DOI: 10.5061/dryad.g4f4qrfwk
title: Contingent reward, punishment and employee performance

description: Background: This paper investigated the connection between transactional
 leadership styles, contingent rewards, punishments, and employee
 performance while emphasizing employee engagement's mediating role.
 Existing research has predominantly focused on isolated associations
 between contingent rewards, punishment, and employee performance, leaving
 gaps in the empirical exploration of these mediating mechanisms. To
 address this research gap, our study has introduced a conceptual framework
 to understand the multifaceted connection between contingent rewards,
 punishment, and their effects on employee performance, with a specific
 emphasis on the mediating function of employee engagement. Methods: We
 involved 273 full-time non-clinical healthcare professionals employed in
 NABH-accredited hospitals in Jharkhand, India. A structured survey
 instrument was employed for data collection from the specific survey
 participants, with the investigation of the research hypotheses conducted
 through the application of partial least squares-structural equation
 modeling (PLS-SEM).  Results: Preliminary findings suggested that
 contingent rewards and punishment do not directly influence employee
 performance. Instead, our study highlighted the critical mediating role of
 employee engagement, particularly its dimensions of Vigor, absorption, and
 dedication. Conclusions: This research has underscored rewards and
 punishments as essential tools for influencing employee behaviour,
 motivation, and performance. Employee engagement, as a multifaceted
 construct, not only benefits individual employees but also significantly
 impacts overall organizational performance and success.
description: 1. **Title:** Coded respondent's survey data to analyze the impact of
 contingent rewards and punishments on employee performance, while employee
 engagement plays a mediating role. 2. **Introduction:** This study has
 introduced a conceptual framework to understand the multifaceted
 connection between contingent rewards, punishment, and their effects on
 employee performance, with a specific emphasis on the mediating function
 of employee engagement. This study contained 4 major study variables. To
 measure these constructs well-established measurement scales have been
 employed. A total of 49 items (6 demographic variables and 43 study
 variables items) were used to conduct the survey. **3. Dataset
 Description:** **Source:** data was obtained from non-clinical healthcare
 professionals who are basically not directly related to direct patient
 care services. They are responsible for all the supportive and auxiliary
 healthcare services who are working in the NABH-accredited hospitals, in
 India. All 5 functional departments were included such as operations,
 general administration, quality assurance, patient care services, and the
 health insurance department. **Data collection methods:** A
 non-experimental survey-based questionnaire was distributed online and
 offline to the respondents. A purposive sampling technique was followed.
 Respondents were provided a consent form where they were assured that any
 time of the survey, they could leave without any accountability. All
 personal details will be kept confidential. **Data coding:** The datasheet
 contains two sections. Demographic variables were captured through
 categorical scales and study variables were based on 5-item Likert scales
 where 5 =strongly agree, 4= agree, 3= neutral, 2= disagree, 1= strongly
 disagree. Items with negative intentions were coded reversely. There was
 no missing data, outliers and data transformations happened.
 ***Demographic variables.*** 1\)      Gender: Male- 1/ Female – 2 / Prefer
 not to say – 3 2\)      Marital status: Bachelor – 1 / Married- 2 /
 Divorced- 3 3\)      Age: Less than 22yrs -1 / 22-27 years. – 2 / 28
 -33yrs. – 3 / 34 -39yrs. – 4 / Above 40yrs. – 5 4\)      Educational
 Qualifications: Upto class-xii (PUC) – 1 / Diploma -2 / Graduate – 3 /
 Post graduate -4 / Others -5 5\)      Year of experience in current
 organization: Less than 2 yrs -1 /2-5yrs – 2 /  5-8 yrs -3 /8-11yrs. -
 4          / 11-14 yrs - 5  / More than 14 yrs. – 6 6\)      Total work
 experience: Less than 3 yrs -1 /3-6 yrs -2 /6-9 yrs -3 /9-11 yrs -4 / More
 than 11 yrs - 5 *Study variables:* i.    Contingent Rewards – CR
 ii.   Contingent Punishment – CP iii.   Employee Performance – EP
