Job satisfaction and employee retention in the South African Police Service

Abstract

Research that focuses on the relationship between job satisfaction and employee retention is of interest to researchers in different disciplines and the intensification of these interests has rendered the two concepts heterogeneous. Research of this nature is necessary in the discipline Public administration, and in particular public human resource management as niche area of specialisation. Job satisfaction, as an independent variable is complex, in that it is an outcome of interdependent and sometimes contradicting personal and institutional factors, attributes, characteristics or correlates. The ability of public institutions to retain employees in key positions is dependent on the effectiveness of managers in implementing employee retention practices. Legislation in the South African public service entrusts managers with the authority and resources to institute employee retention practices.

Using a quantitative research method in which a specially designed research questionnaire was used to gather data from a selected sample of respondents in the SAPS, this study creates awareness about employees’ degree of satisfaction with SAPS’ key institutional factors. The findings reveal, despite the SAPS having instituted practices that are key to retaining employees, key institutional factors that the respondents are satisfied and dissatisfied with. In addition to proposing the development and implementation of the employee retention policy and strategy, this study highlights significant roles that managers should perform to retain employees in the SAPS and in the South African public sector in general.