Job satisfaction and social rewards in the social services
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31265/jcsw.v5i1.51Keywords:
job satisfaction, social service workers, rewards, social support, recognitionAbstract
This article investigates the sources of job satisfaction among practitioners and managers employed in the Norwegian public social services and the professionals´ perception of social rewards in particular. Being valued, receiving praise and positive feedback are considered to be important aspects of job satisfaction. Nevertheless the expertise and competence of social workers is not always acknowledged. A central question raised is whether the workers´ job satisfaction is influenced by their opportunities for support and recognition, compared to other (intrinsic and organisational) rewarding aspects available to social service workers. The empirical data come from a 2004 quantitative survey among social workers in local welfare agencies. Despite conflicting demands and lack of resources in the front line services, findings indicate that managers and practitioners perceive their work as overall equally satisfying. Still, the managers find their job more interesting and challenging due to their position, reporting higher feelings of accomplishment and control over work. Receiving public approval and co-worker support are positively associated with job satisfaction within both work positions, while superior support and client recognition were found to be significantly rewarding aspects to the practitioners only. The final discussion addresses the challenges for an organizational climate that sustain the worth and contribution of social professionals
References
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Acker, G. M. (1999): The impact of clients´ mental illness on social workers´ job satisfaction and burnout. Health and Social Work, 24 (2),112-119
Allen, N.J., & Meyer, J.P.(1990): The measurement and antecedents of affective, continuance and normative commitment to the organisation. Journal of Occupational Psychology, vol. 63, 1-18
Arches, J. (1991). “Social structure, burnout, and job satisfaction”, Social Work, vol.36 (3), 202-206
Balloch, S., Pahl, I. & McLean, J. (1998) “Working in the social services: Job-satisfaction, stress and violence”, British Journal of Social Work, vol. 34 (6), 871-895.
Blood, M.R.(1969) Work Values and job satisfaction. Journal of Applied Psychology, vol. 53, 456-459
Bussing, A. (1999) A dynamic model of work satisfaction: qualitative approaches. Human relation. Vol. 52, 999-1028
Carver, C., Scheier, M. and Weintraub, J. (1989) “Assessing coping strategies: A theoretically based approach”, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 56, 267- 83
Cherniss, C. (1980): Professional burnout in human service organizations. New York: Praeger.
Clark, C. (2005): The Deprofessionalisation Thesis, Accountability and professional character, Social Work & Society, Volume 3 (2): 2005
Collins,R (1990): Changing conceptions in the sociology of the professions, in Torstendal, R og M. Burrage (Ed), The Formations of Professions. Knowledge, State and Strategy. Sage Publication. London
Collins, S. (2008): Statutory social workers; stress, job satisfaction, coping, social support and Individual differences. British Journal of Social Work. Vol 38 (6), 1173-1193
Elspers,K and Westhuis, D.J. (2008): Organisational leadership and its impact on social workers´ job satisfaction: A national study, Administration in Social work..Vol. 32
Evetts, J (2006): Trust and professionalism:Challenges and occupational changes, Current Sociology Vol.54 (4), 515-513). Sage Publications.
Foster, J. J. (2000) Motivation in the workplace, in Chmiel, N. (Ed), Introduction to work and organisational psychology: a European perspective (pp.302-326) Oxford Blackwell Publisher INC.
Freund,A. (2005): Commitment and Job satisfaction as Predictors of Turnover Intentions Among Welfare Workers. Administration in Social Work, Vol. 29 (2) 2005
Gibbs, J. (2001): Maintaining the front line workers in child protection: A case for refocusing supervision. Child Abuse Review, Vol.10, 323-35.
Gibson, F., McGrath, A., NS Reid, N. (1989): “Occupational stress in social work”, British Journal of Social work, vol. 19 (1), 1-18
Hackman, J.R. and Oldham, G.R. (1976): Development of the Job Diagnostic Survey. Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol. 55, 259-285.
