Mediated Effect of Employee Job Satisfaction on Employees’ Happiness at Work and Analysis of Motivational Factors: Evidence from Telecommunication Sector

Abstract

Happiness at the workplace is an important ingredient in improving productivity at any organization. This study, therefore, sought to examine the effect of employee job satisfaction on employee’s happiness at work among telecommunication workers in Pakistan. The study was anchored on the motivation theory and includes some factors that influence motivation at the work place. The motivational factors include job inspiration, job security, benefits/salary, work environment and leadership. These motivational factors are expected to influence the dependent variable (happiness at work) through a mediating variable (employee job satisfaction). Employee job satisfaction functioning as an independent variable is also expected to influence the exogenous variable (happiness at work). Data for the study was obtained from a sample of 515 telecoms workers from Pakistan using a structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling via SPSS 22 and SmartPLS 3.0. Findings from this study indicate factors that determine or influence employees' job satisfaction are job inspiration, benefits, job security, and leadership in that order. The study further found a positive and significant relationship between the independent variables (job inspiration and benefits) and employee job satisfaction. Also, the study found that employee job satisfaction has a positive and significant influence on happiness at work. The study builds on the empirical findings on factors influencing employee job satisfaction by linking it with happiness at work in the telecoms sector This study contributes to the extant literature on happiness at work and makes valuable contribution to future research in this area.