Many theories of behavior at work fail to consider the effects of the physical environment on employees' behavior and attitudes. The purpose of this research was to gather evidence of the construct validity of the Physical Work Environment Satisfaction Questionnaire (PWESQ) and of the validity of the physical work environment satisfaction construct. Evidence of the construct validity of the PWESQ was sought through its administration, along with a number of established measures of work attitudes, to 641 employees in 8 organizations. The data provided evidence of the validity of both the physical work environment satisfaction construct and the PWESQ as a valid measure of that construct. Practical and theoretical implications, as well as implications for future research, are discussed.

This study examined the direct and interactive relationships among several elements of the physical work environment (i.e., type of office, personal computer [PC] use, and ergonomic furniture), types of work (i.e., clerical, professional, and managerial, and supervisory versus nonsupervisory), and employee attitudes (i.e., satisfaction and environmental perceptions). Two-hundred and twenty-eight employees of a large bank completed questionnaires. Analyses of variance revealed both direct and interactive effects. Differences were found across those with and without PCs and ergonomic furniture on various attitudes and perceptions. Differences were also found across office types, as were interactive effects among work types and office types. These results support the hypothesis that relationships among these variables are complex and interactive, and illustrate that perceptions of the physical environment are moderated by the job level and the type of work people perform.

This paper presents findings from an extensive study into factors that impact upon the high rate of injuries due to mechanical equipment, especially in small manufacturing firms. Issues relating to knowledge of health and safety issues and to management practices have been shown to be extremely important with regards to safety in small businesses. Knowledge and awareness of hazards were found to be relatively low and few respondents, especially managers, had received adequate safety training. Managers did not regard the identification and control of risks as a priority. Workplaces generally lacked effective safety management procedures such as safety rules and regulations, procedures for recording and learning from accidents, and clearly defined responsibilities for safety. Some issues requiring further investigation, and some recommendations for improving safety in small businesses, are presented.

This study examined the hypothesis that the well‐established relationship between hierarchical job level and employee affective outcomes is mediated by perceptions of work and workplace. A total of 228 employees of a large bank completed questionnaires. Analyses of variance and covariance revealed that employee perceptions of control and influence (i.e. work experiences) and perceptions of privacy and crowding (i.e. workplace experiences) accounted for job grade differences in satisfaction and turnover intentions. These results provide support for an application of the Job Characteristics Model, suggest a potential extension of the model, and illustrate the significant effects of employee perceptions of work and workplace on affective outcomes.