Reward Preferences of Chinese Employees Within and Between Nations: Does Location Matter?

This study explores the impact of Chinese employees’ location on financial reward preferences. The findings indicate that different financial reward preference exist within and between nations. According to a previous study, if employees have the same cultural values, they are likely to have similar reward preferences. However, the present study argues that even employees who have the same cultural values may have different financial reward preferences depending on their job location. For example, Chinese workers in Korea exhibited a stronger preference for financial rewards than those in China. In addition, employees in the eastern regions of China exhibited a stronger preference for financial rewards than those in the central and western regions of China. Employees in regions with more than four economic development zones perceived financial rewards as being more important than those in regions with only one economic development zone. Similarly, employees working in non-hometown locations placed a more value on financial rewards than those working in their hometown. This study extends our understanding of financial reward preferences and contributes to the prevailing literature by identifying the location of employees as a potential determinant of reward preferences. The complexity of financial reward preferences can be better understood if one considers the location of employees in addition to their culture.