The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

4266.0: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - Table 7

Abstract #48131

Relationship between hospital employees' perception of compensation equity and work attitudes

Kuo-Cherh Huang, DrPH, MBA1, Chung-I Huang, MHA2, Ning Lu, PhD, MPH3, Chao-Hsiun Tang, PhD1, Ming-Chin Yang, DrPH4, and Che-Ming Yang, JD2. (1) Graduate Institute of Health Care Administration, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hisng St., Taipei, Taiwan, 886-2-23785339, kchuang@tmu.edu.tw, (2) Wanfang Hospital, 111 Hsing-Long Rd. Sec. 3, Taipei, Taiwan, (3) Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101-3576, (4) Graduate Institute of Health Care Organization Administration, National Taiwan University, Room 1518, No.1, Jen-Ai Rd., Sec. 1, Taipei, Taiwan

Compensation is widely acknowledged as an important job composition in the eyes of employees. Health care is a special industry in which compensation among employees differs greatly. The difference in compensation has impact on employees' perception of job equity that may influence the work attitude and the quality of care provided. This study aimed to examine the relationship between hospital employees' perception of compensation equity and their work attitudes. The study also examined the factors that are related to employees' perception of compensation equity and work attitude. The study population included 137 regional and higher level of teaching hospitals in Taiwan. A letter of consent was sent to each hospital asking for participation in the study. The probability proportionate to size (PPS) sampling method was employed to select study subjects. Mail and face-to-face survey were then conducted at the participating hospitals, where physicians, nurses, pharmacists, medical technicians, and administrative staff were randomly selected. 2,938 individuals from 30 hospitals were included in the sample. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, correlation and multiple regression analysis were used in data analysis. The results indicated that hospital employees' perception of compensation equity varies significantly by personal characteristics such as age, and total years of employment. Employees' work attitude differs by age, education and specialty. The design of the compensation system also has effect on employees' perception of compensation equity. Controlling for personal characteristics, and the design of the compensation system, employees' work attitudes were found significantly positively related to their perception of compensation equity.

Keywords: perception of compensation equity, work attitudes, hospital employee

Learning Objectives:

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Emerging Issues in Public Health

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA