Personal and Organizational Diversity Factors' Impact on Social Workers' Job Satisfaction: Results from a National Internet-Based Survey

Abstract

A national online survey examined the relationship among minority status, workplace racial composition, perceived inclusion, organization diversity, and job satisfaction for social work professionals employed in organizations. A social work magazine's subscribers and members of a social work listserv were contacted by e-mail and invited to participate. Respondents consisted of 119 social workers; 86 were employed in organizations. Results indicate that organizational diversity, supervisory support, and perceptions of inclusion/exclusion were significant in predicting social workers' job satisfaction. Minority status and workplace racial composition were not found to be predictive of job satisfaction in this study. These findings call for greater attention to organizational factors such as organization diversity, perceived inclusion, and supervisory support to enhance job satisfaction for social workers.

KEYWORDS:

• diversity
• inclusion
• Internet
• job satisfaction
• social work

Acknowledgement of research support: Llewellyn Cornelius, PhD, and Donna Harrington, PhD.