The work ethic as determined by occupation, education, age, gender, work experience, and empowerment

The purpose of this study was to determine if there were significant differences in the work ethic of workers categorized by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC), level of education, age, gender, years of full-time work experience, or empowerment Data was collected using the Occupational Work Ethic Inventory (OWEI). For those categories of workers where significant differences in work ethic were found, further analysis was done to determine how the groups differed for the four dimensions of the work ethic represented by the subscales of the OWEI. The four dimensions of the work ethic measured by the OWEI were dependable, ambitious, considerate, and cooperative.

The population for this study consisted of workers employed by public and private businesses and industries in Monroe County, Tennessee. From a list of 1,011 businesses and industries in Monroe County, 285 firms were randomly selected for purposes of this investigation. Participation by employees of each firm was requested by the researcher during a personal visit to each selected business and industry. Copies of the OWEI were also delivered and picked up in person to maximize cooperation. Employees from 158 industries and businesses participated in the study. A total of 1,840 instruments were distributed and 1,201 completed instruments were collected for an overall response rate of 65.3%.

This study was unique in its utilization of respondents from randomly selected workplaces. A review of previous studies of work ethic revealed many based on samples of convenience which did not adequately represent the full range of occupations. In addition, the use of aggregate occupational groupings consistent with guidelines from the Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards of the U.S. Department of Commerce provided a coherent framework for comparative use of the results.

A multivariate analysis of variance was used to analyze the data collected. Significant differences in work ethic were found for all groupings selected for the study, but further examination using a Fisher's Protected LSD Procedure was not sensitive enough to determine precise differences for all independent variables. The results of the study showed that workers in SOC aggregate group 1 (administrative, engineering, scientific, teaching, and related occupations, including creative artists) scored significantly higher than those in other occupational groups for ambitious. Workers in SOC aggregate group 1 (administrative, engineering, scientific, teaching, and related occupations, including creative artists) and group 2 (technical, clerical, sales, and related occupations) scored higher for considerate than group 4 (farming, forestry, fishing and hunting occupations), group 5 (precision production, craft, and repair occupations), and group 6 (operators, fabricators, and laborers) and higher for cooperative than group 3 (service occupations, including military occupations), group 4 (farming, forestry, fishing and hunting occupations), and group 6 (operators, fabricators, and laborers). Workers in SOC aggregate group 5 (precision production, craft, and repair occupations) scored higher for cooperative than group 4 (farming, forestry, fishing and hunting occupations). The Fisher's Protected LSD did not detect significant differences in mean scores for workers categorized by SOC aggregate group on dependable.

The mean subscale scores of workers grouped by level of education increased sequentially for ambitious with group 5 (some graduate work) scoring significantly higher than group 1 (less than a high school diploma), group 2 (high school degree or GED), and group 3 (two years of college or Associate's degree). Group 4 (a Bachelor's degree) scored significantly higher for ambitious than group 1 (less than a high school diploma) and group 2 (high school degree or GED), and group 2 (high school degree or GED) scored higher than group 1 (less than a high school diploma). The Fisher's Protected LSD did not detect significant differences in mean scores for workers grouped by level of education on dependable, considerate, or cooperative.

The Fisher's Protected LSD did not detect significant differences in mean scores for workers grouped by age on any of the work ethic dimensions measured by OWEI subscales, but females scored significantly higher than males on all four of the work ethic dimensions measured by OWEI subscales.

Workers who had less than two years of full-time work experience or more than eight years of full-time work experience scored significantly higher than those who had from two to eight years of full-time work experience for dependable and cooperative. Workers who had more than eight years of full-time work experience scored significantly higher than those who had from two to eight years of full-time work experience for ambitious. Workers who had less than two years of full-time work experience scored significantly higher than those who had more than eight years of full-time work experience for considerate and those with more than eight years of full-time work experience scored significantly higher than those with from two to eight years of full-time work experience for considerate.

Workers who were empowered scored significantly higher than those who were not empowered for ambitious. Workers who were not empowered scored higher than those who were empowered for considerate and cooperative. The F-test did not detect significant differences in mean scores for workers categorized by empowerment on dependable.