A Comparison of the Quality of Work Experience in Government and Private Organizations

Abstract

A total of 5979 employees from a number of Australian government and private sector organizations participated in a survey measuring the quality of their work experience. This article examines the differences found between government and private sector employees' ratings of their work experience. The results of this study indicate that the government employees rate the quality of their work experience significantly below the level of their private sector counterparts. The most significant difference in the ratings was between high status government vs. high status private employees, with high status private employees rating their work experience well above the equivalent government group. An association was also found between the type of organization and employees' motivation for work. People working in public organizations were motivated more by factors such as providing a service or product that helps other people or self-development/self-fulfillment than private sector employees. Those in private organizations were motivated more by extrinsic factors such as money in order to obtain an enjoyable and pleasurable life. High status government employees were more intrinsically oriented than all other occupational groups. The lower rating of government employees' work experience may be related to the lack of fulfilling intrinsic factors in their work situations. The results of this study are similar to the results of previous studies which have compared work satisfaction in government vs. private organizations. The results suggest the need for well planned and coordinated organizational development programs in government departments.