Examining factors affecting the job satisfaction-job performance link among Irish retail employees during the current economic downturn

Abstract

This programme of research focussed on key factors impacting upon employeesatisfaction and job performance among retail employees. The researchexamined the role of job satisfaction, it’s association with other key work factorsand their potential impact on performance. The research aimed to offer insightinto the challenges faced by retailers during the economic downturn in Ireland.The sample comprised of 420 retail workers, drawn from 86 organisations,operating either in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. Participants wereassessed using recognised quantitative measures of job satisfaction, jobperformance, workplace stress, work motivation, psychological health,innovation, coping and resilience. The results showed no significant differencesexisted between retail employees in Northern Ireland and the Republic ofIreland, in relation to their levels of job satisfaction. The results confirmed asignificant association between job satisfaction and job performance among thesample, with satisfaction with nature of work, communication and contingentrewards found to be facets of job satisfaction which acted as significantpredictors of job performance. Findings showed that psychological health actedas a moderator in the relationship between job satisfaction and absenteeism,but was confirmed as a mediator in the relationship between job satisfactionand presenteeism. The results showed significant direct effects for workplacestress on various personal factors; with a significant indirect effect for workplacestress on job performance via task-orientated coping. There were significantdirect effects for work motivation on personal factors; with significant indirecteffects for work motivation on job performance via innovation and taskorientated coping. Qualitative data yielded information on key issues for retail employees which impacted on their job performance, and spilled over into theirfamily life. This programme of research offered insight into mechanisms thatmay improve job performance among retail employees, with implications of thefindings for retail employers discussed.

Date of Award	Jun 2015
Original language	English
Supervisor	John Mallett (Supervisor) & Anne Tracey (Supervisor)