Job Satisfaction in Oil, Gas, and Energy Sectors - Essay Example

Employee satisfaction is the most important factor for the successful operation of companies nowadays. When the employees are satisfied, it improves the performance and productivity of the company and contributes towards profitability. On the other hand, low job satisfaction has negative results such as increasing costs, decreasing profits and customer dissatisfaction. To be successful companies need to concentrate on increasing employee satisfaction so that employees’ retention rate can be increased.

Past studies have shown that employees satisfaction can be increased by the following:
- a sense of engagement and decision-making responsibilities,
- use of skill and abilities,
- opportunities to advance,
- opportunities to learn new skills,
- positive communicative relationships with supervisors, and,
- good pay and training.

Job satisfaction has been defined by Locke (1976) as “the pleasurable or positive emotional state that results from an employee's job or experience associated with the job”. Moreover as discussed in (Kepler 1994), job satisfaction is “the fulfilment and gratification that comes from work”, it is not the money or the benefits received but the positive feelings experienced from accomplishing tasks. Every job holds the potential to provide certain levels of satisfaction related to individual employees.

Job satisfaction is an important factor especially in high-risk environments like oil and gas in terms of the potential hazard towards the safety of an employee. There are many risks involved like fires and accidents leading to interruption in production which ultimately leads to financial losses (Ahlang, 2005). Another risk involved is the exposure of employees to harmful chemicals which are not properly handled or stored (for example, Benzene and naturally occurring radioactive materials) in the Petroleum industry and can pose dangers to the health of the employees. Hence the Petroleum industry requires a high level of productivity and efficiency from the employees in handling dangerous procedures and materials.

Due to the above-mentioned reasons job satisfaction in the Petroleum industry is very important as satisfied employees can work efficiently and effectively. The other reason for ensuring a higher level of job satisfaction is that, when the company is increasing its investments in high technology and equipment, employees should be motivated to have proper attention to protect those investments by careful handling of the technologically advanced equipment.

Countries and companies in this fast-growing era have started investing more in training and developing their national employees since they consider the nationals as an important asset for the development of their economies. Qatar Petroleum (QP) the state-owned company in the State of Qatar is responsible for all oil and gas industry processes in Qatar and abroad (Including projects, subsidiaries, oil and gas fields, industrial cities, environment, conferences, tenders and employment) The Company has since recognized that investing in training and the development of the national workforce skills is very important for the growth of the company as well as the economy. Moreover, Qatar Petroleum (QP) considers the development of the national workforce as an effective way of ensuring the continued availability of manpower for the various giant projects currently being implemented by the Company.