Motivated Workers: The Herzberg Motivation-Hygiene Theory

Motivated workers are key to a successful business. Research has established that a motivated workforce is more productive, more creative, and reduces staff turnover. 

Of course, all employers want to benefit their business in this way. However, developing a strategy to improve motivation is easier said than done.

One tool employers can turn to to analyse motivation in their organisation is the Herzberg motivation-hygiene theory.

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Developed in the 1950s by American psychologist Frederick Herzberg, the framework separates motivation into mutually exclusive factors.

Each factor can either be ‘motivational’ or ‘hygienic’. A ‘motivational’ factor is a pull factor, which increases job satisfaction.

Meanwhile a ‘hygiene’ factor does not itself increase satisfaction. However, a lack of it is unpleasant, and acts as a ‘push’ factor away from the job.

Employers must be careful to balance both motivation and hygiene factors to create a motivated workforce. Usefully, Herzberg identified and assigned a number of factors to help you identify what you can do to motivate your workers.

Motivating Factors

1. Challenging work. The work should present the correct balance of challenge to the employees – ideally getting them into a state of flow.
2. Advancement. Defined by Herzberg as the positive movement in status or position in the organisation. It motivates workers to see themselves work upwards. To achieve this, consider internal hiring for senior positions.
3. Achievement. Hitting deadlines, solving long standing problems at work, and seeing positive results from one’s own work all contribute to your employee’s sense of achievement. This satisfaction contributes to their motivation.
4. Responsibility. Consider how you are allowing your employees to make their own decisions and own their work. Micro-manageing will undermine this motivating factor.
5. Recognition. Employees should feel that their achievements are acknowledged within the organisation. This can be both in an informal manner, such as praise from a senior colleague, or in formal awards and rewards.

Hygiene Factors

1. Salary. Workers should be compensated fairly for the work they do. Consider tools such as salary benchmarking, or a compensation structure to ensure your business is remaining competitive.
2. Interpersonal Relations. Consider the social dynamics within your organisation both laterally and vertically. Social events such as group lunches, or the marking of birthdays can greatly improve team communication and dynamic.
3. Administration. Is it clear to employees the structure of the organisation? Do they know how to seek help, report problems and who to report to?
4. Working Conditions. This extends to both the working hours and physical environment of your workplace. Firstly, establish that your workplace is safe. To make the environment more comfortable, consider factors such as access to natural light, or house plants. Both have been shown to improve mental wellbeing.

Motivation Matrix

In addition to identifying motivation and hygiene factors, Herzberg also considered how each combination would affect the workplace.

When both motivation and hygiene factors are fulfilled, this represents the ideal workplace, where workers will feel most motivated.

Conversely, neither being fulfilled constitutes a miserable job and employers can expect poor work and high staff turnover.

When only the hygiene factors are fulfilled, employees will see their jobs as just a source of income but do not care about their impact.

They may feel distanced from the organisation’s goals or indifferent to its problems. Meanwhile, when only motivation factors are fulfilled, the work feels meaningful.

Nonetheless, the workers’ needs are not being met. Employers in the same industry will be well positioned to poach your staff in this setting.

Does your business have a strategy to keep workers motivated? HR First offers experienced advice to help you improve engagement in your business.

Explore how our employee engagement programs solutions improve retention and productivity.