The Moderating Effects of Organizational Publicness on Determinants of the U.S. Federal Employee’s Job Satisfaction

Abstract

This study draws on the organizational publicness scholarship to propose that although both executive departments and independent agencies collectively are part of the federal bureaucracy, executive departments have higher organizational publicness that affects their organizational processes and employee’s job satisfaction. Analyses of federal employee viewpoint survey indicate that executive departments directly affect job satisfaction and moderate work unit quality, supervisor quality, and leadership quality's effect on job satisfaction. Public organizations' effects on job satisfaction are more nuanced than the existing scholarship suggests. Where constitutional norms allow, public organizations should promote the independent powers of work units' leaders.

Appendix 1

	Job Satisfaction
	How satisfied are you with:
1	Your involvement in decisions that affect your work?
2	The information you receive from management on what's going on in your organization?
3	The recognition you receive for doing a good job?
4	The policies and practices of your senior leaders?
5	Your opportunity to get a better job in your organization?
6	The training you receive for your present job?
7	Your job?
8	Your pay?
9	Your organization?
Work unit quality (organizational climate)
	How well do you agree with the following statement:
1	The people I work with cooperate to get the job done
2	My work unit is able to recruit people with the right skills
3	Promotions in my work unit are based on merit
4	In my work unit, steps are taken to deal with a poor performer who cannot or will not improve
5	In my work unit, differences in performance are recognized in a meaningful way
6	Awards in my work unit depend on how well employees perform their jobs
7	Employees in my work unit share job knowledge with each other
8	The skill level in my work unit has improved in the past year
Supervisor quality
	How well do you agree with the following statement:
1	My supervisor supports my need to balance work and other life issues
2	My supervisor provides me with opportunities to demonstrate my leadership skills
3	Discussions with my supervisor about my performance are worthwhile
4	My supervisor is committed to a workforce representative of all segments of society
5	My supervisor provides me with constructive suggestions to improve my job performance
6	Supervisors in my work unit support employee development
7	My supervisor listens to what I have to say
8	My supervisor treats me with respect
9	In the last six months, my supervisor has talked with me about my performance
10	I have trust and confidence in my supervisor
Leadership quality
	How well do you agree with the following statement:
1	In my organization, senior leaders generate high levels of motivation and commitment in the workforce
2	My organization's senior leaders maintain high standards of honesty and integrity
3	Managers communicate the goals and priorities of the organization
4	Managers review and evaluate the organization's progress toward meeting its goals and objectives
5	Managers promote communication among different work units
6	Managers support collaboration across work units to accomplish work objectives
7	How good a job do you feel is being done by the manager directly above your immediate supervisor?
8	I have a high level of respect for my organization's senior leaders
9	Senior leaders demonstrate support for Work/Life programs