Still important? Impacts of factors influencing job satisfaction during/after COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose This study investigates how the impacts of factors influencing job satisfaction, specifically job security, pay and compensation, peer relationships, supervision and growth opportunities, changed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. By applying the job demands-resources (JD-R) model, this study aims to understand how crisis periods reshape employees’ job satisfaction priorities and provide theoretical and practical insights for managing workforce satisfaction in dynamic environments. Design/methodology/approach This study used a cross-sectional survey design, collecting data from employees in Germany and Turkey in 2023. Participants were asked to retrospectively assess their job satisfaction across three distinct periods: before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire was based on the Job Diagnostic Survey and used a five-point Likert scale to measure various job satisfaction factors. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the changing impacts of satisfaction factors over these periods, including Chow and Wald tests. The validity of the measurement model was confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis. Findings Results showed that job security emerged as the most critical determinant of job satisfaction after the pandemic, with its impact significantly increasing. Pay and compensation had a more substantial effect during the pandemic but became less influential afterwards. The impact of peer and co-worker relationships is significant before and during the pandemic, but gradually diminished. The importance of supervisory support declined during the pandemic but resurged afterwards. Growth opportunities were found to be particularly important during the crisis but less significant post-pandemic. These shifts highlight the dynamic nature of employee satisfaction drivers in response to external disruptions. Originality/value This study contributes to the job satisfaction literature by examining how employees perceive shifts in job satisfaction factors across different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the JD-R framework, this research explores how employees’ priorities and perceptions of job satisfaction factors may have evolved during the crisis. By focusing not only on satisfaction levels but also on the impacts of specific job factors, this study offers a nuanced perspective that enhances understanding of employee needs during times of crisis. The findings provide practical implications for human resource management, offering insights into how organisations can better support their workforce in navigating future crises.