Page 312 - DMGT106_MANAGING_HUMAN_ELEMENTS_AT_WORK

Managing Human Element at Work

Notes involves economic rewards and benefits for the employees. Quality of work ensures the
satisfaction of workers towards their job, which in turn ensures higher productivity and
greater job satisfaction of the employees.
Quality of work is the level at which the members of an organization can satisfy their
personal requirements through their experience in the organization. Its main objective is to
focus on creating a good working environment as a result of which employees work
together in a cooperative way and contribute their best in achieving the organizational
goals.

14.1.1 Quality of Work Life (QWL)
There is no generally acceptable definition of the term ‘Quality of Work Life’. The term has
different meanings to different persons. For example for a new recruit, it may mean
opportunities for advancement. While for a worker in an assembly line it may just mean
a fair day’s pay. According to Richard and Loy, QWL is “the degree to which members of
a work organization are able to satisfy important personal needs through their experience
in the organization”. According to Nadler and Lawler—“Quality of Work Life (QWL) is
concerned about the impact of work on people as well as on organization effectiveness, and
the idea of participation in organizational problem solving and decision making”. The basic
purpose of improving QWL is to change the climate at work so that human-technological-
organizational interface leads to better quality of work life. There are many factors that can
contribute to QWL.
They are:
• Adequate compensation to meet the needs of the socially determined standard of
living.
• Healthy and safe working conditions.
• Respect for individual’s personal rights and the principles of natural justice and equity.
• Balance between work and family life.
• Security and growth opportunity.

14.1.2 Effects of Quality of Work Life
• Job involvement — Job involved people spend more time on job and turn out better
performance
• QWL gives employee job satisfaction. High job satisfaction leads to high work
performance, less employee turnover and less absenteeism.
• As employees engage themselves more and more in work activities, they acquire a
great sense of competence and experience and higher level of job involvement.
The HR Department can contribute to the QWL of employees. QWL refers to fair remuneration,
safe and healthy environment, opportunity for the growth, etc. Better QWL leads to motivation
and satisfaction of employees. Therefore, many programmes that contribute to QWL should
be undertaken by management in consultation with the cooperation of the unions. The
general perception is that an improvement in QWL costs much to the organization. But it
may not be so as the financial costs incurred on improving the QWL may be offset by the
increase in productivity.
14.1.3 Scope of Quality of Work

Quality of work plays a vital role in the life of the workers. It meets the requirements of
the workers and enables them to develop their personalities, as also their commitment to
their work, fellow workers, organization and society at large. The requirements of the
workers are:

306 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY