Motivating factors at work: A comparative study between the public and private sectors of Brazil

This study aimed to identify the motivational and demotivation factors and of public and private employees from the city of João Pessoa – Paraíba - Brazil. It was developed with a sample of 201 participants, in which 121 were private servers and 80 public servers. The instruments used for data collection were: Motivation Multifactor Scale at Work, complementary issues related to work motivation and the socio-demographic questionnaire. The results showed no differences between the two sectors regarding questions of stability and recognition at work. As for the factors that motivated and demotivate at work, compensation was the most cited by both sectors, followed by other relevant, as recognition and growth opportunity. In addition, employees from public sector indicated a greater motivation to work over the private. In short, it is considered that this study may contribute to the development of motivational policies that take into account the particularities of each sector and to each employee.