Survey Results 2003
Findings from the 2003 Quality of Work Life Survey
of George Mason University Employees
Prepared by:
Dr. Louis Buffardi, Department of Psychology
Kathryn Baughman, Research Assistant
Kate Morse, Research Assistant
Full Executive Summary
The Quality of Work Life Task Force conducted a survey of George Mason University employees in April 2003 to more accurately assess the quality of their work life. The information from the survey is seen as essential to focusing the efforts of the Task Force and resources of the University. Surveys were distributed to a random sample of 760 employees across 6 job categories on all 3 campuses. A total of 259 surveys were returned yielding a response rate of 35%. This response rate does not compare favorably with the previous QWL survey and may be reflective of the sobering undercurrent of the state budget circumstances constraining the sense of control over organizational interventions. Nevertheless, the number of respondents is sufficient for meaningful analysis and comparison to a similar survey conducted in 2000.
The survey is theoretically grounded on Eisenberger's construct of Perceived Organizational Support (POS), the extent to which employees perceive that the organization values their contributions and cares about their well-being. POS is well-supported by the empirical research literature as a key factor in influencing employee commitment to the organization, job satisfaction, and general quality of work life.
In addition to measuring POS, the survey included measures of:
- Affective Organizational Commitment (AOC)
- Work-Family Culture (WFC)
- Sources of Stress, divided into 6 dimensions that are likely to influence POS:
- Fairness
- Work Conditions
- Role Stress
- Relations with Others
- Parking and Commuting
- Personal and Family
- Sources of Satisfaction, also divided into 6 dimensions that are likely to influence POS:
- Fairness
- Work Conditions
- Salary and Benefits
- Autonomy and Growth
- Access to Non-work Activities
- Overall Joband Life Satisfaction
Accomplishments
Follow-up Focus Groups
The Quality of Work Life Task Force, in conjunction with the Office of University Life, is planning focus groups to follow up on concerns that were expressed in the 2003 survey.
Recommendations from the 2003 QWL Survey
Child Care
Results from the university-wide Quality of Work Life survey, completed last spring, indicate that child care is a source of stress for employees and committee work is a source of stress for instructional faculty members at George Mason. The Task Force Focus Group will create a focus group to pursue concerns related to child care. The aim of the group will be to clarify the sources of stress, identify specific child care issues that are stressful, and obtain suggestions for solutions and improvements.
Three separate focus groups on the child care issue were held at three of the distributed campuses in November 2003:
- Fairfax Campus
- Occoquan Building, Room 110L, on the Prince William Campus
- Original Building, Room 253, on the Arlington Campus
With regard to the focus group on committee work, the aim will be to clarify the sources of stress, identify specific aspects of committee work that are stressful, and obtain suggestions for solutions and improvements.
Committe Work
The focus group on committee work met via teleconference on Monday, Nov. 15, 2003 from 1 to 2 p.m. Locations were:
- Science and Technology Building I, Room 110, on the Fairfax Campus
- Occoquan Building, Room 221, on the Prince William Campus
- Original Building, Room 335, on the Arlington Campus
The focus groups were led by Kathryn Baughman and Kate Morse, research assistants to Louis Buffardi, Psychology. For more information, contact Linda Harber, assistant vice president, Human Resources, or Sandra Hubler, vice president for university life. All information from the focus groups completely confidential and will be used by the Quality of Work Life Task Force to implement any possible solutions.
Refreshments are served at all focus groups.
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Full Report (Word doc)
Daily Gazette Summary
Quality of Work Life (2000)
E-mail QWL
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