The experience of the performance-related pay in Italy’s high school system

Abstract

PurposeThis article draws on data from a qualitative study conducted in Italy that explored the effects of performance-related pay (PRP) among five hundred high school teachers. Design/methodology/approachQualitative StudiesFindingsThese results are consistent with theoretical predictions that monetary incentives for activities with a strong social impact may crowd out employee image motivation. This study documents that the use of monetary incentives is neither necessary nor desirable and the pay-for-performance does not affect the intrinsic motivation of teaching staff employees.Originality/valueThis work advances the conversation on relative pay in the field of Higher Education in Italy.