An exploratory study of pay satisfaction among public sector employees in Jordan

• Published date: 01 May 2020
• Author: Seif Nasser Athamneh
• Date: 01 May 2020
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2013

ACADEMIC PAPER

An exploratory study of pay satisfaction among public sector

employees in Jordan

Seif Nasser Athamneh

Department of Public Administration, Yarmouk

University, Irbid, Jordan

Correspondence

Seif Nasser Athamneh, Department of Public

Administration, Yarmouk University, Irbid,

Jordan.

Email: seif.athamneh@yu.edu.jo

Pay satisfaction is regarded as an important factor in promoting organizational

productivity based on its motivational factor. Accordingly, this research sought to

explore pay satisfaction in the Jordanian public sector with an objective of esta-

blishing the level of satisfaction among employees. The inquiry is based on the

Pay Satisfaction Questionnaire developed by a previous study. Using weighted

averages for the analysis of data, this research establishes that the pay satisfac-

tion of the Jordanian public sector employees is relatively low and that

employees are less than satisfied with the various pay aspects queried including

pay level, benefits, pay raise, and pay structure and administration. This has the

implication that the low productivity in the public sector could be as a result of

lack of staff motivation due to low pay. The research determines that in average,

the 210 participated employees were least satisfied with pay structure and

administration, whereas the other factors, namely, benefits, pay raise, and pay

structure/administration, achieved an average score.

1|INTRODUCTION

Pay satisfaction remains among the most imperative factors in

enhancing productivity, given that it directly influences employee

motivation. This insinuates that when employees are satisfied with

their remuneration, benefits, pay structure and administration among

other factors affecting pay satisfaction, they are more likely to per-

form better and contribute to the organization's bottom line (Currall,

Towler, Judge, & Kohn, 2005). Pay is an extrinsic motivator that is not

only important in ensuring that individuals can cater for their basic

needs but which also providing the satisfaction that they are being

adequately compensated for their efforts (Goetz et al., 2012). Accord-

ingly, pay dissatisfaction could be detrimental to organizational satis-

faction because of its impact on employee motivation. In this relation,

employee satisfaction with pay has gained increased importance in

management and as an area of study (Currall, 2005). Pay satisfaction

plays a major role in employees' affective reactions to their work, and

this has led to intensive research on the area.

This paper is an exploratory study of pay satisfaction of Jorda-

nian public sector employees. It seeks to determine the level of

satisfaction among public sector employees, how it impacts their

performance and suggested actions for improvement. Pay satisfac-

tion is a multipronged aspect that not only encompasses the level

of pay and benefits but which also includes other factors that may

influence satisfaction such as the pay and structure/administration

among others. These factors are explored in this research paper,

with an aim of establishing the level of satisfaction among

employees in Jordan's public sector.

2|BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

As a subject that elicits considerable sentiments among employees,

pay satisfaction has been increasingly studied as a strategy for

enhancing employee performance (Currall, Towler, Judge, & Kohn,

2005). This is based on the premise that employees are likely to be

more productive if they are sufficiently compensated for what they

do. In this relation, it has been suggested that the performance of the

public sector could be enhanced through improvement and standardi-

zation of the pay structure.

Jordan through the ratification of the Equal Remuneration Con-

vention in 1966 sets precedence for its commitment towards pay

Received: 21 May 2019 Revised: 28 July 2019 Accepted: 27 August 2019

DOI: 10.1002/pa.2013

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https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2013