Factors affecting occupational well-being of public administration employees in Poland

Abstract

Purpose: This article identifies the factors affecting occupational well-being and determines their significance for people employed in public administration institutions in Poland between 2020-2021. Methodology: The present analysis is based on the authors’ proprietary empirical research conducted in 2021 by the CAWI method on a representative sample of 202 public sector employees. The authors assessed their research’s outcome by means of a hierarchical cluster analysis, Ward's method as well as one-way ANOVA test. Findings: The study has revealed that the most important factors determining the occupational well-being of employees in public administration institutions are job security and appealing work content. By contrast, the factor which turned out to least affect their well-being was a good rapport with their supervisor. The research has found that the power of the impact of individual factors varies according to gender and the type of contract under which occupational tasks are performed. Research limitations/implications: The study captures the variables of occupational well- being of public administration employees in a static perspective. The determinants in question are prone to time and change. Further research is recommended to place them in a long-term perspective. The study focused on Polish employees exclusively. In order to gain more standardized results, the research should be extended to a wider range of regions and countries. The research identified the determinants of well-being through employees' self-judgements. For a complete picture, other sources of evaluation should also be taken into account. Originality/value: The article fosters understanding of the underlying determinants of occupational well-being of public administration employees. The results are significant for the informed management of employees and provide practical tips to facilitate employee motivation. Keywords: occupational well-being, employee well-being, public administration, cluster analysis.