BURNOUT AND JOB SATISFACTION. A PILOT STUDY AMONG EMPLOYEES OF ROMANIAN CULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

Burnout is associated with lower levels of job satisfaction. It holds particular importance in the delivery of public services, since employees encounter both psychological-emotional and mental pressure. Due to the recent events that have set the stage for a financial crisis, employees may be forced to work longer hours and experience burnout as a result of the need for more financial resources. The findings presented in this work are applicable to the present situation and help fill the gaps in our understanding of public sector employee burnout and satisfaction levels and the factors that contribute to their development. This study presents a research conducted at the National Institute for Cultural Research and Training. The aim was to identify the levels of burnout and satisfaction among the institution's human resources. Additionally, the study aimed to determine the factors that influence both of these factors. Simultaneously, the researchers examined the relation between burnout and satisfaction among the participants. The research employed a questionnaire as the primary instrument, incorporating two validated tests from the specialised literature: the Maslach Burnout Inventory for assessing burnout levels and the Job Satisfaction Survey for measuring satisfaction levels. After careful analysis and interpretation of the data, it was found that the level of burnout among the institution's personnel is influenced by the presence of conflicts in the workplace. Regarding HR satisfaction, it was discovered that the monthly salary level has no impact on the level of satisfaction and does not lead to increased satisfaction among employees, even if they receive a larger income compared to their peers. Finally, by analysing the relationship between burnout and satisfaction, it was discovered that there exists a negative correlation between the two variables. This implies that a higher degree of burnout is associated with a lower level of satisfaction, while a lower degree of burnout is associated with a higher level of satisfaction among employees.