Job resources, job demands, burnout and work engagement of employees in the public sector

Abstract

The variables in this study are explored from a positive psychology paradigm, which is largely concerned with effecting psychological health and well-being of employees. The aim of this study will be to examine the impact of job resources, job demands on work engagement and burnout of employees within the public sector.Both survey and data analysis will be employed to guide the investigation. Standardised questionnaires will be used for the two different constructs, using the responses of employees on a composite questionnaire. Pearson correlation analysis and analysis of variance will be used to determine the relationship between the constructs of the study.The contribution of this study to the existing theory and literature is the exploration and inclusion of job resources and job demands and its relationship with burnout and work engagement. Various studies have reported that work engagement is important for organisations because it is related to job satisfaction, organisational commitment, low turnover intention and employee performance.The strengths in conducting the research could assist organisations to determine the level of engagement of employees in their current jobs. It may also assist organisations to implement interventions to address and manage burnout of employees in order to deal more effectively with symptoms. Furthermore it may be useful for organisations in order to act timeously to prevent those employees who are already showing signs of burnout from becoming sick as well as to increase work engagement. In addition, support those who are suffering from ill-health or decreased well-being caused by chronic occupational stress.