Employees' Perception of Group Job Satisfaction

Abstract

Utilizing the interview method of job satisfaction, the survey was conducted within a communications firm. As part of the survey employees from seven departments were asked to indicate their over-all job satisfaction and their estimates of the job satisfaction of their co-workers. For the entire sample of 136 employees a significant underestimation of co-workers' satisfaction was indicated. Six of the seven departments showed a significant underestimation while the remaining one, although nonsignificant, was in the same direction. Results are discussed in terms of differences in attributional processes of actors and observers. Ramifications of misperception of co-workers' satisfaction are discussed as well as importance of dissemination of results of job satisfaction surveys throughout the organization.