What are the six basic needs of workers?

• A. Salary, benefits, and bonuses, etc.
• B. Security, inclusion and connection, power, control, competence, and justice or fairness
• C. Autonomy, mastery, purpose, belonging, recognition, and safety
• D. Stability, benefits, schedule, location, morale, and health

Answer: (B)

People are motivated at work when a core set of needs is met, spanning safety, social connection, personal influence, capability, and fairness. Security covers the need for a stable, safe environment and predictable conditions. Inclusion and connection address belonging and positive relationships with colleagues, so people feel part of a team. Power and control reflect having a voice and influence over decisions that affect one’s work, supporting autonomy and agency. Competence covers the opportunity to develop skills and achieve mastery, which fuels confidence and engagement. Justice or fairness ensures that treatment, rewards, and procedures are perceived as equitable, which sustains trust and motivation.

This combination—security, inclusion and connection, power, control, competence, and fairness—captures a broad, foundational set of needs that apply across roles and contexts, making it the best fit for describing the six basic needs of workers. The other options emphasize monetary rewards, a mix of motivators, or specific job attributes, which don’t describe the same comprehensive set of universal needs as clearly.