Public service motivation, job satisfaction and organizational commitment among greek public sector employees

Abstract

Public Service Motivation (PSM) has been attracting increased attention over the last decades. The present study aimed at examining the relationships between Public Service Motivation, Job Satisfaction, and Organizational Commitment in the public sector in Greece. One hundred and fifty-three employees working atthe Greek Ministry of Education participated in the study. The theoretical model of the study was tested through structural equation modeling (SEM). The results showed that Public Service Motivation had a positive effect on Job Satisfaction, which in turn had a strong, positive influence on Organizational Commitment. No direct relationship between Public Service Motivation and Organizational Commitment was found. The findings somehow contradict the widespread negative perception of the public sector in Greece, suggesting that Greek public sector employees are intrinsically motivated by a commitment to public interest, a desire to protect citizens and an inclination for personal sacrifice.