The Impact of Job Satisfaction, Job Attitude and Equity On Employee Performance
The Impact of Job Satisfaction, Job Attitude and Equity On Employee Performance
The Impact of Job Satisfaction, Job Attitude and Equity On Employee Performance
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Abstract:
Studies conducted in the past related to employee performance adopts few variables in their studies, for instance, many
studies concentrate on job satisfaction and performance while ignoring other important aspect like job attitude and equity.
Therefore study adopts the combination of job satisfaction, job attitude and equity as the independent variable to employee
performance from previous empirical and theoretical studies. The study seeks to come up with a conceptual framework that
will serve as a basis for understanding how job satisfaction, job attitude and equity influence performance of employees in
the workplace. Based on the reviewed literature, the study concludes that there is a positive relationship between job
satisfactions, job attitude, and equity in the performance of an employee an organization.
Keywords: Employee performance, job satisfaction, job attitude, equity and organization
1. Introduction
Employee performance has always been a major challenge in organizational management. Adopting effective ways to motivate
employees to achieve and deliver higher job performance as well as increase the organizational competitiveness is the main objective
of every business organization (Lee & Wu, 2011). Employee performance is instrumental to organizational growth and profitability.
The employees are regarded as the major business resources that facilitate the daily activities and operations of an organization
(Mudah, Rafiki & harahap, 2014). Similarly, Omolayo, &Oluwafemi, (2012) asserted that organizational effectiveness and efficiency
depends on how effective and efficient the employees in the organization are. In order to achieve higher employee’s performance,
effective motivational tools should be adopted by managers of organizations as the performance of employees determine the level of
organizational performance in general.
Understanding the level of employee satisfaction and attitude towards their assigned tasks and responsibilities as well as the level of
fairness and equity between them will help managers of organization in carrying out their collective responsibilities more effectively.
Job satisfaction is seen as a combination of positive or negative feelings that workers have towards their work, when an individual is
employed in a business organization, the employee brings with it the needs, desires and experiences which determine expectations that
he has dismissed. Job satisfaction represents the extent to which expectations are and match the real awards (Aziri, 2011).
In most cases today most employees feel less satisfied with their jobs which result of poor job attitude, thereby affecting the overall
performance of the organization. Those who perceive justice in their organization are more likely to feel satisfied with their job and
feel less likely to leave and feel more committed to their job (Arti, Kuldeep& Ekta, 2009).
However, such dissatisfaction and poor attitude may be as a result of a feeling of inequity among the employees. This therefore
implies that employee’s performance can be determined by level of employee satisfaction on the job which will serve as a catalyst on
the employee attitude resulting to equity and fairness. According to (Vandenabeele, (2009) positive emotions such as a feeling of
satisfaction would bring about higher performance, especially when regarding performance as being broader than simple task
performance. It's also pertinent to note that good pay package conducive working environment and equal level playing ground among
employees can bring about a positive job attitude and their combination will also determine the performance of employees in their
workplace.
This study, however, seeks to identify the relationship between job satisfactions, job attitude, and equity on employee performance,
thereby emphasizing on their respective significance and influence on employee performance.
2. Literature review
performance must be analysed critically by the organizations for them to succeed (Abbas &Yaqoob, 2009). Also, Wu &Lee, (2011),
defined job performance as employees’ overall performance in meeting the expected quality and achievement of tasks under the policy
and time requirements of the organization. Similarly Liao, Lu, Huang & Chiang (2012), define job performance as the benchmark for
promotions, redundancy, rewards, punishments, reviews and salary adjustments. Ahmad &Shahzad (2011), also argue that employee
performance represents the general belief of the employees about their behaviour and contributions towards the success of the
organization.
Anitha (2013) defines employee performance as an indicator of financial or non-financial outcome of the employee that has a direct
relationship with the performance of the organization and its success and further mentioned working environment, leadership, team
and co-worker relationship, training and career development, compensation programme, policies and procedures and workplace
wellbeing as well as employee engagement are major factors that determine employee performance. However, a study conducted by
Alagaraja1 & Shuck (2015), aimed to explore existing perspectives of organizational alignment and employee engagement in order to
understand factors associated with enhancing individual performance argue that employee performance can be enhanced through
training and development.
