The aim of this research was to test whether work motivation is affected by global motivational orientation or by the perception of the degree of satisfaction of basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness in a work context. Self-determination theory provided conceptual framework. The sample comprised 428 respondents. The following scales were used: the Global Motivation Scale, the Basic Need Satisfaction at Work Scale, while the scale for measuring work motivation was designed for the purposes of this research paper. Regression analysis was applied. The results show that every aspect of work motivation is mostly under the influence of the eponymous tendency on the level of a global motivational orientation. The influence of environmental factors associated with the work context on an individual's work motivation depends mostly on the perception of the degree of satisfaction of the need for competence at work.
