NCJ Number
137949
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 24 Issue: 3 Dated: (December 1991) Pages: 169-189
Date Published
1991
Length
21 pages
Annotation
Because little research has been conducted on constituents of job satisfaction and morale among Australian police workers, a survey was conducted of departed and serving members of the Victoria Police Department to identify reasons for departure and to gauge the importance of work-related attitudes in the decision to leave.
Abstract
All members of the Victoria Police who had taken early retirement or who had resigned between January 1, 1987, and December 31, 1988, were included in the survey sample. These individuals received mail questionnaires containing four sections: basic biographical data, police service history, reasons for departure, and attitudinal items. Findings suggested that work dissatisfaction was strongly implicated in the decision to leave, particularly for departees who resigned before 50 years of age. A comparable degree of work dissatisfaction was found in the sample of serving police workers who expressed significantly more negative attitudes toward police work than those who retired early after reaching 50. The most prominent sources of dissatisfaction related to the organization and management of the Victoria Police rather than to the nature of police work itself or factors external to the police organization. Provisions of the Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme facilitated the decision to retire early for the bulk of those retirements surveyed. 44 references and 2 tables (Author abstract modified)