The Secret to Job Satisfaction is Low Expectations: How Perceived Working Conditions Differ from Actual Ones

Abstract

Working conditions exert a major influence on accidents and illnesses at work as well as on job satisfaction and health, yet very little research has examined the determinants of working conditions. By exploiting the Italian Labour Force Survey, this paper provides evidence on the underlying factors affecting working conditions. It provides a behavioural interpretation of the results, which stems from the discrepancy between actual and expected working conditions. In light of this interpretation, workers would declare their perceived working conditions influenced by the difference between the actual and the expected working conditions. Variables concerning personal characteristics, such as gender, education and being employed in the first job, shift expectations about working conditions and accordingly perceived working conditions. On the contrary, variables related to work characteristics, such as working full time, with shifts and in a large place, affect actual and thus perceived working conditions (negatively).

Aligning expectations with real-world experiences: a talent management study on the restaurant industry in Finland

“…Additionally, restaurants face a formidable challenge managing the expectations of younger generations. Our research, in conjunction with the insights of Cicognani et al . (2016), underscores the paramount importance of paying special attention to the youngest workers, as they are the most prone to leave due to unmet expectations related to working conditions.…”

“…Additionally, restaurants face a formidable challenge managing the expectations of younger generations. Our research, in conjunction with the insights of Cicognani et al (2016), underscores the paramount importance of paying special attention to the youngest workers, as they are the most prone to leave due to unmet expectations related to working conditions. Chillakuri's (2020), observations also reflect with our findings, emphasizing that younger workers often have idealistic normative expectations about their work, expecting it to be both meaningful and exciting, with their ideas actively implemented by their managers.…”

“…Enhancing overall well-being, job satisfaction, leisure selfefficacy, and reducing exhaustion are all associated with good working conditions (Ariza-Montes et al, 2019;Liu et al, 2016). In their study, Cicognani et al (2016) found mixed or even opposite outcomes when comparing the expected versus actual working conditions for different types of employment contracts. This suggests that simply having a certain type of contract does not necessarily determine the quality of the job experience.…”

“…In the restaurant industry, employees work under different contracts and under different circumstances (Cajander and Reiman, 2021). These differences set background to expectations and experiences, which may exist between workers and managers regarding their job responsibilities, workload, career advancement, job security and work-life balance (Cajander and Reiman, 2019;Cicognani et al, 2016). Managers are responsible for the everyday business of restaurants, including hiring, training and managing staff and the workers are generally responsible for carrying out specific tasks, such as food preparation, serving or cleaning (Kiefer, 2002;Madera et al, 2017).…”

“…Addressing this misalignment effectively requires organizations to gain a deep understanding about their employees' needs, provide the necessary resources and support for optimal job performance, and ensure that employees' expectations match the realities of the work environment. By taking these steps, companies can create a positive workplace, boost job satisfaction, reduce the desire to leave, and ultimately cultivate a more stable and productive workforce (Cicognani et al ., 2016; Pleitz et al ., 2015).…”