The effect of political alignment on street-level bureaucrat job satisfaction and motivation

Abstract

This paper examines how political alignment influences the job satisfaction and motivation of street-level bureaucrats (SLBs)—low-level frontline workers implementing policies while interacting directly with the public. I argue that political alignment affects SLBs' job satisfaction and motivation to work harder through three theoretical channels: (1) policy-driven effects, particularly demoralization from implementing disagreeable policies; (2) spill-over effects from other policy areas; and (3) political person-organization fit effects, which result in decreased pride in their employer. Using the International Social Survey Program data from 34 countries, and panel data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, tracking 880 respondents over 30 years, I find a robust link between political alignment and job satisfaction and motivation, and evidence for all three links. These findings underscore the importance of considering political alignment as a key factor in understanding and improving street-level bureaucrat performance beyond policy-specific and client-specific contexts.