Halvorsen,K. (2005): Grunnbok i Helse og Sosialpolitikk. Universitetsforlaget.3 utgave. Oslo.
Harris, J og McDonald, C.(2000): Post-Fordism, the welfare state and the personal social services: A comparison of Australia and Britain, British Journal of Social Work Vol.30, 51-70.
Healy, K. and Meagher. G. (2004): “The Reprofessionalization of Social Work: Collaborative Approaches for Achieving Professional Recognition”. British Journal of Social Work .Vol. 34, 243-260.
Herzberg, F. (1959): The Motivation to Work, John Wiley, New York
Himle, D. Srinika, J., & Thyness, P. (1986): Predictors of job satisfaction, burnout and turnover among social workers in Norway and the USA: a cross-cultural study. International Social Work. Vol.29, 323-34
Himle, D., Jayaratne, S., Thyness, P. (1989): The effects of emotional support on burnout, work stress and mental health among Norwegian and American social workers. Journal of Social Service Research, Vol. 13 (1), 27-45.
Huxley, P. et al (2005): Stress and Pressures in Mental Health Social Work: the Worker Speaks. British Journal of Social Work. Vol. 35, (7), 1063-1079.
Jessen, J.T., (2007): ”Mindre frihet og skjønn i forvaltning av velferd?” Tidsskrift for Velferdsforskning, Vol. 10(4), 246-261.
Jones, F., Fletcher, B. and Ibbetson, K. (1991): “Stressors and strains among social workers: Demands, supports, constraints and psychological health. British Journal of Social Work, vol. 21 (5), 443-69
Jones, C. (2001): “Voices from the front line: State social workers and New Labour. British Journal of Social Work, 31 (4), 547-63
Kalleberg, A.L.(1977): Work, Values and Job Rewards: A Theory of Job satisfaction. American Sociological Review, vol.42 (1), 124-143
Kasarek, R. A. (1979): Job demands , job decision latitude, and mental strain: Implications for job redesign. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24: 285-308
Kasarek,R.A. & Theorell, T. (1990): Healthy Work. New York: Basic Books.
Katzell, R.A. & Thompson, D.E. (1990): Work motivation: Theory and practice. American Psychologist, 45, 144- 153
Koeske, G., Kirk, S., Koeske, R. & Rauktis, M.B. (1994): “Measuring the Monday blues: validation of a job satisfaction scale for the human services”, Social Work Research, vol.18, no 1. pp. 27- 35
Koeske,G.F. & Koeske, R.D. (1989): Workload and burnout: Can social support and perceived accomplishment help? Social Work, 243-248
Koeske,G.F. & Kelly,T. (1995): The impact of over involvement on burnout and job satisfaction. American Journal of Orthopsychiatri, vol 65, 282-292
Kumlin, S. (2002): The Personal & The Political. How Personal Welfare State Experiences affectPolitical trust and Ideology. Department of political science. Gøteborg University.
Le Blanc, P. de Jonge, J. and Schaufeli, W. (2000): Job stress and health. In N. Chmiel (ed). Introduction to work and organisational psychology, A European perspective. Oxford: Blacwell Publisher. Ltd.
Le Grande, J. (2003): Motivation, Agency, and Public Policy of Knights & Knaves, Pawns & Queens. Oxford University Press.
Lipsky, L. (1980): Street Level Bureaucracy: Dilemmas of the Individual in Public Services, Russell Sage Foundation, USA.
Lødemel, I.(2001): “National objectives and local implementation of workfare in Norway” in Lødemel,I & H. Trickey: An offer you can´t refuse. Workfare in international pespective. The Policy Press.
March and Triseliotis, J. (1996): Ready to Practice: Social Workers and Probation Officers: Their Training and First Year in Work, Avebury, Aldershot.
Mc Lean, J. (1999): “ Satisfaction, Stress and Control over Work”, in Social Services: Working under Pressure, eds. S. Balloch, J. McLean & M. Fisher , The Policy Press, Bristol.