 iv.   Vigor – V v.    Absorption – A vi.   Dedication - D *Measurement
 scales:* | Variable Name | No. of Items | Measurement Scales | |
 -------------------------- | ------------ |
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Contingent Rewards (CR) | 8 items | (Podsakoff P. M., MacKenzie, Moorman, & Fetter, 1990) and (MacKenzie, Podsakoff, & Rich, 2001) | | Contingent Punishment (CP) | | | | Vigor (V) | 17 items | (Schaufeli W. B., Salanova, Roma, & Bakker, 2002) | | Absorption (A) | | | | Dedication (D) | | | | Employee Performance (EP) | 18 items | (Villagrasaa, Barrada, Río, & Koopmans, 2019) | *Measurement scale items:* | **Variables name** | **Item Codes** | **Item Statements** | | --------------------------- | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Contingent Rewards (CR) | CR1 | My supervisor always gives me positive feedback when I perform well. | | | CR2 | My supervisor gives me special recognition when my work is very good. | | | CR3 | My supervisor commends me when I do a better-than-average job. | | | CR4 | My supervisor compliments me personally when I do outstanding work. | | | CR5 | My supervisor does not acknowledge my good performance frequently. | | Contingent Punishments (CP) | CP1 | My supervisor would indicate his/her disapproval if I performed at a low level. | | | CP2 | My supervisor informed me about my poor performance. | | | CP3 | My supervisor points it out to me when my productivity is not up to par. | | Vigor (V) | V1 | When I get up in the morning, I feel like going to work. | | | V2 | At my work, I feel bursting with energy. | | | V3 | At my work I always persevere, even when things do not go well. | | | V4 | I can continue working for very long periods of time. | | | V5 | At my job, I am very resilient, mentally. | | | V6 | At my job, I feel strong and vigorous. | | Absorption (A) | A1 | When I am working, I forget everything else around me. | | | A2 | Time flies when I am working | | | A3 | I get carried away when I am working. | | | A4 | It is difficult to detach myself from my job. | | | A5 | I am immersed in my work. | | | A6 | I feel happy when I am working intensely. | | Dedication (D) | D1 | To me, my job is challenging. | | | D2 | My job inspires me. | | | D3 | I am enthusiastic about my job. | | | D4 | I am proud of the work that I do. | | | D5 | I find the work that I do full of meaning and purpose. | | Employee Performance (EP) | EP1 | I managed to plan my work so that I finished it on time | | | EP2 | I kept in mind the work result I needed to achieve | | | EP3 | I was able to set priorities | | | EP4 | I was able to carry out my work efficiently | | | EP5 | I managed my time well | | | EP6 | On my own initiative, I started new task when my old tasks were completed | | | EP7 | I took on challenging tasks when they were available | | | EP8 | I worked on keeping my job-related knowledge up to date | | | EP9 | I worked on keeping my work skills up to date | | | EP10 | I came up with creative solutions for new problems | | | EP11 | I took on extra responsibilities. | | | EP12 | I continually sought new challenges in my work | | | EP13 | I actively participated in meetings and/or consultations | | | EP14 | I complained about minor work-related issues at work | | | EP15 | I made problems at work bigger than they were | | | EP16 | I focused on the negative aspects of the situation at work instead of the positive aspects | | | EP17 | I talked to colleagues about the negative aspects of my work | | | EP18 | I talked to people outside the organization about the negative aspects of my work | ***Final Questionnaire*** ***Demographic variables.*** 1\)      Gender: Male Female Prefer not to say.   2\)      Marital status:             Bachelor Married Divorced   3\)      Age: Less than 22yrs 22-27 years. 28 -33yrs. 34 -39yrs. Above 40yrs.   4\)      Educational Qualifications: Up to class-xii (PUC) Diploma Graduate Postgraduate Others   5\)      Year of experience in current organization: Less than 2 yrs 2-5yrs 5-8 yrs 8-11yrs. 11-14 yrs More than 14 yrs.   6\)      Total work experience : Less than 3 yrs 3-6 yrs 6-9 yrs 9-11 yrs More than 11 yrs.        ***Study variables:***                            i.             Contingent Rewards – CR                          ii.            Contingent Punishment – CP                       iii.             Employee Performance – EP                        iv.             