Hertzberg’s theory and why it’s relevant.

What do the employees at the work expect? Just the salary and a promotion? Or do they need something else as well? This question can have various answers as everyone’s preferences and choices are different but there are a few common needs that every human, especially a working human demands as well as deserves. These factors are listed down by Fredrick Hertzberg in his theory.

According to the theory laid down by Hertzberg, the employees can face 4 things, satisfaction, no satisfaction, dissatisfaction and no dissatisfaction. These 4 are divided into 2 factors, hygiene factors and motivational factors. Let’s break these two down to understand them clearly.

Dissatisfaction and no dissatisfaction come under hygiene factors. Every workplace needs some basic physiological needs that need to be fulfilled. These needs are not big or demanding in any way. Needs like a clean environment, proper ventilation, reasonable and timely pay, proper working equipment, job security, etc are the most basic ones that any company can offer. If the company fulfil these needs then the employee will not be dissatisfied and not be satisfied as well because these are the things that they deserve and the company is not offering them anything extra. But if these basic needs aren’t fulfilled then that leads to dissatisfaction.

Satisfaction and no satisfaction come under motivational factors. Unlike hygienic factors, there are more about encouraging the employees by providing them something extra other than the basic needs. These include recognition, awarding them with extra points when they work well, increments, trainings, opportunities for growth, new and exciting challenges, etc. These things encourage the employees to work harder and also creates a sense of loyalty towards the company. If these things are provided then the employee will be satisfied and if not, he/she won’t. But that doesn’t mean that the employee will feel any dissatisfaction as they have already been provided with the basic hygienic factors that they need to work.

Hertzberg theory is highly relevant as a lot of companies even today function with this. The companies try and provide the motivational factors to the employees along with the hygienic ones in order to keep them mentally happy and satisfied. Employees are the backbone of any company and keeping them at ease will only benefit the company in a longer run.