Bridging the theoretical gap in the study of reward and employee wellbeing

Employee wellbeing has become an important area of interest in human resource management and organisational psychology, particularly in the public sector. This conceptual paper examines how both rewards, financial and non-financial, influence the wellbeing of public sector employees in Malaysia. Based on multidisciplinary literature, the research employs the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory to elucidate how rewards are essential resources that safeguard employees from stress and improve their wellbeing. The discussion highlights that while financial rewards provide employees with security and stability, non-financial rewards play an equally important role in sustaining motivation, psychological health, and long-term engagement. By critically synthesising past studies, the paper develops a conceptual understanding of how reward systems may be designed to strengthen employee wellbeing in the public sector. The paper contributes to theory by enriching the application of COR in the context of rewards and wellbeing and to practice by offering insights for policymakers and human resource managers in designing more holistic remuneration frameworks. It also provides directions for future research to address unresolved questions in this area.