Job Satisfaction and Burnout Among VA and Communit

Authors: Michelle P Salyers Angela L Rollins YuFan Kelly Paul H Lysaker Jane R Williams

Publish Date: 2011/10/05

Volume: 40, Issue: 2, Pages: 69-75

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Abstract

Building on two independent studies we compared burnout and job satisfaction of 66 VA staff and 86 community mental health center staff in the same city VA staff reported significantly greater job satisfaction and accomplishment less emotional exhaustion and lower likelihood of leaving their job Sources of work satisfaction were similar primarily working with clients helping/witnessing change VA staff reported fewer challenges with jobrelated aspects eg flexibility pay but more challenges with administration Community mental health administrators and policymakers may need to address jobrelated concerns eg pay whereas VA administrators may focus on reducing and helping workers navigate administrative policiesThe research reported here was supported in part by the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Health Services Research Development Service IAC 052543 Illness Management and Recovery for Veterans with Severe Mental Illness and by an IPRISP grant from the National Institute of Mental Health R24 MH074670 Recovery Oriented Assertive Community Treatment The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs We appreciate the participation of staff at both organizations the helpful comments of our writing group as well as the assistance of Brittany Hood Sylwia Oles Laura Stull and Candice Hudson

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