Factors affecting employees' job satisfaction in public hospitals: Implications for recruitment and retention

Abstract

Job dissatisfaction is a major cause of absenteeism and turnover among healthcare employees, and as such, it affects employees' organisational commitment and the quality of healthcare services. However, little is known about which factors influence job satisfaction and dissatisfaction in hospital staff. The purpose of this study was to investigate specific factors associated with job satisfaction and dissatisfaction in employees at the Isfahan University Hospitals (IUHs) in Isfahan, Iran. This study also focuses on revealing homogeneous demographic characteristics that these employees exhibited, which affect their satisfaction level. Questionnaires were distributed among the 950 employees through a classified randomised sampling. Overall, employees were moderately satisfied with their jobs, and more satisfied with the following aspects of their current work situation: supervision, job identity and co-workers. The lowest satisfaction scores were found for benefits, contingent rewards, communication, salaries, work conditions and promotion. Motivating factors included loyalty to employees, job security, good pay, good working conditions, tactful discipline, involvement, recognition and promotion.