Organizations on occasions face issues as for retaining employees;
therefore, organizations often fail in maintaining qualified employees who have
a positive effect as for achieving organizational goals. Retention is a crucial
aspect of organization; therefore, organizations may hire I/O psychologist to
resolve retention issues. As for the scenario of JC’s Casino, improving
retention is an issue that is a concern as for dealers and housekeepers at the
casino. JC’s Casino can benefit from work motivation theories, which will help improve
employee recruitment and retention. At JC’s Casino, there may be certain possible
occupational stressors that are a negative influence as for recruitment and
retention, and some suggestions for improvements can help for alleviating such
stressors. Job satisfaction at the casino has an influence on the retention of
employees; therefore, recommendations to improve job satisfaction as for
employees, plays an important part role for improving retention. Counterproductive
employee behavior also occurs at the casino, and some suggestions are useful for
reducing such behavior, which will increase productive behavior of employees.
Work Motivation Theories
Other than abilities, work motivation theories have a concern of the
reasons that certain individuals perform his or her job more effectively than
other individuals (Spector, 2012). Situationally work motivation theories have
the ability to predict the choices as for task behavior, their persistence or
effort of individuals. Spector (2012), “presuming that people have the
necessary ability and that constraints on performance are relatively low, high
levels of motivation should lead to a good job performance” (p. 194). At JC’s
Casino, the applications of work motivation theories such as goal-setting
theory and control theory are useful for improving employee recruitment and
retention.
Goal-Setting
Theory
The goal-setting theory is one of the more so useful theories of
motivation used by I/O psychologists. Goal-setting theory’s basic idea is that
the motivation of individuals’ behavior occurs because one’s internal
objections, intentions, or goals. Goals are constructs that are proximal because
they tie directly to behaviors (Spector, 2012). Tied together are goals and behaviors
necessary for performance; therefore, this theory directly ties to behavior. Goal-setting
theory contends that goals are what an individual knowingly wants to achieve or
attain. Goals affect behavior by four different means. First, they direct the
actions and attention to behaviors that an individual thinks may achieve goals.
Second, they mobilize an individual’s effort to try harder. Third, an
individual’s persistence increases, which results in more effort used on
behaviors needed for goal attaining. Finally, they motivate an individual’s
search for effectively strategizing to attain goals.
Goal-setting theory makes the prediction that an individual will
exert efforts toward the accomplishment of goals and one’s performance as for
his or her job is the purpose of the goals set (Spector, 2012). From the
standpoint of an organization, setting goals can be effective measures to
maintain or increase job performance, and several organizations use goal
setting as a means for doing so. Various factors are a necessity for goal
setting effectiveness as to improve job performance (Spector, 2012). First,
goal commitment is a necessity of employees; which is acceptance of a goal.
Second, feedback is a necessity, which provides individuals the knowledge of
knowing if his or her behavior is progressing toward goals or away from them.
Third, when goals rather difficult the more effort one places on performance.
Fourth, vague goals are less effective than harder goals. Finally, goals that
are self-set tend to be better than goals assigned by an organization. As for
job performance, goal-setting theory is an effective means that increases job
performance.
As for the scenario of JC’s Casino, the employees need motivation.
Without any goals at the casino, employees lack goals to strive toward or the
motivation to achieve said goals. If the casino supplies goals which are difficult
goals to achieve, the casino will see a higher quality of job performance from
employees. Setting goals for employees is an effective means to maintain or
increase employee job performance.
Reinforcement
Theory
The
theory of reinforcement details how a reward or reinforcement affects behavior.
Internal states such as motivation are not a factor of this theory; therefore,
it is a non-motivational theory. This theory explains how behavior is a function
of a previous reward experience or reinforcement history (Spector, 2012).
Behaviors tend to be responses to the environment. The law of effect is the
major principle of this theory; therefore, the probability of certain behaviors
will increase if reinforcements or rewards follow such behaviors. However,
there is the probability of behaviors decreasing if punishment follows. Establishing
behaviors occurs by associating or pairing behaviors with reinforcements
(Spector, 2012). The occurrences of behaviors, which are performance-relevant in
a job context increase if a reward occurs for such behavior. Rewards are either
intangible, such as praise or tangible, such as money. Whether intangible or
tangible rewards reinforce and lead to continual good performance.
