Marlene Walk

Expectations and Experiences of Young Employees: The Case of German Nonprofits

Nonprofits rely heavily on their employees, and employee performance depends on job satisfaction. Using qualitative research methods, this article examines employee expectations, work experiences, and job satisfaction in German nonprofits. Expectations do not match the workplace reality, and this gap leads to job dissatisfaction. Ways to ameliorate this are discussed.

MIND THE GAP: EXPECTATIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF CLIENTS UTILIZING JOB-TRAINING SERVICES IN A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

This paper offers an underexplored perspective of social impact assessment by integrating clients evaluation of the impact of job-training and skills-building programs. Drawing on the literature of met expectations, we investigate the personal and social impact, beyond job placement, of job-training and skills-building programs provided by a Canadian social enterprise from the perspective of the clients. Utilizing data from a pre-test/post-test quasi-experiment, we assess the differences, between program participants as compared to a control group of nonparticipants, on several measures. Findings illuminate the gap between expectations and actual experiences, and point to the importance of integrating the clients perspective. Such measures enable leaders of social enterprises to account for the often neglected intangibles of their social missions.

How Close Is Too Close

Mariam, the director of Multiple Sclerosis Ambulant Care Center (MSAC), discovers that Alex, one of the social workers, continues to visit a former client, presumably during his work hours and therefore violating the rules of MSAC. Diverging perspectives of nurses and social workers about the situation have led to conflicts in the last months. Mariam has to decide what to do while being consistent with the mission and culture of the nonprofit organization. This case study is targeted at graduate students in programs such as social work, public health, health management, and nonprofit management. Students gain (1) a deeper understanding of the interaction between members of different professions and potential role conflicts in an interdisciplinary work setting and (2) leadership insights through weighing potential avenues for executive action. Instructors can use this case in conjunction with discussions of HR management, organizational behavior, leadership, and employee relations. Subscribe to JNEL