Workplace attitude differs in private, public sectors

LONDON - High levels of emotional intelligence (EI) foster positive attitudes at private sector workplaces, but not in the public sector, a study says.

The results emphasise the existence of significant behavioral differences between the private and public sectors, says Galit Meisler of the University of Haifa in Israel, who conducted the study.

“Executives intending to carry out reforms or implement management plans in the public sector should be well aware of these differences, explains Meisler, according to a Haifa statement.

Emotional intelligence describes the ability or capacity to perceive, assess and manage the emotions of oneself and of others.

The study, supervised by Professor Eran Vigoda-Gadot, surveyed 809 employees and managers within four organisations - two in the public sector and two in the private sector.

A comparison between the two sectors revealed a higher level of organisational politics in the public sector.

The political skills of public sector employees were much more developed. Yet, significant differences in employees’ emotional intelligence level were not found.

The study shows that EI has a much greater impact on private sector employees’ perceptions and attitudes compared to public sector employees.

Moreover, the study found that employees from the public sector were more likely to use forceful influence tactics, regardless of their emotional intelligence level.

In the private sector, however, employees with a higher level of emotional intelligence were less likely to use such tactics.