Abstract
Summary: This study examines factors related to employee attrition in a US state social service organization (SSSO) that administers welfare, food stamps, and Medicaid. Findings: Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 132 former SSSO employees. Qualitative analyses found that informants reported insufficient resources to do their jobs, inconsistent or inadequate training experiences, negative perceptions of the organizational culture and management (e.g. minimal recognition and inadequate support for professional growth or innovation), and typically positive perceptions of co-worker relationships during their tenures at the SSSO. To examine the relative impact of these factors and background variables (age, race, office location, and position) on duration of employment, a multiple linear regression was conducted. Age, office location, position, and perceptions of organizational culture significantly predicted duration of employment (F(7,123) = 24.19, p lt; .001, R2 = .56). Application: Findings suggest that organizational culture may be an important change target for retaining workers in SSSOs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 407-435 |
| Number of pages | 29 |
| Journal | Journal of Social Work |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 28 2010 |
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Keywords
- attrition
- human service
- organizational change
- organizational culture
- public sector
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health(social science)
- Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
Cite this
Understanding attrition and predicting employment durations of former staff in a public social service organization. / Thaden, Emily; Jacobs-Priebe, Lynette; Evans, Scot.
In: Journal of Social Work, Vol. 10, No. 4, 28.09.2010, p. 407-435.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding attrition and predicting employment durations of former staff in a public social service organization
AU - Thaden, Emily
AU - Jacobs-Priebe, Lynette
AU - Evans, Scot
PY - 2010/9/28
Y1 - 2010/9/28
N2 - Summary: This study examines factors related to employee attrition in a US state social service organization (SSSO) that administers welfare, food stamps, and Medicaid. Findings: Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 132 former SSSO employees. Qualitative analyses found that informants reported insufficient resources to do their jobs, inconsistent or inadequate training experiences, negative perceptions of the organizational culture and management (e.g. minimal recognition and inadequate support for professional growth or innovation), and typically positive perceptions of co-worker relationships during their tenures at the SSSO. To examine the relative impact of these factors and background variables (age, race, office location, and position) on duration of employment, a multiple linear regression was conducted. Age, office location, position, and perceptions of organizational culture significantly predicted duration of employment (F(7,123) = 24.19, p lt; .001, R2 = .56). Application: Findings suggest that organizational culture may be an important change target for retaining workers in SSSOs.
AB - Summary: This study examines factors related to employee attrition in a US state social service organization (SSSO) that administers welfare, food stamps, and Medicaid. Findings: Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 132 former SSSO employees. Qualitative analyses found that informants reported insufficient resources to do their jobs, inconsistent or inadequate training experiences, negative perceptions of the organizational culture and management (e.g. minimal recognition and inadequate support for professional growth or innovation), and typically positive perceptions of co-worker relationships during their tenures at the SSSO. To examine the relative impact of these factors and background variables (age, race, office location, and position) on duration of employment, a multiple linear regression was conducted. Age, office location, position, and perceptions of organizational culture significantly predicted duration of employment (F(7,123) = 24.19, p lt; .001, R2 = .56). Application: Findings suggest that organizational culture may be an important change target for retaining workers in SSSOs.
KW - attrition
KW - human service
KW - organizational change
KW - organizational culture
KW - public sector
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77956950122&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77956950122&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1468017310369606
DO - 10.1177/1468017310369606
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77956950122
VL - 10
SP - 407
EP - 435
JO - Journal of Social Work
JF - Journal of Social Work
SN - 1468-0173
IS - 4
ER -