Organisational trust and commitment among South African public service employees: Influence of socio-demographics

Abstract

This study examined the influence of socio-demographics on the relationship between employee organisational trust and organisational commitment. The study’s participants were 255 South African public service employees (female = 58%; black = 82%; permanently employed = 84%), between the ages of 30 to 39 years. The participants responded to validated measures of organisational trust and commitment. We analysed the data using non-parametric inferential statistics to examine the association between their organisational trust and commitment statuses by their socio-demographics. Findings indicate that older employees and separated/divorced or widowed employees had higher organisational commitment. Younger employees and contract workers had marginally higher organisational trust. Public servants’ demographic information should guide the tailoring of organisational trust and commitment support interventions by human resources managers.