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Respect in the workplace: A mixed methods study of retention and turnover in the voluntary child welfare sector

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  • Augsberger, Astraea
  • Schudrich, Wendy
  • McGowan, Brenda G.
  • Auerbach, Charles

Abstract

A significant challenge facing the child welfare system is the recruitment and retention of a stable and qualified workforce. Several studies have identified individual and organizational factors impacting workforce turnover. The current study expands upon previous research by utilizing a mixed methods design to examine the relationship between workers' perceptions of respect in the workplace and their intention to leave. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data revealed that workers perceive a lack of respect in five domains including organizational support, fair salary and benefits, fair promotion potential, adequate communication and contingent rewards. Based on the qualitative findings, researchers designed the Respect Scale, a quantitative scale measuring the concept perceived respect. Results from the logistic regression found that workers who score lower on the Respect Scale were significantly more likely to intend to leave their current job. Research and practice implications are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Augsberger, Astraea & Schudrich, Wendy & McGowan, Brenda G. & Auerbach, Charles, 2012. "Respect in the workplace: A mixed methods study of retention and turnover in the voluntary child welfare sector," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(7), pages 1222-1229.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:34:y:2012:i:7:p:1222-1229
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.02.016
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ellett, Alberta J. & Ellis, Jacquelyn I. & Westbrook, Tonya M. & Dews, Denise', 2007. "A qualitative study of 369 child welfare professionals' perspectives about factors contributing to employee retention and turnover," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 264-281, February.
    2. Auerbach, Charles & McGowan, Brenda G. & Ausberger, Astraea & Strolin-Goltzman, Jessica & Schudrich, Wendy, 2010. "Differential factors influencing public and voluntary child welfare workers' intention to leave," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(10), pages 1396-1402, October.
    3. Siegrist, Johannes & Starke, Dagmar & Chandola, Tarani & Godin, Isabelle & Marmot, Michael & Niedhammer, Isabelle & Peter, Richard, 2004. "The measurement of effort-reward imbalance at work: European comparisons," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 58(8), pages 1483-1499, April.
    4. Yankeelov, Pamela A. & Barbee, Anita P. & Sullivan, Dana & Antle, Becky F., 2009. "Individual and organizational factors in job retention in Kentucky's child welfare agency," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 547-554, May.
    5. DePanfilis, Diane & Zlotnik, Joan Levy, 2008. "Retention of front-line staff in child welfare: A systematic review of research," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(9), pages 995-1008, September.
    6. Smith, Brenda D., 2005. "Job retention in child welfare: Effects of perceived organizational support, supervisor support, and intrinsic job value," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 153-169, February.
    7. Strand, Virginia C. & Dore, Martha Morrison, 2009. "Job satisfaction in a stable state child welfare workforce: Implications for staff retention," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 391-397, March.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Pharris, Angela B. & Munoz, Ricky T. & Hellman, Chan M., 2022. "Hope and resilience as protective factors linked to lower burnout among child welfare workers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    3. Zeitlin, Wendy, 2014. "Factors impacting perceptions of organizational cultural competence in voluntary child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 1-8.
    4. Burns, Desirée D. & Langenderfer-Magruder, Lisa & Yelick, Anna & Wilke, Dina J., 2023. "What else is there to say? Reflections of newly-hired child welfare workers by retention status," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    5. Salloum, Alison & Kondrat, David C. & Johnco, Carly & Olson, Kayla R., 2015. "The role of self-care on compassion satisfaction, burnout and secondary trauma among child welfare workers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 54-61.
    6. Griffiths, Austin & Royse, David & Walker, Robert, 2018. "Stress among child protective service workers: Self-reported health consequences," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 46-53.
    7. Boyas, Javier F. & Wind, Leslie H. & Ruiz, Erika, 2013. "Organizational tenure among child welfare workers, burnout, stress, and intent to leave: Does employment-based social capital make a difference?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(10), pages 1657-1669.
    8. King, Erin A., 2021. "Child welfare workers’ experiences of client-perpetrated violence: Implications for worker mental health," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    9. Griffiths, Austin & Royse, David & Culver, Kalee & Piescher, Kristine & Zhang, Yanchen, 2017. "Who stays, who goes, who knows? A state-wide survey of child welfare workers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 110-117.
    10. Fernandes, Gretta M., 2016. "Organizational climate and child welfare workers' degree of intent to leave the job: Evidence from New York," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 80-87.
    11. Zeitlin, Wendy & Augsberger, Astraea & Auerbach, Charles & McGowan, Brenda, 2014. "A mixed-methods study of the impact of organizational culture on workforce retention in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 36-43.
    12. Auerbach, Charles & Zeitlin, Wendy & Augsberger, Astraea & Lawrence, Catherine K. & Claiborne, Nancy, 2016. "Societal factors impacting child welfare: Re-validating the Perceptions of Child Welfare Scale," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 65-71.
    13. Johnco, Carly & Salloum, Alison & Olson, Kayla R. & Edwards, LaTishia M., 2014. "Child Welfare Workers’ Perspectives on Contributing Factors to Retention and Turnover: Recommendations for Improvement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(P3), pages 397-407.

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