Based on the above the above definitions therefore, employee performance can be referred to as the extent in which an employee carry
out assigned duties and responsibilities. It entails the level of efficiency and effectiveness of an employee towards accomplishing
assigned task.
Furthermore, Thomas & Feldman, (2010) adopted measures of employee performance as core task performance, which includes in-
role performance, safety performance, and creativity, followed by citizenship performance, categorized into both targets-specific and
general organizational citizenship behaviours and lastly, counterproductive performance that consists of general counterproductive
work behaviours, workplace aggression, substance use, tardiness, and absenteeism.
Moreover, employee performance brings about innovation performance and firm performance as a whole, in such a way successful
effort of satisfied, motivated, and committed human resources generate innovative ideas for new products or services and improve
quality performance, operating performances, and customer satisfaction directly (Sadikoglu & Zehi2010).
Employee performance is, therefore, paramount in order to achieve organizational objective. The employee needs to be motivated
accordingly in such a way that it will bring about higher satisfaction thereby enhancing employee and organizational productivity.
or otherwise. Such traits, as well, can serve as factors to predict attitudes and behaviours of the people within these organizations
(George & Jayan, 2013).
Liao et-al, (2012) define job attitude as be a set of attitude and thoughts toward work, and such attitudes and thoughts are reflected in
the form of work involvement and organizational commitment. Based on this definition, therefore job attitude can be viewed as
actions and inactions of employee towards their work. Josephat & Ismail, (2012) in a study aimed at measuring job and work attitude
of an employee in an organization, found that there are five factors which influence employee job and work attitude. These are
satisfaction, independence, teamwork, freedom of expression and supervisory relationship.
However, in a study conducted by Liao et-al, (2012) aims to explore whether there was a significant correlation between work
values, work attitude and job performance with the moderating role of leadership of employees in the green industry in Taiwan finds
out that work attitude of employees in the green energy industry has a mediating effect on their work values and job performance.
Moreover, Pandey, Soodan, & Jamwal (2014) in an attempt to explore employee’s attitude towards job related factors in rural
intervention organizations in India finds out that there is a significant relation of employee productivity and factors which are related
to the job. A positive attitude strengthens employee performance, thereby encouraging creativity and productivity. Therefore, if
employees have more positive attitudes to the organization their productivity rises and, everything else being equal, the organization
will be more resourceful and effective (George & Jayan 2012).
Based on the above literature, one can therefore, assert that job attitude consist of a certain behaviour or action which employee
portrays in regards to his/her job and such action or behaviour may have an influence how such employee carry out assigned
responsibility thereby determining the performance of the employee.
Therefore, expectancy theory supports the assertion that the employee performs based on an expected outcome and depending on the
outcome of such performance, the level of job satisfaction is determined. This implies that if an employee performance and expected
result, it will enhance his/her job satisfaction, thereby increasing the level of performance of an employee. Also, as mentioned
employee effort on the job determine performance and in such situation the employee expects a reward from the organization which
will determine the level of satisfaction. By implication higher rewards result in higher job satisfaction and increased performance
level, whereas lower rewards demoralises an employee, thereby resulting to job dissatisfaction which will bring about decreased
performance.
The level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction derived from a particular job also has a great influence on employee behaviour. This implies
that employees whose effort and performance meet their expected reward may tend to have a higher job satisfaction and positive job
attitude, on the other hand employees whose effort and performance does not meet their expected reward, develop a negative
behaviour which can hinder their performance.
Furthermore, empirical studies conducted by (Vandenabeele, (2009), conclude that there is positive relationship between job
satisfaction and employee performance. Aidla, (2011), in an empirical paper aimed at finding out how inequity influence behaviour
suggests that there is a positive relationship between equityand employee performance. Another study conducted by Liao et-al, (2012)
using an empirical approach also finds out that there is a positive relationship between job attitude and employee performance.
Based on the above theory and empirical studies conducted, the preposition of the study is thus presented below.
Preposition 1: There is a positive relationship between job satisfaction and employee performance.
Preposition 2: There is a positive relationship between job attitude and employee performance.
Preposition 3: There is a positive relationship between equity and employee performance.
Job Satisfaction
Employee
Job attitude performance
Equity
Figure 1
Source: (Vandenabeele (2009), Aidla (2011) & Liao et-al (2012)
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