Charles Allen-Ile

Key factors of employee satisfaction for the retention of health-related professionals in South Africa

The focus of this study is health-related professionals who, according to reports are pushed into other sectors or out of South Africa. Related health professionals refer to laboratory technologists, pharmacists, radiographers, emergency medical services (paramedics), nurses, and optometrists. These practitioners are a diverse group who deliver high quality care to patients across a wide range of care pathways and in a variety of settings. Several reports have been published with regard to employee dissatisfaction within health care profession, unfortunately much of these reports have focused on doctors and nurses without commensurate attention to other health professionals. The central question in this study is: why are there high levels of employee dissatisfaction amongst healthrelated professionals in South Africa? And what remedies are there? This study therefore attempts to understand the factors that will help to reduce the causes of the often acclaimed sense of job insecurity, high levels of health worker absenteeism, and high turnover rates amongst health-related professionals. The findings will possibly help in addressing the difficulty in retaining skilled healthrelated professionals. Data collected was coded for statistical program for social science (SPSS) suitability. SPSS was utilized to generate the frequency and descriptive statistics. Data collection instrument was the Plus Delta Organisational Climate Questionnaire, which was modified on the basis of a preliminary study. The data instrument achieved a coefficient alpha ( Cronbach ) of 0.9 thus extending its validity. Utilising exploratory factor analysis, the study reveals new factors which are considered central to retaining health-related professionals.

Skills shortage in South Africa: perspectives from high school educators

Abstract This original research sought to obtain the perceptions of high school educators in South Africa with respect to the cause and effects of skills shortage in South Africa. The choice of the educators was justified because they taught subjects which are labelled critical subjects that result in learners possibly possessing specialist skills in Health Sciences, Engineering and Accounting. This research made use of both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection, while analysis was descriptive in nature. Findings in this research suggest that several reasons account for skills shortage. However, more importantly, the educators indicated that skills shortage manifested in ugly social behaviours. The authors proffer several recommendations. Chief among them was the call for a collaborative engagement of the scourge among business, government, and academic institutions. The authors also recommend that further research be taken up to provide evidence on the extent of entrepreneurial keenness of learners from disadvantaged townships in South Africa so as to find alternative ways of improving their standard of living. The research was set in a South African township.