The Relationship between Workplace Conflicts and Job Satisfaction in the Public Sector in Serbia

Abstract

Research Question: This paper starts with the research question regarding the relationship between workplace conflicts and job satisfaction in the public sector in Serbia. Motivation: The main motivation for this research study was: to examine a compromising conflict resolution in the public sector in Serbia; to examine the frequency, causes, conflict resolution strategies and methods for their reduction and for improving work climate in the public sector in Serbia; to examine the job satisfaction in the public sector in Serbia; and to examine the relationship between workplace conflicts and job satisfaction in the public sector in Serbia. Idea: This research started with the intention to study job satisfaction or dissatisfaction and workplace conflicts in the public sector in Serbia in order to reach a more efficient and effective human resource management. Data: The research study was conducted from the beginning of March 2019 until the end of April 2019. The total sample size amounted to 300 respondents employed in the public sector in Serbia. Tools: Two scales have been used to gather data and conduct the research: the compromising conflict resolution scale and the job satisfaction survey scale. Findings: More than half of the respondents employed in the public sector in Serbia believe that conflicts in their workplace are not frequent, while less than half of them finds them frequent. This finding shows that opinions are divided regarding conflicts. As the main reason for conflicts, the respondents reported personal conflicts, organizational conflicts and communication conflicts. The best strategies to handle conflicts, according to the employees in the public sector in Serbia, are cooperation, competition and avoiding. At the same time, compromise occupies the bottom place according to its frequency occurrence. As regards the methods to lower the levels of conflict frequency and to improve the organizational climate, the employees in the public sector in Serbia emphasized better planning and division of work and more resources that a company has at its disposal. Regarding job satisfaction, these findings put employees in the category of ambivalent emotions. Contribution: The primary contribution of this paper is in its effort to lead to better human resource management in the public sector in Serbia due to the research study results.