THE RELATIONSHIP OF COMMUNICATION SATISFACTION, JOB SATISFACTION, AND SELF-REPORTED ABSENTEEISM

A Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty of Miami University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts
Department of Speech Communication
Miami University Oxford, Ohio, 2003

AUTHOR:
Lindsay Nicole Ehlers

INTRODUCTION:

Jobs. What comes to mind when prompted with this word? Maybe money, long hours,  co-workers, benefits, breaks, or livelihood. People spend over half of their lives at some sort of job. Most of the time people identify themselves with their occupation. Looking at how theorganization affects the workers is something that scholars investigated for many years now. Yet, with all of the investigating and theorizing though it seems it is very tough to change the work atmosphere. For example, many people still work within very structured/vertical organizations that do not take into consideration the feelings of the employees. Since communication is downward and feedback is limited with such companies employees feel like they have no voice and are unimportant. Many employees within an organization such as this do not like working and find it hard to attend. Employees are not going to work because they want to do things in life that are more satisfying, so absenteeism is becoming an issue in many workplaces (“Study: Non-ill Sick”, 2002). 

However, on the other side of the coin there are organizations that do take into consideration the employees’ feelings and thoughts. Maister (2001) discussed that an organization that works to satisfy and cares about employees will have employees reciprocate their actions by working harder and increasing profits. These companies have the philosophy that if employees are satisfied then more work can be completed and can lead to more profit. 

Employees might like the job because the organization is concerned with their thoughts and this might guide them into work more often because it is a place of enjoyment and fulfillment. Interestingly, satisfaction is a concept that has been examined by organizational communication scholars because being satisfied is something people strive for within this society. Employees want to like their jobs. Usually, when employees are satisfied with their jobs then they will attend work more often. 

Looking at the relationship between employee’s communication satisfaction, job satisfaction and absenteeism is something that merits one’s attention because organizations have to illustrate especially with the work environment that they are concerned about their employees. This concern can in turn help the organization in retention of the good employees and making it an organization that everyone wants to work for.  

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