HUMAN SIDE OF WORK

The many changes in today's world of work are attributed to two reasons: top management's recognition that what employees do on the job carries a high cost; and today's work force is markedly different from yesterday's. For today's work force, self-fulfillment takes first place. The results of studies show a decline in job satisfaction nationwide since 1973. The major findings of a Quality of Employment Survey by the University of Michigan are listed. Some work improvement experiments undertaken in the 1970's and briefly outlined. There is a clear belief that there is a need and desire for more participation. It is also recognized that effective innovation produces both economic benefits for the organization and human benefits for its employees. New approaches, that involve shift from reward-and-punishment systems to approaches that encourage doing a job well and take into account individual preferences, learning curves and motivations, might sometimes be justified.