Public vs. Private Employees: Investigating the Difference in Perceived Supervisor Support, Work Stress, and Work Engagement
List of Authors
Hawa Rahmat, Hazalizah Hamzah, Muhammad Hazbullah Muhamad Said, Nadia Fariha Md Bahar, Nurul Sakinah Aziz, Siti Nor Fatihah Abdul Aziz
Keyword
Public Sector; Private Sector; Work Stress; Work Engagement; Supervisor Support
Abstract
Workplaces are highly competitive. In this fast-paced modern workplace, employees frequently encounter high levels of stress that can hurt their health, work engagement, and job performance. The discussion over the differences between the private and public sectors has been a longstanding and ongoing discussion for decades. This study investigates the differences between public and private employees regarding work stress, work engagement, and supervisor support. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used, employing an online survey with a purposive sample of 175 Malaysian employees, age (m=30.48, SD=9.027), and gender (M=187, F=213). The study sample consisted of 113 individuals in the private sector and 62 in the public sector. All participants were of Malay ethnicity and had a minimum of six months of work experience. The study utilised standardised measures, including the General Work Stress Scale, Social Support Scale, and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. The results showed private-sector employees reported higher levels of work-related stress [t (173) = -2.065, p = .040]. Public employees reported significantly higher perceived supervisor support [t (173) = 2.161, p = .032] and work engagement [t (173) = 2.173, p = .031] than private employees. These findings emphasise the significance of interventions targeted at certain sectors to improve the well-being and productivity of employees. Public-sector organisations prioritise maintaining their substantial support systems, whereas private-sector organisations could develop efficiencies by introducing strategies that reduce stress and promote higher levels of job engagement. Further research should investigate the underlying causes behind these differences to formulate effective interventions.