Which is an example of Hygiene Factors?

• A. Pay, working conditions, Department policies/rules, supervision, and job security
• B. Achievement, recognition, work itself, responsibility, advancement, growth
• C. Autonomy, responsibility
• D. Intrinsic motivation

Answer: (A)

Hygiene factors are the external aspects of a job—the conditions around the work that can cause discomfort or dissatisfaction if they’re poor, but don’t by themselves create lasting motivation when they’re adequate. The option that lists pay, working conditions, department policies or rules, supervision, and job security fits this idea, because these elements are about the surrounding environment and organizational context that prevent dissatisfaction when they’re fair and adequate.

The other options describe factors that are typically considered motivators—elements of the job itself that can enhance satisfaction and drive engagement when present, such as achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility, advancement, and growth. Autonomy and responsibility relate to how the job is designed and can boost motivation, and intrinsic motivation is a broader concept about doing work for its own sake rather than for external conditions. Therefore, the set of factors in the first option best exemplifies hygiene factors.