Influence of Work Ergonomics on Job Satisfaction
There has been a trend towards re configuring the spaces of the workplaces in new ways and models by the corporate associations and organizations. The move towards more adaptable work environment and the need to meet the various developing desires and prerequisites of employees has prompted to the ascent of civil arguments about how to improve job satisfaction. Work ergonomics has been recommended by many studies (Ikonne, 2014), (Juul, 2005)as one of the key guides to equipping employees at the workplace to help increase the job satisfaction. Ergonomic intervention has improved the level of job satisfaction and employee retention. As the amount of time employees spend at their desks increases, the musculoskeletal discomfort and other health issues associated with the office environment also get increased. Although good ergonomic designs have shown to improve employee well-being, satisfaction and productivity, in many cases move towards the change in workstation design occurs only after complaints were logged. (Miles, 2000).
Rationale and significance of the study
The results of neglecting ergonomic principles in the designing of equipment and workstations at the workplace on job satisfaction are decrease in performance and production. Along with the reduction of performance, numerous health effects might result from poor ergonomics. Many studies (Roelofsen, 2002) (Ikonne, 2014) (Marras & Karwowski, 2006) (Miles, 2000) (Leblebici, 2012) recommended that there should be a collaboration between the top management and human resource management in introducing and implementing ergonomic measures that would involve the set-up of adequate and healthy workstation equipment.
Work ergonomic measures would allow the employee to adopt optimal working postures suitable for a greater job satisfaction of the organizational workforce and expected higher job performance and organizational success. Therefore, by designing work systems according to ergonomics principles, we can get a desirable quality and an increase in job satisfaction for employees as an internal customer. (Roelofsen, 2002) (Lee, 2005) (Waldemar, 2001)
Business executives are under the misconception that the level of employee performance on the job is proportional to the size of employee’s compensation and benefits packages (Morse, 2014). Although these benefit packages are one of the extrinsic motivational tools, it has a limited short period effect on employee’s performance (Morse, 2014). An elegant and functional workplace design often culminates in improved employee efficiency and productivity which ultimately leads to an increase in job satisfaction (Ikonne, 2014). A widely accepted assumption is that better workplace environmental designs motivate employees and produce better results. (Leblebici, 2012) Many factors affecting satisfaction rise from the physical strains of the job or communication issues (Rowe, 1987). Ergonomic designs can help reduce or eliminate physical strains. This will in turn influence the employee satisfaction because of its contributions to employee health and safety. It has been proven that healthy people are capable of performing and working better. (Marras & Karwowski, 2006)
Concept of Job satisfaction
Job satisfaction is defined as the level of contentment that an employee feels from an assigned task. Employee satisfaction is very important as it may be linked to motivation and capacity of employees. (Stephen & Timothy, Organizational Behavior, 2012).Studies showed that job satisfaction can be influenced by organization’s concern about their employees. Employee satisfaction can be influenced by the ability to complete required tasks. (Brief & Weiss, 2002), (Stahl, 2001)
Concept of Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the scientific discipline that is concerned with the understanding of interactions between humans and other elements of a system. It is a profession that applies theory, principles, and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and improve employee satisfaction levels in concern with their respective jobs. Ergonomics takes into consideration both productivity and human aspects. (Marras & Karwowski, 2006) (Ikonne, 2014)
The concept of Work Ergonomics
Office/work ergonomics is a branch which specifically deals with the physical work environment. (Marras & Karwowski, 2006) It primarily concerns the study of human physical and perceptual characteristics and the application of these data to the design of controls, displays, seating, workstations and related workspace arrangements. Secondly, it concerns the effects of various physical environmental factors, such as illumination, heat, cold, noise and vibration, on human performance, and the application of these data to the design of physical environments for people. Office ergonomics has been recommended by many studies (Meister, 1999) (Lee, 2005) (Waldemar, 2001) as one of the key guides to equip at the workplace to help in improving the health and comfort of employees which leads to better satisfaction. In simple words, ergonomics is the science of work and it’s about fitting the work environment to the worker. Work ergonomics is a science that utilizes a widespread and multidisciplinary approach towards an improvement of employee’s health and welfare.
The main objective of work ergonomics is to improve the overall efficiency by improving the interaction between humans and all other parts of the system. Human factors and work ergonomics strive to design equipment to minimize the human limitations and increase the human capabilities in relation to work. Work ergonomics aims to set up office workspace that fits and adequately supports the needs of the employee in his quest to perform a task. It focuses on how employee cabins and offices are designed and laid out also includes furniture and equipment that are set up in the workplace. In addition, ergonomics takes into consideration the impact of other workplace elements such as air quality, noise levels, color schemes, work postures, room temperature, lighting, general flexibility on employee performance. From the organization perspective, the satisfaction and performance of an employee is often assessed largely by the output that employee produces, given the requisite workplace environment, tools, technology, skill set among others etc. (Juul, 2005)
Studies (Ikonne, 2014) (Lee, 2005) (Kroemer & Kroemer, 2001) (Meister, 1999) have revealed that among some of the factors that affect employee’s job satisfaction are: employee’s ability to learn and perform the task required, expectations to achieve, knowledge and skills necessary to perform the job, acceptable working conditions and equipment to perform the job effectively, incentives in place that positively reinforce good performance.
Relationship between Job Satisfaction and Ergonomics
Work ergonomics plays a key role in reducing risk factors in terms of health. Inefficient and improper workplace arrangements can cause adverse effects to human health like musculoskeletal problems, major and minor health issues. Using proper guidelines while designing the workstation according to work ergonomics can reduce the health issues and can increase the productivity and improve the quality of performance which will lead to job satisfaction indirectly. Studies (Ikonne, 2014) (Juul, 2005) have shown that the most efficient work ergonomics designs identify low-cost solutions that yield substantial benefits. These benefits are seen in the reduction of injuries, employee’s compensation costs, and absenteeism.
Benefits are also seen in improved employee morale and quality of work life. It is a known fact that employee will be the ultimate user of the workplace environment, it is, therefore, imperative that workplace is designed and equipped to suit the needs of employees. The right use of equipment and a well-designed workstation will inspire the employees that work in them (Lee, 2005). According to few studies (Marras & Karwowski, 2006) (Leblebici, 2012) in most of the advanced countries work ergonomics is used to attract, retain the competent employees that further stimulate their performance and also job satisfaction. Few studies (Ikonne, 2014) (Brief & Weiss, 2002) (Kroemer & Kroemer, 2001) (Miles, 2000) have revealed that suitable workstation and equipment designs, as well as condition of work posture, are aspects of ergonomic factors that contributed significantly in attaining a higher level of job satisfaction for the employees who spend long hours in front of computer screens.
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