https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4027-9889
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ABSTRACT
This study aimed to examine some components of job satisfaction, work meaningfulness, and job dissatisfaction in social workers from governmental (GO), private (PO), and third sector (TSO) organisations. The study analysed the responses provided by 35 Spanish social workers concerning various work components that generate satisfaction, meaningfulness or dissatisfaction in them. The thematic analysis of their comments, grouped into job demands, job resources, and job crafting, revealed components that produce satisfaction and meaningfulness (the profession itself and coworkers’ support) and others that provoke dissatisfaction (overload, working conditions, and salaries). Similarities among the three organisations were found in the causes of satisfaction and meaningfulness. Differences were found concerning dissatisfaction: PO and TSO participants consider themselves precarious workers in terms of their overload, working conditions, and salaries; compared to them, GO social workers are considered privileged in these three components, so all participants want to work in a GO. These circumstances have been aggravated by the neoliberal policies implemented to confront the successive crises. Social workers carry out multiple coping strategies, including practices of resistance, to encourage satisfaction and meaningfulness, minimise dissatisfaction, and avoid or postpone withdrawal.
RESUMEN
El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar algunos componentes de la satisfacción laboral, el significado del trabajo y la insatisfacción laboral en trabajadores sociales de organizaciones gubernamentales (OG), privadas (OP) y del tercer sector (OTS). El estudio analizó las respuestas de 35 trabajadores sociales españoles. El análisis temático de sus comentarios encontró componentes que producen satisfacción y significado y otros que provocan insatisfacción. Se encontraron similitudes entre los tres tipos de instituciones en las causas de satisfacción y significado. También se encontraron diferencias en cuanto a la insatisfacción: los participantes de las OP y de las OTS se consideran trabajadores precarios en cuanto a su sobrecarga laboral, sus condiciones laborales y sus salarios; comparados con ellos, los trabajadores sociales de las OG se consideran privilegiados en estos tres componentes, por lo que todos los participantes desearían trabajar en las OG. Estas circunstancias se han visto agravadas por las políticas neoliberales aplicadas para hacer frente a las sucesivas crisis. En este contexto, los trabajadores sociales llevan a cabo diferentes estrategias de afrontamiento, incluidas prácticas de resistencia, para elevar la satisfacción y el significado, para minimizar la insatisfacción, y para evitar o aplazar el abandono de su profesión.
RESUMO
O obxectivo deste estudo foi examinar algúns compoñentes da satisfación laboral, o significado do traballo e a insatisfacción laboral en traballadores sociais de organizacións gobernamentais (OG), privadas (OP) e do terceiro sector (OTS). O estudo analizou as respostas de 35 traballadores sociais españois. A análise temática encontrou compoñentes que lles producen satisfacción e significado (a profesión en si mesma e o apoio de compañeiras/os) e outros que lles provocan insatisfacción (a sobrecarga laboral, as condicións laborais e o soldo). Atopáronse semellanzas entre os tres tipos de institucións nas causas de satisfacción e significado. Tamén se encontraron diferenzas no que se refire á insatisfacción: os participantes das OP e das OTS considéranse traballadores precarios en canto á súa sobrecarga laboral, ás condicións laborais e ao soldo; comparados con eles, os traballadores sociais das OG considéranse privilexiados nestes tres compoñentes, polo que tódolos participantes desexarían traballar nas OG. Estas circunstancias víronse agravadas polas políticas neoliberais aplicadas para facerlle fronte ás sucesivas crises. Neste contexto, os traballadores sociais levan a cabo diferentes estratexias de afrontamento, incluídas prácticas de resistencia, para elevar a satisfacción e o significado, para minimizar a insatisfacción, e para evitar ou aprazar o abandono da súa profesión.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the social workers who disinterestedly provided the essential material for this study.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Xoán M. Lombardero Posada
Xoán M. Lombardero Posada Degree. Graduate of Social Work, University of Vigo. Master's degree in Public Management and Institutional Leadership, University of Vigo. He is currently writing his Doctoral Thesis.
Work experience. He was assistant manager at the Galician Society of Social Services. Since 2014, he has been Assistant Professor in the Degree of Social Work of the University of Vigo. He also collaborated in the supervision of the Practicum of the Degree in Social Work and the direction of Final Degree Reports of this degree and university.
Lines of research. History of social work. Professionalization and identity. Compared social work. Training of public policies from social work. Discourse analysis.
Francisco X. Aguiar Fernández
Francisco X. Aguiar Fernández Degree. Degree in Social Work from the University of Vigo. Degree in Sociology from the University of Coruña. Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Vigo.
Work experience. For more than 12 years, Social Worker in direct individual, family, and community care in the field of Health Social Work (oncology). Since 2012, Professor in the Degree in Social Work of the University of Vigo. Since 2017, he has been the Coordinator of the Degree of Social Work, and since 2018 Vice Dean of Social Work of this University.
Lines of research. Social work with individuals, groups, and communities; Social services: Social intervention with family and children; Social health factors; Socio-environmental sustainability.
Evelia Murcia Álvarez
Evelia Murcia Álvarez Degree. Graduate in Social Work from the University of Vigo. Master's Degree in Social Policy and Socio-Community Intervention from the University of Coruña. She is currently writing her Doctoral Thesis.
Work experience. Research assistant at the University of Vigo and the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). Currently, she works at the Center for Research and Social Intervention of the University Institute of Lisbon (CIS-IUL). She also teaches in the Degree of Social Work at the University of Vigo.
Lines of research. Impact of social policies on the living conditions of vulnerable populations; Social welfare; Intervention instruments, methods, and models; Occupational characteristics of social workers.
Ana B. Méndez Fernández
Ana B. Méndez Fernández Degree. Degree in Social Work from the University of Santiago de Compostela. Degree in Sociology from the University of Coruña. Master's Degree in Drug Dependence from the University of Santiago de Compostela. She is currently writing her Doctoral Thesis.
Work experience. For several years, Social Worker in the field of Drug Dependence. Since 1997, she has been Professor of the Degree in Social Work at the University of Vigo. For several years, she was Vice-Dean of the Degree in Social Work at this University and she was Coordinator of this Degree and its Practicum.
Lines of research. Feminist theory; Theories of justice; Citizenship, difference, and social exclusion. Occupational characteristics of social workers.
Antonio González Fernández
Antonio González Fernández Degree. Degree in Professor of Basic Education, Degree in Psychology, Ph.D. of Psychology from the Complutense University (Madrid).
Work experience. Professor of Early Childhood Education and Primary Education. Since 1994, Professor of Psychology in the Degrees of Social Work and Social Education at the University of Vigo. He was the Vice Dean of the Degree in Social Work of the University of Vigo. He was also the Coordinator of this Degree and its Final Degree Report.
Lines of research. Students' emotions, motivation, and engagement. Workers' motivation, burnout, job stressors and vicarious trauma. Occupational characteristics of social workers.