Satisfaction of Social Workers in Long-Term Care

Abstract

Abstract This article identifies variables that predict the job satisfaction of social workers in long-term care. Using data from an Employee Satisfaction Survey administered in 2002 and 2004, before and after the implementation of a large-scale organizational change program, six domains (Empowerment, Teamwork, Supervision, Identification, Resources, and Resident-centered care) were examined as predictors of over all satisfaction. Empowerment emerged as the most robust predictor. Over the two-year period between survey administrations, staff in a long-term care facility experienced significant improvement in satisfaction likely driven by improvement in empowerment. However, social workers did not report similar positive changes. This finding is likely linked to the implementation of the large-scale organizational change intervention and its specific impact on the role of social workers.