McLean, J and Andrew, T. (2000): Commitment, satisfaction, stress and control among social services managers and Social Workers in the UK . Administration in social work .vol 23, 93-117
McNeely, R.L. (1992): ““Job Satisfaction in the Public Social Services: perspectives on Structure, Situational Factors, Gender, and Ethnicity”, in Human Services as Complex Organisations, ed.Y. Hasenfeld, Sage, London.
Papadaki, V. and E. Papadaki (2006): Job satisfaction in Social Services in Crete, Greece: social workers´views. European Journal of Social Work. Vol.9 (4), 479-495
Penna,S., Paylor,I. & Soothill,K. (1995): Job satisfaction and Dissatisfaction: A study of Residential Care Work, National Institute for Social Work, London.
Poulin, J. (1995): “ Job satisfaction of social work supervisors and administrators” Administration in Social Work, vol.19 (.4), 35-49.
Regehr et al (2004) “Predictors of post traumatic distress in child welfare workers: A linear structural equation model”.Children and Youth Services Review, Vol. 26 (4),331-46
Rothstein, B., 2001. The Universal Welfare State as a Social Dilemma. Rationality and Society. 14, 190-214
Solheim, L.J and Øvrelid, Ø. ,2001. Samhandling i velferdsyrke. Fagbokforlaget. Bergen Stjernø,S. (1985): Sosialkontor-undersøkelsen: Sluttrapport. NKSH rapport nr. 85:2 Stjernø, S. (1983): Stress og Utbrenthet. Universitetsforlaget, Oslo
Svalund, J. (2003): Organisering, autonomi og arbeidstempo”, Søkelys på Arbeidsmarkedet, 20: 87-94.
Spector, P. (1997): Job Satisfaction, Sage, London.
Stalker, C.A., Mandell, D. & K.Frensch (2007): Child welfare workers who are exhausted yet satisfied with their jobs: how do they do it? Child and Family Social Work. Vol. 12, 182-191
Thompson, N., Murphy, M & Stradling, S. (1994): Dealing with Stress, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
General Nordic Questioner (2001): Generelt spørreskjema for psykologiske og sosial faktorer i arbeid. Brukerveiledning og vedlegg 2 til QPS Nordic, in STAMI -rapport årg.2, Vol.1. Oslo
Weiss-Gal, I. & P. Welbourne (2008): ”The professionalisation of social work: a cross- national exploration”, in International Journal of Social Welfare, Vol.17, no 4, pp. 281-290.
Acker, G. M. (1999): The impact of clients´ mental illness on social workers´ job satisfaction and burnout. Health and Social Work, 24 (2),112-119
Allen, N.J., & Meyer, J.P.(1990): The measurement and antecedents of affective, continuance and normative commitment to the organisation. Journal of Occupational Psychology, vol. 63, 1-18
Arches, J. (1991). “Social structure, burnout, and job satisfaction”, Social Work, vol.36 (3), 202-206
Balloch, S., Pahl, I. & McLean, J. (1998) “Working in the social services: Job-satisfaction, stress and violence”, British Journal of Social Work, vol. 34 (6), 871-895.
Blood, M.R.(1969) Work Values and job satisfaction. Journal of Applied Psychology, vol. 53, 456-459
Bussing, A. (1999) A dynamic model of work satisfaction: qualitative approaches. Human relation. Vol. 52, 999-1028
Carver, C., Scheier, M. and Weintraub, J. (1989) “Assessing coping strategies: A theoretically based approach”, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 56, 267- 83
Cherniss, C. (1980): Professional burnout in human service organizations. New York: Praeger.
