The Thin Blue Line: Improving Job Satisfaction to Increase Retention in Law Enforcement
Abstract
This research analyzes current levels of job satisfaction and desires to leave employment in law enforcement to determine the relationship between satisfaction and intentions to quit. Current law enforcement officers in the United States responded to survey statements regarding satisfaction and intentions to leave their current agencies related to seven areas: pay, opportunities, co-workers, immediate supervisors, work conditions, work and family conflict, and public perception on a five-point Likert scale. In the 930 responses, respondents indicated overall satisfaction with their work and the intention to stay with their agencies. The most satisfied officers work for the county, are in agencies with 100-500 officers, or have 1-5 years of experience. Officers who work for a county or in agencies with 100-500 officers have reported being the least likely to leave their agencies. These results contradict previous research that claims officers in agencies with 100-500 officers were the least satisfied. These results also differ from previous research that indicates immediate supervisors play a significant role in job satisfaction and by finding that while significant differences did not exist in job satisfaction for gender overall, significant differences did exist for specific facets of satisfaction and intentions to quit. This research study contributes to the current knowledge on job satisfaction by supporting a correlation between job satisfaction and intentions to quit.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1126760
Entities
People
- Lisa M. Barnett
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School