Vigor – V                          v.            Absorption – A                        vi.             Dedication - D   ***Measurement scales:*** | Variable Name | No. of Items | Measurement Scales | | | :------------------------- | :----------- | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :- | | Contingent Rewards (CR) | |  (Podsakoff P. M., MacKenzie, Moorman, & Fetter, 1990) and (MacKenzie, Podsakoff, & Rich, 2001) | | | Contingent Punishment (CP) | | | | | Vigor (V) | |  (Schaufeli W. B., Salanova, Roma, & Bakker, 2002). | | | Absorption (A) | | | | | Dedication (D) | | | | | Employee Performance (EP) | 18 items | (Villagrasaa, Barrada, Río, & Koopmans, 2019) | |   *Measurement scale items:* | **Variable Codes** | **Item Statements** | **Strongly Agree (5)** | **Agree (4)** | **Neutral (3)** | **Disagree (2)** | **Strongly Disagree (1)** | | :----------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------- | :------------ | :-------------- | :--------------- | :------------------------ | | CR1 | My supervisor always gives me positive feedback when I perform well. |   |   |   |   |   | | CR2 | My supervisor gives me special recognition when my work is very good. |   |   |   |   |   | | CR3 | My supervisor commends me when I do a better-than-average job. |   |   |   |   |   | | CR4 | My supervisor compliments me personally when I do outstanding work. |   |   |   |   |   | | CR5 | My supervisor does not acknowledge my good performance frequently. |   |   |   |   |   | | CP1 | My supervisor would indicate his/her disapproval if I performed at a low level. |   |   |   |   |   | | CP2 | My supervisor informed me about my poor performance. |   |   |   |   |   | | CP3 | My supervisor points it out to me when my productivity is not up to par. |   |   |   |   |   | | V1 | When I get up in the morning, I feel like going to work. |   |   |   |   |   | | V2 | At my work, I feel bursting with energy. |   |   |   |   |   | | V3 | At my work I always persevere, even when things do not go well. |   |   |   |   |   | | V4 | I can continue working for very long periods of time. |   |   |   |   |   | | V5 | At my job, I am very resilient, mentally. |   |   |   |   |   | | V6 | At my job, I feel strong and vigorous. |   |   |   |   |   | | A1 | When I am working, I forget everything else around me. |   |   |   |   |   | | A2 | Time flies when I am working |   |   |   |   |   | | A3 | I get carried away when I am working. |   |   |   |   |   | | A4 | It is difficult to detach myself from my job. |   |   |   |   |   | | A5 | I am immersed in my work. |   |   |   |   |   | | A6 | I feel happy when I am working intensely. |   |   |   |   |   | | D1 | To me, my job is challenging. |   |   |   |   |   | | D2 | My job inspires me. |   |   |   |   |   | | D3 | I am enthusiastic about my job. |   |   |   |   |   | | D4 | I am proud of the work that I do. |   |   |   |   |   | | D5 | I find the work that I do full of meaning and purpose. |   |   |   |   |   | | EP1 | I managed to plan my work so that I finished it on time |   |   |   |   |   | | EP2 | I kept in mind the work result I needed to achieve |   |   |   |   |   | | EP3 | I was able to set priorities |   |   |   |   |   | | EP4 | I was able to carry out my work efficiently |   |   |   |   |   | | EP5 | I managed my time well |   |   |   |   |   | | EP6 | On my own initiative, I started new task when my old tasks were completed |   |   |   |   |   | | EP7 | I took on challenging tasks when they were available |   |   |   |   |   | | EP8 | I worked on keeping my job-related knowledge up to date |   |   |   |   |   | | EP9 | I worked on keeping my work skills up to date |   |   |   |   |   | | EP10 | I came up with creative solutions for new problems |   |   |   |   |   | | EP11 | I took on extra responsibilities. |   |   |   |   |   | | EP12 | I continually sought new challenges in my work |   |   |   |   |   | | EP13 | I actively participated in meetings and/or consultations |   |   |   |   |   | | EP14 | I complained about minor work-related issues at work |   |   |   |   |   | | EP15 | I made problems at work bigger than they were |   |   |   |   |   | | EP16 | I focused on the negative aspects of the situation at work instead of the positive aspects |   |   |   |   |   | | EP17 | I talked to colleagues about the negative aspects of my work |   |   |   |   |   | | EP18 | I talked to people outside the organization about the negative aspects of my work |   |   |   |   |   |