Job Enrichment and Job Satisfaction in Greenfield and Redesign QWL Sites

Abstract

QWL programs were introduced at five petrochemical plants in the chemical valley complex in Lambton County, Ontario: three at newly constructed or greenfield sites and two at redesigned, existing sites. A random-sample survey of job enrichment and job satisfaction was conducted among blue-collar workers at each of the QWL sites and at traditional, unchanged petrochemical sites. Comparisons between employees in QWL and traditional sites showed no differences on various aspects of either perceived job enrichment or job satisfaction. However, comparisons between employees at greenfield and redesign sites showed several significant differences. It was concluded that there is greater potential for successful introduction of QWL programs at greenfield sites than at redesign sites and that a job-enrichment ceiling for QWL programs may exist in technologically intensive, continuous process production systems such as at petrochemical plants. Some unanticipated effects of QWL programs were also noted in that employees at redesign sites had lower satisfaction with job security and employees at greenfield sites had lower satisfaction with compensation.