Research pick: (Can’t get no) job satisfaction? - "IT employee perceptions: life satisfaction achieved through job satisfaction and influencing factors"

Job satisfaction is the most important determinant of how fulfilled individuals feel in their lives overall, according to a study of information technology (IT) employees in southern India. The research, published in the International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, raises an important point that the sector must address urgently given how it is currently struggling with high employee turnover and low engagement.

The researchers surveyed more than 400 professionals from different companies and used statistical modelling to explore how workplace experiences influence broader well-being. Life satisfaction, defined as a person’s assessment of their overall quality of life, was found to rise or fall in direct relation to job satisfaction. The findings highlight how deeply personal fulfilment is tied to professional contentment in a sector marked by long hours, fast-changing skill requirements, and heavy performance demands.

This job-life satisfaction equivalence is an example of what the authors refer to as a spillover effect between the workplace and the home. This relationship is stronger where companies provide sufficient resources, including access to new technologies, training programmes, and clear avenues for career progression. An additional factor is perceived organisational support, which refers to whether employees feel that their employer values, respects, and cares for them. Workers who sensed this kind of support were more highly motivated in their work and loyal to the company. Moreover, these characteristics spilled over into other parts of their lives.

Intriguingly, interpersonal relationships at work, teamwork, and trust often considered central to employee well-being were not a significant factor connecting job and life satisfaction.

For companies facing high attrition, recognising that job satisfaction affects overall life satisfaction could help them shift strategy to improve conditions and so increase employee retention. Investment in training, career development, and a supportive workplace culture would improve employee happiness but also create tangible business benefits.

Malarvizhi, S.J.R. and Vijayarani, S. (2025) ‘IT employee perceptions: life satisfaction achieved through job satisfaction and influencing factors‘, Int. J. Management and Enterprise Development, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp.177-200.