-union mentalities, and the monotony of work to improve employee satisfaction and retention within the industry.

RUNNING HEAD: ARTICLE ANALYSIS
Article Analysis
Name of Student:
Name of University:’
Author Note:

1ARTICLE ANALYSIS
Summary:
The authors in the paper researched about the perceptions regarding the fast food job industry
among the employees. It has been identified through much of critical research literature that the
fast food jobs at present is offering some advantages to some employees, particularly the young
generation. The main reason behind this is that the job does not require a huge set of skills or
competencies. The term Mc Jobs itself has become synonymous to the routine service industry
employment in the present days. There are however, literature that focuses on the positive
approach towards this fast food jobs and projects them as a beneficial opportunity or
environment for workplace. Such wide range of perceptions made the researchers of this article
to conduct a practical and real life survey for understanding the point of view of the employees
themselves. The research took the exploratory and interprativism approach of research by
conducting a survey among the students in Australia who works in this fast food industry. the
result of the survey reflected that most of the young students are dissatisfied with their industrial
relations as well as the work place organisation where they are working in. They, however, tend
to have a positive viewpoint about the human resource department of the companies.
The survey however also revealed that most of the employees work in a casual basis and
are not the permanent full time or permanent half time workers. The survey also does not point
out the fact that these employees are finding problems or are dissatisfied regarding their nature of
the job. What dissatisfies them mainly are the other factors, particularly management and
communication factors. The total survey has been done and results are interpreted on the basis of
the determination of the employee and employer experiences in these Mc jobs. Evidences are
also provided that the students are attracted towards the fast food industries for the career

2ARTICLE ANALYSIS
opportunities, the human resource advantages and the scope of earning while learning, but tends
to get disappointed at the monotony of work, the obligations to work in a regular basis, despite
being casual employees often frustrates them. While understanding the industry analysis it was
also found that the owners of these organisations, particularly if it is a MNC, show anti union
mentality. Results also show evidences of employees being working for extra hour without any
extra pay.
Analysis:
The following analysis can be done based on the findings of the research as presented in
the article.
1. the lack of motivation is a negative factor affecting the workforce. Initially the students are
attracted towards the industry because of its dynamism and the scope of earning while learning.
However, the motivational forces has been lacking highly in his sector Primarily, they are
underpaid. the research shows evidences of students working for additional hours are not getting
additional pays. Moreover, there has been no evidences suggesting any kind of recognising
remunerations for the employees. Moreover, most of them stressed on the fact that their
supervisors often try to push them beyond their limitations for doing their duty hurriedly. This
generally creates a sense of frustrations and disgust among the employees.
2. According to Herzberg’s two factor theory of motivation, an employee is motivated not only
by the job he is doing, but it also requires other hygiene factor to have that satisfaction in work
(Chan and Baum 2017.). the employees reported negatively against their industrial relations and
the workplace functions. The hostile attitude towards unions is a pointer of the fact that these
organisations does not value much about the demands and the unification among the employees.

3ARTICLE ANALYSIS
Moreover, the constant hustling for doing better in the job is also perceived as negative that
creates a dissatisfaction towards the job they are doing.
3. The positive attitude towards the HRM and the social aspects of the job is a pointer towards
the fact that this type of job fulfils the employee’s needs of association and self development. the
employees positively reported that this job gave them a scope of developing their capabilities and
their social and communicational competencies. They derive satisfaction from interacting with
their colleagues and the customers (Allan, Bamber. and Timo 2015.).
4. the cost minimisation tendencies often leads to the unhealthy practice of less payments and
illogical deductions that frustrates the employees and lead them to perceive negatively about the
industry. the term Mc Job itself is thus gaining a negative approach of being understood as
something monotonous and low cost.
Main issues and Interpretations:
The main issues that the authors raised in the context of their research are:
1. Mc Jobs- with different views about the problems as well as the privileges of the Mc Jobs, the
authors focused on the issues of employee satisfaction in this fast food industry. it has been
identified by the author that with the changing nature of food habit and life style of the
Australians, the consumptions of fast foods has increased and thus these food joints are gaining
popularity along with providing work opportunities for the youth. However, the author raised the
issue of cost minimisation approach of the firms and the poor inter personal relation on part of
the employers that has led the employees perceive negatively about the industry. Because of the
attitudes and poor payment structure, such jobs are seen as low cost and low prestige. Perhaps

4ARTICLE ANALYSIS
this may be one of the reasons that there are mainly the casual workers than any permanent
workers (Jones, Corbin and Fromm 2011.).
2. The employee satisfaction- the extent to which the employees are satisfied at the nature of
their work and at the industrial performance was raised by the authors. They interpreted that the
hygiene factors or the expectancy factors are highly impacted in the business and thus there is a
lack of motivation among the employees. They were however, satisfied with the nature of social
exposure they are getting.
Reflection:
In their approach, the authors have been considerably practical and systematic. This gives
a convincing picture of the whole experiment. The paper however considers only the employees
of a particular nation and thus considering it universal may not be correct. On the other hand, it
can be said that the parameters of employee satisfaction is more or less same throughout and thus
the recruiters irrespective of nationality can consider this research as a guideline.

5ARTICLE ANALYSIS
Reference List:
Allan, C., Bamber, G.J. and Timo, N., 2015. 'McJobs', student attitudes to work and employment
relations in the fast-food industry. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 12(1), pp.1-
12.
Chan, J.K.L. and Baum, T., 2017. Determination of satisfiers and dissatisfiers using herzberg's
motivator and hygiene factor theory: An exploratory study. Tourism Culture & Communication,
7(2), pp.117-131.
Jones, B.T., Corbin, W. and Fromme, K., 2011. A review of expectancy theory and alcohol
consumption. Addiction, 96(1), pp.57-72.
Bibliography:
Allan, C., Bamber, G.J. and Timo, N., 2006. Fast‐food work: are McJobs satisfying?. Employee
Relations.