The influence of autonomy on personal support workers' job satisfaction, capacity to care, and intention to stay. Issue 4 (2nd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barken, Rachel; Denton, Margaret; Sayin, Firat K.; Brookman, Catherine; Davies, Sharon; Zeytinoglu, Isik U.
• Is Part Of: Home health care services quarterly. Volume 37:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 294
• Page End: 312
• Publication Date: 2018-10-02
• Subjects: Community and home care -- care workers -- autonomy -- job satisfaction -- turnover intention; Home care services -- Periodicals; Home care services -- United States -- Periodicals; Home Care Services -- Periodicals; 362.14
• DOI: 10.1080/01621424.2018.1493014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0162-1424

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Using survey data collected in Ontario, Canada, we explore the impacts of autonomy on community-based Personal Support Workers' intrinsic job satisfaction, capacity to care for and about clients, and intention to continue working in home care. Autonomy was measured as "freedom to decide how to do your job" and "working on your own." Findings show that freedom to do your job and working on your own are both positively associated with job satisfaction and capacity to care, and indirectly increase intention to stay through their relationships with job satisfaction and capacity to care. We suggest that policies should allow personal support workers to make decisions about how to do their job within the care plans provided, to facilitate retention of this highly needed workforce.