Factors Related to a Good Quality of Work Life for Employees in the Poultry Processing Industry in Northeastern Thailand

Abstract

OBJECTIVE This study aims to analyze factors related to a good quality of work life (QoWL) for employees in the poultry processing industry in northeastern Thailand. METHODS This study was a cross-sectional analytical study. The sample size was 229 poultry processing workers with good and 458 with not-good QoWL. The Work-related Quality of Life Scale-2 Online Website (THQWL) questionnaire was used. A test of the reliability of the questionnaire found a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.899. The principal analyses used the Chi-squared test, the Fisher exact test, and binary logistic regression. Confidence intervals were set at 95% (95% CI), and a p-value of less than 0.05 (p < 0.05) was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Factors significantly related to employees with a good QoWL were working in departments other than slaughtering departments (AOR = 15.58, 95% CI: 7.62, 31.83, p < 0.001), having less than a bachelor’s degree education level (AOR = 6.65, 95% CI: 3.05, 14.49, p < 0.001), being a unit leader or in an upper level position (AOR = 7.26, 95% CI: 3.30, 15.98, p < 0.001) and working 40 or more hours per week (AOR= 1.92, 95% CI: 1.17, 3.16, p = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS Not working in the slaughtering department showed the strongest association with good QoWL. Other factors significantly linked to good QoWL included an education level lower than a bachelor’s degree, holding positions as unit leaders or in upper management, and working 40 hours or more per week. The study’s findings can be applied to enhance and promote the QoWL of workers in the poultry processing and related industries as well as to help improve and reinforce the knowledge, skills, and other attributes important to the efficient performance of employees in the poultry processing industry. KEYWORDS quality of work life, poultry processing industry, work- related quality of life scale, slaughtering