This article is based on a survey of employees of eight major public agencies in the State of Texas. The purposes of the survey were to examine the range and distribution of professional employees in public employment, and to assess their personal characteristics and occupational attitudes. Among the conclusions of the research are that the public workforce is characterized by tremendous occupational diversity, that this heterogeneity contributes to motivational problems among public employees, and that the public "work ethic" appears to be eroding. The author analyzes these conclusions in terms of their significance to the personnel function.
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