Hygiene factors are job factors that can cause dissatisfaction if missing but do not necessarily motivate employees if increased.

Hygiene factors have mostly to do with the job environment. These factors are important or notable only when they are lacking.

Hygiene factors are part of Frederick Herzberg's theory on job motivation.

List of Hygiene Factors

• Company policy and administration
• Supervision
• Working conditions
• Interpersonal relations(co-workers)
• Salary, status and job security

(Hertzberg called them hygiene factors because they prevent dissatisfaction only when present instead of increasing satisfaction; just as hygiene prevents disease only when present rather than increasing well-being.)