Investigating the relationship between job satisfaction and engagement of Millennials in hospitals: the mediating role of structural empowerment

Abstract

The study investigates the relationship between job satisfaction and engagement of Millennials in hospitals and specifically looks at the role that structural empowerment plays to ensure job satisfaction. In a literature study, the four concepts (millennials, engagement, job satisfaction and empowerment) are explained and current research on these topics is critically compared. The research instrument contains only that demographic information necessary to draw sensible conclusions, and data on the main constructs are collected through a combination of three validated instruments, namely the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) and the Conditions for Work Effectiveness Questionnaire (CWEQ II), to measure the three main constructs. The study, therefore, follows a quantitative research design, where data will be analysed using SPSS software and causal relationships between constructs will be determined using techniques such as multiple regression and structural equation modelling. In terms of the expected contribution of the study, the hospital environment was specifically chosen, as the researcher perceives the health industry as a critical industry where management issues such as empowerment, job satisfaction, and engagement are critical in terms of rendering valuable service. However, although the biggest impact of the research is likely to be in the public health industry, participants from the private healthcare industry are chosen for the study, since they are expected to have a better judgment on issues such as empowerment and job satisfaction than participants from public hospitals would have. Also, private hospitals could also benefit from the study. It must be stated that the topic is a management topic and not a health issue that is studied.