Clark, C. (2005): The Deprofessionalisation Thesis, Accountability and professional character, Social Work & Society, Volume 3 (2): 2005
Collins,R (1990): Changing conceptions in the sociology of the professions, in Torstendal, R og M. Burrage (Ed), The Formations of Professions. Knowledge, State and Strategy. Sage Publication. London
Collins, S. (2008): Statutory social workers; stress, job satisfaction, coping, social support and Individual differences. British Journal of Social Work. Vol 38 (6), 1173-1193
Elspers,K and Westhuis, D.J. (2008): Organisational leadership and its impact on social workers´ job satisfaction: A national study, Administration in Social work..Vol. 32
Evetts, J (2006): Trust and professionalism:Challenges and occupational changes, Current Sociology Vol.54 (4), 515-513). Sage Publications.
Foster, J. J. (2000) Motivation in the workplace, in Chmiel, N. (Ed), Introduction to work and organisational psychology: a European perspective (pp.302-326) Oxford Blackwell Publisher INC.
Freund,A. (2005): Commitment and Job satisfaction as Predictors of Turnover Intentions Among Welfare Workers. Administration in Social Work, Vol. 29 (2) 2005
Gibbs, J. (2001): Maintaining the front line workers in child protection: A case for refocusing supervision. Child Abuse Review, Vol.10, 323-35.
Gibson, F., McGrath, A., NS Reid, N. (1989): “Occupational stress in social work”, British Journal of Social work, vol. 19 (1), 1-18
Hackman, J.R. and Oldham, G.R. (1976): Development of the Job Diagnostic Survey. Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol. 55, 259-285.
Halvorsen,K. (2005): Grunnbok i Helse og Sosialpolitikk. Universitetsforlaget.3 utgave. Oslo.
Harris, J og McDonald, C.(2000): Post-Fordism, the welfare state and the personal social services: A comparison of Australia and Britain, British Journal of Social Work Vol.30, 51-70.
Healy, K. and Meagher. G. (2004): “The Reprofessionalization of Social Work: Collaborative Approaches for Achieving Professional Recognition”. British Journal of Social Work .Vol. 34, 243-260.
Herzberg, F. (1959): The Motivation to Work, John Wiley, New York
Himle, D. Srinika, J., & Thyness, P. (1986): Predictors of job satisfaction, burnout and turnover among social workers in Norway and the USA: a cross-cultural study. International Social Work. Vol.29, 323-34
Himle, D., Jayaratne, S., Thyness, P. (1989): The effects of emotional support on burnout, work stress and mental health among Norwegian and American social workers. Journal of Social Service Research, Vol. 13 (1), 27-45.
Huxley, P. et al (2005): Stress and Pressures in Mental Health Social Work: the Worker Speaks. British Journal of Social Work. Vol. 35, (7), 1063-1079.
Jessen, J.T., (2007): ”Mindre frihet og skjønn i forvaltning av velferd?” Tidsskrift for Velferdsforskning, Vol. 10(4), 246-261.
Jones, F., Fletcher, B. and Ibbetson, K. (1991): “Stressors and strains among social workers: Demands, supports, constraints and psychological health. British Journal of Social Work, vol. 21 (5), 443-69
Jones, C. (2001): “Voices from the front line: State social workers and New Labour. British Journal of Social Work, 31 (4), 547-63
Kalleberg, A.L.(1977): Work, Values and Job Rewards: A Theory of Job satisfaction. American Sociological Review, vol.42 (1), 124-143
Kasarek, R. A. (1979): Job demands , job decision latitude, and mental strain: Implications for job redesign. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24: 285-308
Kasarek,R.A. & Theorell, T. (1990): Healthy Work. New York: Basic Books.
Katzell, R.A. & Thompson, D.E. (1990): Work motivation: Theory and practice. American Psychologist, 45, 144- 153
Koeske, G., Kirk, S., Koeske, R. & Rauktis, M.B. (1994): “Measuring the Monday blues: validation of a job satisfaction scale for the human services”, Social Work Research, vol.18, no 1. pp. 27- 35
Koeske,G.F. & Koeske, R.D. (1989): Workload and burnout: Can social support and perceived accomplishment help? Social Work, 243-248
Koeske,G.F. & Kelly,T. (1995): The impact of over involvement on burnout and job satisfaction. American Journal of Orthopsychiatri, vol 65, 282-292
Kumlin, S. (2002): The Personal & The Political. How Personal Welfare State Experiences affectPolitical trust and Ideology. Department of political science. Gøteborg University.
