Satisfying needs through employment
Yvonne Harvey, Contributor

This lesson is designed to help students discuss the personal needs that are satisfied through employment. These include economic, social, psychological and physiological needs.

I am sure you will agree that most people spend a large portion of their time at work. It is obvious, therefore, that they must get some amount of satisfaction from their jobs. What constitutes job satisfaction?

Many of 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 make them satisfied with their jobs.

Primary needs satisfied through work

These needs may be regarded as the rewards of work and, ultimately, they result in people choosing to work rather than staying at home. Economic needs result in people requiring work to get money to be able to sustain themselves. Money is needed for food, clothing, shelter, bill payments. It is also a means of acquiring material possessions and power.

Social needs are fulfilled for many people when they are able to socialise with their colleagues during, before and after working hours. They often join clubs, societies and other groups, for example, sports clubs, as a means of fostering the kind of interaction that they desire. Through socialisation, people often learn to do things that they could not do before and this makes their job satisfying. Communication at the workplace keeps many people 'alive'.

A third reason that people work is to fulfill their psychological needs. Work allows them to exercise their talents and, especially if the work is challenging, they will feel a sense of pride with the end result. When people achieve their actual potential, their desire to work grows even stronger.

As a result of physiological needs, 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.

Please work on this question related to the information from 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 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 three of the syllabus: establishing a business. Have a good week.

Clothing and textile is one of the practical subjects offered at some high schools. Here, students of Ascot High School base the material they will later stitch. - Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer

Yvonne Harvey teaches at Glenmuir High School.