The development of an expanded understanding of employees' reaction to their job may be important for improvement in the quality of work life and of services rendered. We sought to determine the factors, or rewards, that significantly affect respiratory therapists' job satisfaction.
Method: Questionnaires designed to elicit responses related to job satisfaction and demographic information were mailed to a random sample of registered respiratory therapists in 9 southeastern states. The Job Descriptive Index (JDI) was used to measure facets of and total job satisfaction. The independent variables used were: Satisfaction with Work on the Job, Supervision, Promotion Opportunities, Pay, and People on the Job.
Results: Satisfaction with Work on the Job (p = 0.0001, F = 39.1) and with Supervision (p = 0.005, F = 8.48) were the only variables that significantly affected the job satisfaction scores of respiratory therapists.
Conclusion: Because satisfaction with work on the job and supervision seem to be rewards therapists consider important, managers need to evaluate those factors in their own organization in relation to their possible impact upon staff members.