Good performance within this theory is to receive a reward from an
organization, or it provides a sense of self accomplishment. Rewarding
behaviors within an organization lead to repeated behaviors; therefore,
individuals perform in certain ways if the belief of a reward will follow. As for JC’s Casino scenario, an employee fails to receive rewards
for performing his or her job or for the stress that occurs with their job;
therefore, there is a continual deterioration of employee performance, along
with absenteeism, and poor retention rate. Overworked and stressed employees
should receive rewards as a means to maintain and increase job performance. Such
rewards can either be intangible or tangible, and behaviors will continue with
such rewards. A reward structure will improve the retention rate of current and
new hire employees. A practical approach could be using the goal-setting theory
as well as reinforcement theory. When organizations implement more than one
theory, it helps address every issue within an organization (Schermerhorn, Hunt
& Osborn, 2008).
Possible Occupational Stressors and Alleviations
At JC’s Casino, several possible occupational stressors occur that
negatively influence employee recruitment and retention. A stressor for the
dealers is the behavior of pit boss Joe. Housekeepers’ stressors include the
shortfall of staff members; therefore, this requires the staff to clean more
rooms during a workday than normal. This is also a stressor for the managers of
several departments at the casino and their employees who also help to cover
housekeeping duties. A stressor for the director of housekeeping is finding
good help. To alleviate the stress of the dealers, HR director, Tom Sneed needs
to confront the casino’s owner in regards to the behavior of pit boss Joe. Additionally,
the HR director can alleviate the stressors of the housekeeping and
administrative staff by adding additional housekeepers, and to improve
retention. Achieving this occurs by recruitment and by implementing a work
motivation theory. JC’s Casino should also use suggestions from the employees
concerning job improvements. Making jobs more appealing at JC’s Casino is the
main goal. Making jobs more appealing increases the overall satisfaction of employees
and leads to better health.
The Role of Job Satisfaction and its Influence on Employee Retention
Spector (2012), “job satisfaction is an attitudinal variable that
reflects how people feel about their jobs overall, as well as various aspects
of the jobs” (p. 198). Job satisfaction is the extent to which an individual
likes his or her job; job dissatisfaction is the extent to which an individual
dislikes his or her job. Although, an individual can be satisfied with the work
of his or her job and satisfied with management, but dissatisfied with benefits
and pay. At the casino, there is an employee satisfaction of pay, benefits, and
job tasks; however, dissatisfaction occurs because of under-staffing, work hours,
and the behavior of the pit boss Joe. In this scenario job satisfaction is low;
dissatisfied are numerous employees at JC’s Casino. Therefore, employee
retention is low. To improve job satisfaction, the human resources director must
addresses the issues of hiring additional and adequate staff; as well as addressing
the issues concerning the dealers’ dissatisfaction with the behavior of bit
boss Joe. The HR director must address this behavior with the casino owner and Joe.
Addressing such issues can successfully improve retention.
Counterproductive Employee Behavior
Research indicates that counterproductive employee behavior is
prevalent in a variety of industries (Giacalone & Greenberg, 1997). Counterproductive
employee behavior is an intense problem for organizations. Counterproductive
employee behavior is behavior that is voluntary and violates the norms and
harms its well-being (Giacalone & Greenberg, 1997). At the casino, counterproductive
employee behavior includes pit boss Joe’s behavior, housekeeper’s absenteeism
and turnover rate, the HR director’s inability to staff the casino adequately. Several
steps are necessary as for reducing counterproductive behavior and increasing
productive behavior of employees. Regarding pit boss Joe’s behavior, the HR
director must talk to the casino owner about Joe’s behavior and develop a new
training program for Joe or hire a new bit boss. In regards to the absenteeism
and turnover rate of the housekeepers, the HR director must take immediate action
for completely staff the housekeeping department and implement new training for
current housekeepers. These steps are necessary as for reducing
counterproductive behavior and increasing productive behavior of employees.
Conclusion
The success of an organization, such as JC’s Casino depends on
improving retention; which, an organization achieves by implementing
motivational theories, such as goal-setting theory and reinforcement theory. Organizations
must make note of possible occupational stressors and alleviate such stressors that
negatively affect retention. Organizations also must reduce and eliminate counterproductive
behavior of employees in order to be successful.
Schermerhorn, J. R., Hunt, J. G., & Osborn, R. N.
(2008). Organizational behavior (10th. ed.).
Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Giacalone, R. A., & Greenberg, J. (1997). Antisocial
Behavior in Organizations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
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