Job enrichment

Job enrichment is a non-financial method of motivation. It means giving an employee greater challenge and responsibility in the work they already do, so that the job itself becomes more satisfying. The job does not simply change to a different set of tasks: the tasks become more demanding and the employee is trusted with decisions that a manager or supervisor would otherwise make. Although the motivation comes from the work itself, enrichment may be accompanied by higher pay to reflect the extra responsibility.

It motivates because the work becomes more interesting and gives the employee a sense of achievement. A receptionist at a small hotel who is put in charge of planning the staff rota and dealing with complaints from guests has a job with more variety and more to feel proud of than someone who only answers the phone and hands over keys.

Drawbacks for the business

• Training is needed, so the employee can cope with the extra duties and decisions, which costs money and time.
• Staff are away from producing output while they are trained or take on planning and checking work, so output can fall in the short term.
• Not every employee wants extra responsibility. Some are happy with familiar work and may feel stressed or resentful if more is pushed onto them, so enrichment can demotivate as well as motivate.

Enrichment compared with job rotation

So a supermarket worker whose job is enriched might become responsible for ordering stock and training new starters, while a worker whose job is rotated simply moves from the till to the shelves and back again.