What do employees really want?

As shown in TABLE 1, what employees really want is a good working environment. When analyze the table we can figure out that there is a contradiction between the common opinion and employee fact.  Money is important but not a sufficient condition to motivate employees. From the table, employee rank discipline, working conditions, and loyalty to workers among the top three motivators, while issues such as wages, personal problems, done work rank them toward the bottom. In addition, there is a difference between employees and managers needs. People cannot be motivated with rewards that do not satisfy their needs. 

TABLE 1. What Employees Want from Their Job (rank 1-10).

Sources: Foreman Facts, Labor Relations Institute of New York (1946); Lawrence Lindahl, Personal Magazine ( 1949)

Repeated with similar results: Ken Kovach(1980); Varerie Wilson, Achievers International (1988);Bob Nelson, Branchard Training & Development(1991); Sheryl & Don Grimme, GHR Training solutions (1997- present).