Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and the Filipino Workforce in the Spa Industry

The tourism industry has flourished in the recent years. Parallel to this growth is the growth of service-oriented businesses, particularly the spa businesses. This study aims to determine the Hierarchy of Needs of the Filipino Spa workers vis-àa-vis Maslow‘s Hierarchy of Needs. It utilized a descriptive design in gathering the data using a researcher-made tool. The sample included 138 managerial and non-managerial spa workers who were chosen through a simple random sampling technique. A total of 70 (50.7%), 32 (23.3%) and 36 (26%) of the respondents came from the small-scale, medium-scale and large-scale spa establishments. The respondents in all the establishments were mostly young adults between the ages 20 and 35 years old, the youngest and oldest being 19 years old and 46 years old. All spa establishments had more female than male spa workers, with 47.1% (33 out of 70), 90,6% (29 out of 32) and 77.7 % (28 out of 36) female workers in the small scale, medium scale and large scale spa establishments, respectively. Overall, seventy-two percent (72%) of the total respondents are females, while fourteen percent (14%) are males. Sixteen percent (16%) did not indicate their gender. The small scale spa establishments hire workers with the least educational attainment compared to the medium or large scale spa establishments that require at least a certain level in college. The study showed that spa employees in small scale establishments serve the shortest, staying only as long as five to seven months. The medium and large scale spa establishments are able to retain employees at a minimum of 2 years to a maximum of 20 years. Medium and large scale spa establishments have a more structured organization, with clearer job descriptions and functions of the workers compared to the small scale spa establishments who are expected to take on multiple tasks such as receptionist and cleaners. As the establishments grows the provisions provided becomes more extensive in terms of employee benefits and morale. As a result, the spa workforce are generally satisfied working in the spa establishment. Across all spa industry scales, both managerial and non-managerial workers ranked safety needs and physiological needs as the foremost and least of the priorities. The spa workforce presented with a two-level hierarchy of needs, the primary level was defined as very highly needed and the secondary level as highly. Maslow‘s Hierarchy of Needs does apply to the Filipino spa workforce. However, the Filipino workforce uses Maslow‘s Hierarchy of Needs in a different order and level of importance. The observation introduces a new Hierarchy of Needs, with safety needs, social needs, and self-actualization needs as of prime importance occupying the wide base of the pyramid, followed by self-esteem needs and physiological needs as highly needed occupying the peak of the pyramid. The researcher recommends that cross-sectional study should be conducted among the general population with a greater number of respondents. The spa industry should develop and create programs that will suit the needs of the workers and enhance perceived needs given great satisfaction while undermining perceived needs given the least satisfaction.