A Qualitative Study on the Sector Switching phenomenon among Nurses in Manila, Philippines

Abstract

The mobility of nurses from private sector to public sector is prevalent in the Philippines. However, literature on sector switching, especially on the health sector of the country, remains limited. Sector switching is an important phenomenon that casts light on the difference between public and private sectors. The study focuses on understanding the factors that affect nurses to transfer from private hospitals to public hospitals, comparing the changes on workplace setting that occurred when respondents transferred, and analyzing its effects on employee motivation from a Philippine perspective. The study has adapted John Adam’s equity theory which suggests that employees are in constant call for balance between input and output. Subtle and collective factors affect everyone’s assessment and perception of their relationship with their work, and thereby with their employer. Moreover, these subtle factors affect employee motivation. It was found that respondents were not able to achieve job equity when they were still working in the private sector. Thus, urging them to transfer to public sector where the imblanace of input and output is addressed. The most crucial outputs that employees consider in measuring the balance between input and outputs are job benefits and job autonomy. After transferring to public sector, nurses found themselves contented and satisfied with the outputs they are receiving. With their needs being addressed justly, nurses have become more motivated to work. As a result, they become more productive to work and perform their duties.