One Size Does Not Fit All: Matching the Reward to the Employee's Motivational Needs. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: French, P. Edward; Emerson, Melissa C.
• Is Part Of: Review of public personnel administration. Volume 35:Number 1(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 82
• Page End: 94
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: public service motivation -- reward preference -- local government; Civil service -- United States -- Personnel management -- Periodicals; Civil service -- United States -- States -- Personnel management -- Periodicals; 352.6
• DOI: 10.1177/0734371X13504118
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0734-371X

Abstract

Numerous research articles have evaluated the reward preference of public sector employees in terms of the public service motivation (PSM) construct. However, very little research has been done on whether differences in reward preferences exist within a particular sector at the local government level. This research aims to fill this gap by reevaluating the importance of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards to employees in local government as several changes in workforce composition, economic conditions, performance, and accountability have challenged traditional public management approaches and techniques. A case study comprising survey responses from 272 employees of a local government in Mississippi provides data for the analyses. Results reveal that both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards are important to these individuals in their current positions, and these preferences vary due to demographic variables, the employee's position within the organization, and the individual's level of PSM.