The interaction effect of workplace conditions, teachers' compensation and job satisfaction on perception of work and career decisions: the case of preschool teachers of a Lebanese school in Qatar

Abstract

The teaching profession is broadly acknowledged to be a demanding and challenging profession. Job satisfaction and career decision have been one of the extensively studied concepts across different organizations, but is little dealt with in the teaching community. Research implies that teachers quit their jobs at twice the rate of other professions. Everyday teachers are faced with unjust decisions, not being appreciated, fewer opportunities for professional development, feeling stressed-out and dissatisfied which account to them at times quitting their jobs. Teachers' compensation and workplace conditions have been demonstrated to be the main predictors for explaining teachers' levels of satisfaction and career commitment. The main objective of this study is to explore the challenges related to work place conditions, salaries and job satisfaction on teachers' perception of work and thus contribute to their willingness to pursue or leave their job. A descriptive analysis was carried out to identify the relationship between these variables. 60 teachers selected from a population of day care till KG2 teachers of different subjects in the Lebanese School of Qatar, completed a job satisfaction survey. Findings of this study reveal that job satisfaction is positively correlated with perception of work and intentions to leave the job, whereas teachers' compensation and workplace conditions are negatively correlated. The interaction effect between workplace conditions, teachers' compensation and job satisfaction on perception of work and intent to leave the job has been confirmed.