Pengorbanan Atau Pilihan? Pendekatan Kualitatif Terhadap Karyawan yang Mengabdi Tanpa Kompensasi Finansial

Abstrak

Amid modernization that emphasizes material aspects, an interesting phenomenon has emerged in the form of individuals who choose to work without receiving financial compensation. This study focuses on exploring the reasons, experiences, and meanings associated with voluntary service among employees who receive no economic compensation. Using a phenomenological qualitative method, this study examines the personal narratives of 15 informants from three different backgrounds: interns, social volunteers, and devotees in Islamic institutions. Data collection was conducted through in-depth interviews, direct observation, and documentary studies, and then analyzed using a thematic approach. Initial findings reveal that the choice to serve without pay is based on inner motivation, spiritual values, emotional attachment to the organization, and the search for meaning in life. This study shows that their actions cannot be understood absolutely as a form of sacrifice or mere choice, but rather are the result of complex dynamics between individual values, social context, and life direction. The results of this study contribute to the development of policies in the fields of employment, volunteer management, and appreciation of non-material contributions in society