Job Satisfaction: Officers Policing Aboriginal Communities in Canada

Abstract

Identifying the sources of job satisfaction is of key importance in better understanding workplace attitudes and behaviours, such as commitment of an employee to their profession and organization. There is limited research on the job satisfaction of officers policing Aboriginal communities which this study examines. Self-reported data from officers policing Aboriginal communities in Canada was collected by Alderson-Gill & Associates in 2007. T-tests and chi-square analyses were conducted to examine dependent variables including the average levels of job satisfaction and officers’ perceptions of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on their job satisfaction. These dependent variables of satisfaction were examined in relation to independent variables commonly associated to the job satisfaction of officers, including race, education, age, rank, workload, and organizational size. Examination of this data determined that age and Aboriginal identity were both significantly related with job satisfaction at the p≤.05 level of significance. No factors were statistically significantly associated to officers’ perceptions of the impact that intrinsic and extrinsic factors have on their satisfaction, yet, most officers were satisfied with their jobs. Supplementary analysis also determined there was a high level of social disorder in the community they serve was significantly related with job dissatisfaction, and a weaker relationship between police and community and job dissatisfaction. Implications and explanations for the findings are further discussed. Keywords: job satisfaction, Aboriginal policing, police officers, isolated communities, Aboriginal communities