Employees 'Needs and Wants' through Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

 

Employees 'Needs and Wants' through Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

In today's workplace, an employee's requirements and desires range from a modest paperclip to good recognition within and beyond the firm. According to Quora.com, the distinction between "wants" and "needs" is straightforward. "Wants" are things you want to have regardless of their monetary worth. Whereas "wants" are things that you must have in order to live, do, or achieve something, a "need" is a basic human requirement, and a "desire" is a method of meeting that need.

Mr. X, for example, 'needs' a mobile phone and 'wants' an iPhone or a Samsung.

Abraham Maslow (1908 – 1970) accurately defines requirements in his Hierarchy of Needs study.

       Maslow's Hierarchy of  needs

Figure 1: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (StudiousGuy,2019)

Maslow's Pyramid of Requirements illustrates how a person's needs evolve throughout time. Employers can plan the future of the company's HRM based on the workers' work-lifecycle, which can be mapped to Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Abraham Maslow (1908 – 1970) accurately defines requirements in his Hierarchy of Needs study.

Figure 2: Mapping Maslow’s Pyramid to employee work lifecycle (Author Developed)

 According to Kendra,2019 it is stated that there are five levels of Needs and those are explained below

1. Physiological/Basic Requirements

The most fundamental physiological demands are undoubtedly self-evident—these are the things that are critical to our life. Some examples of physiological needs include: food, water, breathing, and shelter.

A newcomer to a company, such as an intern, is just meeting day-to-day fundamental necessities and working with strong motivation as they gain new information and value for themselves.

2. Security Requirements

The requirement for security and safety takes precedence. People crave control and order in their life, therefore the desire for safety and security plays a big role in these activities.

 

Some of the most fundamental security and safety requirements are as follows:

 

Financial security, health and wellness, and protection from accidents and harm are all important considerations.

 

As one moves up Maslow's hierarchy, employees become more conscious of what they do, more accountable, and concerned about their financial situation. Job satisfaction and job security At this stage, personnel are concerned with more than just their immediate needs; they are also concerned about the future. These employees could be full-time employees, such as junior executives.

 

3. Belongingness Requirements

 

Love, acceptance, and belonging are examples of these. At this level, human conduct is driven by the desire for emotional connections. This need is met by a variety of means, including:

 

-        Companionship

 

-        Romantic attachments 

 

-        a family group

 

-        Social organizations

 

-        Community organizations

 

 

According to Maslow, it is critical that employees avoid difficulties like as anxiety, loneliness, and depression through camaraderie, love, and belongingness. Employees at this level are mature and self-motivated to go on to the next stage of their lives, such as marriage and starting a family. These employees could be senior executives, for example.

 

4.Requirements for Self-Esteem

At this moment, gaining the respect and appreciation of others becomes increasingly crucial. People have a need to complete tasks and then have their efforts rewarded.

Employees at this level strive for advancement and recognition both within and outside of the organization. Employees at this level are well-experienced, self-motivated, and highly proficient via experience. These employees can be classified as junior managers, for example.

 

5. Self-Actualization Requirements

 

Self-actualizing People are self-aware, concerned with personal improvement, seek to reach their full potential in the best way possible, are less concerned with the opinions of others, and are engaged in realizing their potential.

Employees who have overcome the desire for self-esteem, such as senior managers, directors, and CEOs, will work for self-satisfaction and societal recognition with all of their abilities.

Conclusion

It is critical for a business to have a thorough understanding of its employees' requirements and desires as they progress through the work lifecycle, which might vary from level to level and from employee to employee. It will assist the organization in planning for the future and keeping employees motivated, which will assist the organization in reducing employee turnover and increasing employee job satisfaction where the company maintains a skilled and motivated staff which helps to increase productivity and is also an asset to the company rather than an expense.

Reference 

Quora. 2019. What is the difference between needs and wants? [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-needs-and-wants. [Accessed 1 December 2021].

StudiousGuy. 2019. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Theory, Needs, Pyramid. [ONLINE] Available at: https://studiousguy.com/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs/. [Accessed 1 December 2021].

Kendra , C. 2019. The 5 Levels of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. [Online].  Available from: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-4136760. [Accessed 1 December 2021].