Withdrawal, Reinforcement and Job Characteristics
Abstract Throughout my employment history, I have always tried to find the best in the job in order to get the best out of the experience. But as I began entering the more professional work arena, this became increasingly difficult. Initially, I thought it would be easier to be involved with a large scale organization. I imagined that everything would be better: time off, benefits and job design. However, I soon realized that this would not be the case. Working in the medical field can be very lucrative, but also very exhausting, stressful and filled with anxiety. And despite the hospital’s efforts to improve workplace efficiency, they overlooked job satisfaction. Furthermore, the job itself was mundane in nature, and this was never addressed as a concern for management. Eventually, the need for happiness overtook the need for financial security, and I began to fall into patterns of abusing leave time, chronic lateness and habitual absenteeism. This particular place had no interest in retaining employees; the turnover rate was quite high. So rather than recognize these behaviors and attempt to thwart them, they contribute to the negative feelings by implementing punishment. Naturally, this continuous friction ultimately led to my finding work elsewhere.
Job Characteristics Working in Central Lab Service at the hospital laboratory was similar to working on a chain gang and a factory line, combined. We would receive bags of specimens which needed to be accessioned into our computer systems. This was tedious, as everything had to be accurate, as patient’s lives were at stake. It was redundant work that I found hard to become interested in. The laboratory technicians that actually later tested the samples would even comment that ‘a monkey could do the job.’ According to Hackman & Oldman’s Core Job Dimensions, my position was lacking in many areas, which most likely accounted for my initial lack of interest in the job (PSU WC, L. 10, p. 7,
Job Characteristics Working in Central Lab Service at the hospital laboratory was similar to working on a chain gang and a factory line, combined. We would receive bags of specimens which needed to be accessioned into our computer systems. This was tedious, as everything had to be accurate, as patient’s lives were at stake. It was redundant work that I found hard to become interested in. The laboratory technicians that actually later tested the samples would even comment that ‘a monkey could do the job.’ According to Hackman & Oldman’s Core Job Dimensions, my position was lacking in many areas, which most likely accounted for my initial lack of interest in the job (PSU WC, L. 10, p. 7,
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