Hygiene factors are those that must be maintained at adequate
levels. They are related more to the environment in which an employee
is working rather than the nature of the work itself. Important hygiene
factors include organizational policies, quality of supervision, working
conditions, relationships with peers and subordinates, status, job security,
and salary. Adequate levels of these factors are necessary to prevent
dissatisfaction; improving these factors beyond adequate levels,
however, does not necessarily lead to an increase in job satisfaction.
A different set of factors, identified as motivational factors, is associated
with having a direct effect on increasing job satisfaction.