Factors that lead to pleasure and suffering at work: A study on the view of federal public accountants in the executive branch

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the factors that lead federal public accountants of the executive branch to conditions of pleasure and suffering in the professional context, based on the psychodynamics of work. Method: qualitative descriptive research, through interviews with accountants and managers in public agencies. Results: among the situations that caused suffering, negative impacts of management, career and human resources issues, and lack of participation in decision-making processes were verified. Among the factors that evoke pleasure at work, the following stood out: positive relationships with work; positive interpersonal relationships and the satisfaction of multiplying their knowledge in pairs. Conclusions: professionals face great limitations and challenges in their daily activities in their staffing organs, and the experiences of suffering stand out from those of pleasure. The lack of representation of the category in relation to other professions understood by the interviewees is one of the main limiting factors for attracting new talents in the profession, aggravated by the low salaries paid in the executive branch, which has been a factor in the exodus of younger people from the profession.