THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION AND JOB PERFORMANCE IN THE READY-MADE GARMENT SECTOR OF BANGLADESH: A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS

This study empirically investigates the relationship between employee satisfaction and job performance within Bangladesh's Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry, a sector crucial to the nation's economic stability.Despite the RMG sector's significant contribution to export earnings and employment, it remains plagued by issues such as poor working conditions, inadequate wages, and limited career progression, all of which detrimentally affect workforce morale and productivity.Employing a positivist research paradigm and a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 200 employees across multiple RMG factories through a structured questionnaire.The study utilizes Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory as its conceptual framework, distinguishing between hygiene factors (e.g., salary, work environment) and motivators (e.g., recognition, career growth).Statistical analyses-including exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Pearson correlation, and multiple regression-reveal that employee satisfaction is significantly influenced by three primary dimensions: compensation and welfare, interpersonal relations, and working conditions.Among these, interpersonal relations exhibit the strongest correlation with overall satisfaction.Furthermore, a robust positive relationship is established between satisfaction levels and various performance metrics, with job satisfaction and intention to stay emerging as key predictors of performance outcomes.Strategic human resource interventionsparticularly structured training, transparent recognition systems, and career advancement opportunities-are identified as potent levers for enhancing both satisfaction and performance.The findings hold substantial implications for HR practitioners, factory management, and policymakers, offering evidence-based strategies to foster a more engaged, productive, and sustainable workforce in Bangladesh's RMG sector.The study concludes by acknowledging its limitations, primarily its cross-sectional nature, and suggests directions for future research, including longitudinal studies and mixed-method approaches to deepen understanding of the satisfaction-performance nexus in laborintensive industries.