Job satisfaction in the security Industry: perceptions of security guards working in UKZN Westville Campus.

Abstract

Abstract Job satisfaction among security guards has been widely publicised as news and current affairs issues, even more so in South Africa. Factors affecting the level of job satisfaction for example salary, work itself, training and promotions, working conditions, relationship with supervisor and relationship with co-workers have been researched in considerable depth as well as its effects on employees’ commitment to their company and the level of service they provide. This research study’s aim is firstly to determine whether there is a high or low level of job satisfaction amongst security guards officers working in the UKZN Westville campus. The second aim is to determine what factors influence this level of job satisfaction. The current research study used quantitative research methods and was conducted among a population size of 93 using a self-administered questionnaire to collect feedback from all respondents. The feedback was converted into data and then analysed using the built in data analysis package on Microsoft Excel 2010. Descriptive and inferential statistics was employed to analyse the data received and to obtain the research objectives for this study. The analysis of the data indicated that the majority of respondents had a level of job satisfaction that was considered to be low. The factors that had a significant influence on the level of job satisfaction were that of salary and relationship with supervisor while other factors of work itself, training and promotions, working conditions and relationship with co-workers do not influence job satisfaction. Low levels of job satisfaction has a negative effect on a number of things including lack of job motivation, future career decisions, family relationships as well as personal health and wellbeing. Security guard officers have an extremely demanding career both physically and mentally. Reduced job satisfaction also has a negative effect of the business owners, their clients and to the employees themselves. Dissatisfied security guards officers can provide poor quality service and less efficient care. Hence, to improve the level of job satisfaction from a low level to high level suitable interventions must be planned and thereafter applied amongst the security guards officers.