Organizational reward systems: Implications for climate

This study investigated the role of systematically different organizational reward structures upon individual perceptions of the reward climate. Nurses in a naval hospital worked for the same supervisors but were subject to either tenure-contingent (N=73) or behavior-contingent (N=50) reward systems. No differences in perceived reward climate were found between the two groups. In the tenure-contingent group, job attitudes reflected individual characteristics rather than perceived climate. The opposite relationship was found for the behavior-contingent group.Support for this research was provided under Office of Naval Research Contract RR942-08-01 NR 170-915. Opinions expressed are those of the author. No endorsement by the Department of the Navy has been given, nor should it be inferred. Portions of the study were conducted while the author was at the Naval Health Research Center in San Diego. The author would like to thank R. J. Bullock, Mark C. Butler, L. R. James, and R. D. Pritchard for their helpful comments and assistance.