FACTORS AFFECTING WORK HAPPINESS OF SOCIAL WORKERS WORKING IN LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION

Abstract

The research goal of this study was 1) to identify the factors affecting happiness at work of social workers and 2) to study social workers’ opinions on job satisfaction in working at Local Administrative Organization. This quantitative research used the questionnaires as the data gathering tool, and the data were collected from 267 social workers of Local Administrative Organization. The research described the outcome of the study from each different aspects. All data were analyzed by descriptive study such as frequency, percentage standard deviation. Independent t-test was used for comparing factors between groups. One-way ANOVA (F-test) was also applied to analyze variable data more than two groups Scheffe’s method test was used to compare the data in pair group.

          The research results revealed that the majority of the respondents were females, 26 to 30 year-old, married, earned Bachelor degree of Social Work, had 6-10 years of work experience, and earned a monthly income about 15,001 – 20,000. Most of the samples had not been granted the social work license, however, received the Local Government Officer Scheme welfare and earned annual bonus. The respondents expressed their opinions towards the job performance factors and the level of happiness at work which indicated that the job performance factors in the aspects of personal health (  = 3.86), relationship with superiors and peers ( =4.01), working environment (  = 3.74), advancement (  = 3.76), moral practices ( = 3.98), income management (  = 3.53), work-life balance (  = 3.93), and organizational harmony had a positive relationship with the happiness at work at a high level (  = 3.80). Generally, it was found that age differences did affect level of working happiness significantly at the level of 0.05 (P=0.01) and working happiness of licensed and non-licensed social workers were significantly different at the level of 0.05. (P=0.00)

          This research suggested that Local Administrative Organization should promote financial planning behavior among social workers in order to help settling debts, provide spaces for recreation activities enhancing harmony, improve leadership qualities, emphasize family and community participation, Support each and every non-licensed social worker to be evaluated and promoted in order to become licensed one. provide annual medical checkup, give positive reinforcement, put the right man in the right job, and encourage zero tolerance of corruption and bribery.