NCJ Number
67425
Date Published
1978
Length
19 pages
Annotation
BASED ON INFORMATION FROM FORMER VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS EMPLOYEES, AN OVERVIEW IS PRESENTED OF CURRENT PERCEPTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT IN COMPARISON WITH FOUR PREVIOUS SURVEYS.
Abstract
THE 918 EMPLOYEES WHO LEFT DURING THE LAST 8 MONTHS OF 1978 RECEIVED QUESTIONNAIRES ASKING ABOUT WORKING CONDITIONS, LENGTH OF EMPLOYMENT, COMMUNICATIONS, PAY RATES AND BENEFITS, SUPERVISORS, REASONS FOR LEAVING, AND THE JOB ITSELF. ONLY 241, OR 26 PERCENT, COMPLETED THE QUESTIONNAIRE. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF EMPLOYMENT ROSE 6 MONTHS DURING THIS PERIOD, WHILE WORKING CONDITIONS WERE CONSIDERED SATISFACTORY. RATE OF PAY RECEIVED THE LOWEST RATING SINCE THE INITIATION OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE, AND SOME EMPLOYEES WERE DISCONTENT WITH THE SUPERVISORY STAFF. THE THREE MOST INDICATED REASONS FOR LEAVING--BETTER JOB OPPORTUNITY, SALARY, AND LACK OF ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITY--RECEIVED HIGHER RATINGS THAN IN OTHER SURVEYS AS DID SUPERVISION AND COMMUTING DISTANCE. BECAUSE TERMINATING EMPLOYEES ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THE QUESTIONNAIRE PROCEDURE, THE QUESTIONNAIRE SHOULD ASK ABOUT AREAS IN WHICH CHANGES BY THE DEPARTMENT MAY BE MADE. THUS, THE SECTION ON STATE BENEFITS HAD LITTLE VALUE. SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND PROCEDURES OF OTHER STATE AGENCIES WITH RESPECT TO EXIT INTERVIEWS MAY BE CONSIDERED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN THE FUTURE. THE REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT THE PRESENT PROCEDURE BE REEXAMINED TO CONSIDER ITS FUNCTION AND ITS RELATION TO PROGRAM/POLICY DECISIONS; SUGGESTIONS BE MADE ON POSSIBLE CHANGES, DELETIONS, OR MODIFICATIONS IN THE QUESTIONAIRE; AND AN INTRAORGANIZATIONAL FORM BE ADMINISTERED PERIODICALLY. TABLES AND THE QUESTIONNAIRE ARE INCLUDED. (JLF)