The importance of pay in employee motivation: Discrepancies between what people say and what they do

• Published in: Human resource management Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 381 - 394
• Main Authors: Rynes, Sara L., Gerhart, Barry, Minette, Kathleen A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.12.2004; Wiley Periodicals Inc
• Subjects: Attitude surveys; Behavior; Compensation; Employee attitude; Employee involvement; Employees; Human resource management; Incentives; Job enrichment; Meta-analysis; Monetary incentives; Motivation; Polls & surveys; Productivity; Studies; United States > US

A majority of human resources professionals appear to believe that employees are likely to overreport the importance of pay in employee surveys. However, research suggests the opposite is actually true. We review evidence showing the discrepancies between what people say and do with respect to pay....