Relationship between Effort Reward Imbalance and Work Engagement among Medical Staff in Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Analytic Study

Author(s): Doaa Kamal, Nourhan F. Wasfy, Almass Fathi Hassan Taie, Sarah Eltouny, Ahmed Mohamed Sanad, Enjy Abouzeid, Sally Fouad

Background Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) model is a model that suggests that any work-related benefit should be based on the principle of a relationship between efforts and rewards at work. The medical staff as one of the healthcare professionals faces different stressors, challenges, heavy workload, and emotional distress. Continuous exposure to these stresses without being adequately rewarded adversely affects their health, increases burnout levels, and could undermine their level of work engagement. Aim This study aims to explore the relationships between effort-reward imbalance and work engagement among health care medical staff. Methods Two self-administered questionnaires were used and distributed in online formats: ERI was assessed using Siegrist effort-reward imbalance questionnaire and work engagement was assessed using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale questionnaire. The data was collected from 283 participants belonging to 26 health care institutions in Egypt. Result This study showed that the mean effort-reward ratio was high for most of the study participants, while total work engagement showed a moderate mean score. It also showed that Effort-Reward Ratio had a significant negative correlation with work engagement. Conclusion This study concludes that the imbalance in the effort rewards ratio leads to a decrease in work engagement. Esteem and promotion rewards together with age are good predictors of work engagement. Therefore, stakeholders should balance effort and reward, and provide opportunities for career development and self-actualization. Additionally, health managers should help healthcare medical staff balance the effort exerted and value of their work and try to keep them devoted to their work.