Le Blanc, P. de Jonge, J. and Schaufeli, W. (2000): Job stress and health. In N. Chmiel (ed). Introduction to work and organisational psychology, A European perspective. Oxford: Blacwell Publisher. Ltd.
Le Grande, J. (2003): Motivation, Agency, and Public Policy of Knights & Knaves, Pawns & Queens. Oxford University Press.
Lipsky, L. (1980): Street Level Bureaucracy: Dilemmas of the Individual in Public Services, Russell Sage Foundation, USA.
Lødemel, I.(2001): “National objectives and local implementation of workfare in Norway” in Lødemel,I & H. Trickey: An offer you can´t refuse. Workfare in international pespective. The Policy Press.
March and Triseliotis, J. (1996): Ready to Practice: Social Workers and Probation Officers: Their Training and First Year in Work, Avebury, Aldershot.
Mc Lean, J. (1999): “ Satisfaction, Stress and Control over Work”, in Social Services: Working under Pressure, eds. S. Balloch, J. McLean & M. Fisher , The Policy Press, Bristol.
McLean, J and Andrew, T. (2000): Commitment, satisfaction, stress and control among social services managers and Social Workers in the UK . Administration in social work .vol 23, 93-117
McNeely, R.L. (1992): ““Job Satisfaction in the Public Social Services: perspectives on Structure, Situational Factors, Gender, and Ethnicity”, in Human Services as Complex Organisations, ed.Y. Hasenfeld, Sage, London.
Papadaki, V. and E. Papadaki (2006): Job satisfaction in Social Services in Crete, Greece: social workers´views. European Journal of Social Work. Vol.9 (4), 479-495
Penna,S., Paylor,I. & Soothill,K. (1995): Job satisfaction and Dissatisfaction: A study of Residential Care Work, National Institute for Social Work, London.
Poulin, J. (1995): “ Job satisfaction of social work supervisors and administrators” Administration in Social Work, vol.19 (.4), 35-49.
Regehr et al (2004) “Predictors of post traumatic distress in child welfare workers: A linear structural equation model”.Children and Youth Services Review, Vol. 26 (4),331-46
Rothstein, B., 2001. The Universal Welfare State as a Social Dilemma. Rationality and Society. 14, 190-214
Solheim, L.J and Øvrelid, Ø. ,2001. Samhandling i velferdsyrke. Fagbokforlaget. Bergen Stjernø,S. (1985): Sosialkontor-undersøkelsen: Sluttrapport. NKSH rapport nr. 85:2 Stjernø, S. (1983): Stress og Utbrenthet. Universitetsforlaget, Oslo
Svalund, J. (2003): Organisering, autonomi og arbeidstempo”, Søkelys på Arbeidsmarkedet, 20: 87-94.
Spector, P. (1997): Job Satisfaction, Sage, London.
Stalker, C.A., Mandell, D. & K.Frensch (2007): Child welfare workers who are exhausted yet satisfied with their jobs: how do they do it? Child and Family Social Work. Vol. 12, 182-191
Thompson, N., Murphy, M & Stradling, S. (1994): Dealing with Stress, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
General Nordic Questioner (2001): Generelt spørreskjema for psykologiske og sosial faktorer i arbeid. Brukerveiledning og vedlegg 2 til QPS Nordic, in STAMI -rapport årg.2, Vol.1. Oslo
Weiss-Gal, I. & P. Welbourne (2008): ”The professionalisation of social work: a cross- national exploration”, in International Journal of Social Welfare, Vol.17, no 4, pp. 281-290.
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Published
2010-04-01
How to Cite
Jessen, J. T. (2010). Job satisfaction and social rewards in the social services. Journal of Comparative Social Work, 5(1), 21–38. https://doi.org/10.31265/jcsw.v5i1.51
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