The influence of job-related factors on work engagement of staff at the University of the Free State

Abstract

English: The management of the University was in need of information regarding work wellness of the employees of the University. Therefore a study was launched to investigate the influence of job-related factors on the work engagement of university staff. A conveniency sample, comprising 708 academic and support staff members working in a higher education institution, was used. The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and the Job Characteristics Scale were used as measuring instruments. Data was processed with the aid of hierarchical regression analyses. The results indicated a moderate to high level of work engagement amongst university staff. Job-related stressors experienced by participants included a high workload, poor remuneration, increased home-work interference, and insufficient physical resources. The variables included explained 45.17% of the variance in absorption, 39.28% of the variance in vigour, and 33.66% of the variance in dedication. This indicates that many other factors, apart from the work-related factors included in this study, play an important role in the determination of employees’ work engagement.

Afrikaans: Die doel van hierdie ondersoek was om die invloed van werkverwante faktore op die werksbegeestering van universiteitspersoneel by die Universiteit van die Vrystaat te ondersoek. ’n Beskikbaarheidsteekproef bestaande uit 708 akademiese en ondersteuningspersoneellede wat by ’n tersiêre opleidingsinstansie werk is gebruik. Die Utrecht Werksbegeesteringskaal en Beroepskenmerkevraelys is as meetinstrumente gebruik. Data is met behulp van hiërargiese regressie-ontledings verwerk. Die resultate dui op die teenwoordigheid van ’n matige tot hoë vlak van werksbetrokkenheid by universiteitspersoneel. Die werksverwante stressore wat deelnemers ervaar het, was ’n hoë werkslading, swak vergoeding, verhoogde gesinswerkinmenging en onvoldoende fisiese hulpbronne. Die ingeslote veranderlikes het 45.17% van die variansie in absorbsie, 39.28% van die variansie in energie en 33.66% van toewyding verklaar. Hierdie is ’n aanduiding dat vele ander faktore, buiten die werksverwante faktore ingesluit in hierdie studie, ’n belangrike rol speel in die bepaling van werknemers se betrokkenheid.