Title: Determinants of satisfaction in the workplace: differences and similarities between male and female employees in Chile

Authors: Ruohan Wu; Xueyu Cheng

Addresses: Alabama State University, Business Administrative Building Swing Space #1, 915 S. Jackson Street, Montgomery, AL 36104, USA ' Clayton State University, Faculty Hall 131-C, 2000 Clayton State Boulevard, Morrow, GA 30260, USA

Abstract: This paper empirically examines the major determinants of Chilean male and female employees' satisfaction. Two variables represent one's satisfaction with the workplace: having a full-time job and receiving a quality benefit package. We extract data from the 2009 national employment survey in Chile and observe over 426,000 Chilean employees in our sample. The survey data show that women's participation in the labour force is significantly lower than that of men's. Female employees tend to have higher education levels. However, male Chilean employees are more likely to work full-time and to have better benefits. We conduct econometric tests to examine various determinants of workplace satisfaction. Education and skill levels are found to have significant, positive effects on both male and female employees' satisfaction. Marriage and family status contribute the most to the differences between female and male employees' satisfaction.

Keywords: Chile; male employees; gender differences; job satisfaction; full-time employment; benefits packages; female employees; education levels; skills levels; workplace satisfaction; marriage; family status.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2016.079599

International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2016 Vol.3 No.2, pp.175 - 192

Received: 02 Mar 2016
Accepted: 11 Aug 2016

Published online: 04 Oct 2016 *

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