Individual and Work Values of Nonprofit, Public, and Business Employees: How Similar or Different Are They?

Abstract

This study explored differences in individual and work values among employees of nonprofit, public, and business organizations in a sample of 656 organizations. The data used in the present study were extracted from the World Values Survey (WVS) data set. The results of this study showed that while work values were related to the sector of employment, individual values were not. This suggests that work values, and not individual values, might play an important role in determining which sector individuals choose to work in. Additionally, while work values did not differ based on demographic and job variables, interesting differences in individual values were detected based on age, gender, and job position (supervisor/non-supervisor). Based on the results of this study, the author discusses implications for human resource practices and future research.