The relationship between job satisfaction and job loyalty among municipal sports officers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between job satisfaction and job loyalty among municipal sports officers in South Africa. With the rise in the popularity of sport in South Africa, municipalities throughout the country face the challenge of providing improved sports services. To meet this challenge, municipalities employ a variety of sports professionals, among whom are municipal sport officers. In order for them to function effectively, it is necessary for municipalities to ensure that their employees are satisfied and loyal. By examining the relationship between job satisfaction and job loyalty among municipal sports officers, municipalities could be able to come up with strategies of enhancing the levels of job satisfaction and job loyalty among municipal sports officers. The study used a quantitative approach, which involved administering a questionnaire to 185 municipal sports officers based in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The reliability of the measuring instrument was tested through Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Principal Component Analysis using Varimax rotation was conducted. Non parametric correlations and regression analysis were used to test the existence of any causal relationship among the job satisfaction factors and job loyalty. Five job satisfaction factors, namely working conditions, ability utilisation, teamwork, creativity and autonomy were identified. A positive relationship between the five job satisfaction factors and job loyalty was found, with ability utilisation contributing the highest and autonomy contributing the lowest to the job loyalty of municipal sports officers. By making positive improvements on the five job satisfaction factors identified in this study, municipalities will be able to improve the job loyalty of municipal sports officers. This will effectively enable municipalities to meet the challenge of
providing improved sports services.

Keywords: Job loyalty, job satisfaction, municipal sports officer.