The Promise of Spirit at Work: Increasing Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment and Reducing Turnover and Absenteeism in Long-Term Care
Abstract
The effectiveness of a spirit at work program in long-term care was evaluated using a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design. These findings, along with focus group results, provide strong support that the program increased spirit at work, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and organizational culture (particularly teamwork and morale), leading to a reduction in turnover and absenteeism—two major concerns in the long-term care sector. This study suggests that implementation of a spirit at work program is a relatively inexpensive way to enhance the work satisfaction of employees, increase their commitment to the organization (thus reducing turnover and absenteeism), and ultimately improve the quality of resident care.
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Empirical research on leadership and implementation identifies mechanisms through which leaders affect implementation, including facilitating positive organizational climate, supportive team climate, and positive work attitudes.
“Empirical research on leadership and implementation identifies mechanisms through which leaders affect implementation including facilitating positive organizational climate (Aarons, Sommerfeld, & Willging, 2011), supportive team climate (Bain, Mann, & Pirola-Merlo, 2001), and positive work attitudes (Kinjerski & Skrypnek, 2008).”
From The Roles of System and Organizational Leadership in System-Wide Evidence-Based Intervention Sustainment: A Mixed-Method Study (2016) · cites this paper as Kinjerski & Skrypnek, 2008
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Aarons, G. A., Ehrhart, M. G., & Farahnak, L. R. (2014) · Implementation Science · doi:10.1186/1748-5908-9-45 · Cited by 559 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Kinjerski, V., & Skrypnek, B. J.
- Venue
- Journal of Gerontological Nursing
- Publisher
- SLACK, Inc.
- Published
- 2008-10
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 17-25
- ISSN
- 0098-9134 (ISSN-L)
- 1938-243X
- OpenAlex
- W2042936824
- Cited by
- 119
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 10.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Gerontological Nursing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
- Social Sciences › Demography › Workplace Spirituality and Leadership
- Social Sciences › Human Factors and Ergonomics › Employee Performance and Management
- Keywords
- long-term care, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover, absenteeism, organizational culture, teamwork, morale, employee retention, quality of care
- MeSH terms
- Workforce, Aged, Canada, Homes for the Aged, Humans, Long-Term Care, Nursing Homes, Personnel Management, Staff Development, Organizational Culture, Spirituality
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