The job satisfaction of academic staff members on fixed-term employment contracts at South African higher education institutions

[摘要] English: This research study focuses on the development of a framework that can lead to the enhancement of the levels of job satisfaction that are experienced by the fixed-term academic staff members employed at South African Higher Education Institutions. This part of the academic workforce has become a vital part of the academic community as a whole, globally as well as in South Africa. It is thus very important that the needs of these staff members are tended to, and that the levels of job satisfaction that they have, are monitored. Six main clusters that may influence the levels of job satisfaction of these staff members were identified, namely the emotional well-being of these staff members, the availability of resources that is needed to complete the tasks, the levels of autonomy that they experience, the challenges and accomplishments that they are confronted with, their levels of job- and financial security as well as the overall manner in which their daily environment is managed. . To obtain more information about the factors that may influence the job satisfaction of these staff members, an adapted version of standardised Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) was sent to fixed-term academic staff members at five different Higher Education Institutions in South Africa. This was done with the help of the Human Resource Management departments of these HEI's, as all employee information is confidential. The quantitative as well as qualitative data obtained from this questionnaire indicated that there are a number of aspects which has an influence on the levels of job satisfaction that are experienced by these staff members. The findings from literature as well as empirical research were analysed and discussed accordingly. Recommendations regarding strategies that may be followed to improve the levels of job satisfaction of this group of staff members were made. These recommendations were based on the findings from literature as well as the research conducted for this study. The levels of job satisfaction that are experienced by fixed-term academic staff members are essential for the continued motivation and productivity of these staff members. It is thus advisable that the HEIs focus on the needs that these staff members have to ensure not only their continued productivity and prosperity but also that of the HEI as a whole.

[发布机构] University of the Free State