Basic Human Values in the Workplace

The values of manual workers were of special interest, given that people with little education have seldom been studied in value research. The results of this study show that the value structure of the employees was similar and in line with Schwartz’s model with the exception of security, which was located within self-transcendence values. A combination of high self-transcendence and low self-enhancement values lead to desirable outcomes for the organisation. Workplaces high in universalism and conformity and low in achievement and power rated better in knowledge sharing. Employees high in self-transcendence had more positive attitudes towards organisational changes. The results here also indicate that employees high on conformity were less guided by their personal values than those who valued conformity less. The values of manual workers were of special interest, given that people with little education have seldom been studied in value research. The results of this study show that the value structure of the employees was similar and in line with Schwartz’s model with the exception of security, which was located within self-transcendence values. A combination of high self-transcendence and low self-enhancement values lead to desirable outcomes for the organisation. Workplaces high in universalism and conformity and low in achievement and power rated better in knowledge sharing. Employees high in self-transcendence had more positive attitudes towards organisational changes. The results here also indicate that employees high on conformity were less guided by their personal values than those who valued conformity less.