Working Conditions and Satisfaction of Transport Service Employees

Abstract The transition of the Polish economy has brought about profound changes in the nature of contracts between employees and employers. These changes have been affected by the process of globalisation and dynamic technological progress. In particular, the characteristics of the contracts and the work itself have changed, which has affected the utility derived from employment by employees. The article attempts to identify the factors providing job satisfaction using the example of railway service employees. In particular, factors such as the position held, levels of tension and stress at work, level of autonomy, opportunities for personal development, the level of accordance between employees’ skills and job requirements, convenient working hours, length of vacation and the level of social respect enjoyed are important. In the study, an innovative discrete choice experiment method and econometric analysis were used to make a comprehensive examination of the factors providing satisfaction to transport service employees. Conclusions from the study indicate that although remuneration is an important element influencing job satisfaction, other non-wage factors also affect the satisfaction. The most important factors include managerial position, opportunities for personal development and the level of social respect related to the given occupation/position.