Global growth in mining activities has resulted in stiff competition for talented employees and characterised the mining industry with high turnover rates. The South African mining environment has not been an exception to this phenomenon. The aim of this study was to inform the design of talent retention strategies through determination of turnover intention predictors and exploration of the turnover process experienced by employees. The study hypothesised that job satisfaction and affective organisational commitment mediate the effect of overall justice, centralisation, trust and job challenge on turnover intentions. A cross-sectional survey design with a random sample of trainers and learners from a South African gold mining company was used (n=171 and n=230, respectively). Results indicate that job satisfaction mediates the effect of centralisation on turnover intention for learners. Only job satisfaction directly predicts turnover intention for trainers, and overall justice and trust play a direct role in the prediction of turnover intention for learners. It was also found that job challenge predicts job satisfaction for trainers, whilst job challenge, centralisation and trust predict job satisfaction for learners. Therefore, to retain trainers, the mining company should focus on enhancing those factors that facilitate job challenge perceptions and job satisfaction. In retaining learners, its thrust should be increasing job challenge, decentralisation, overall justice, trust and job satisfaction. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Global growth in mining activities has resulted in stiff competition for talented employees and characterised the mining industry with high turnover rates. The South African mining environment has not been an exception to this phenomenon. The aim of this study was to inform the design of talent retention strategies through determination of turnover intention predictors and exploration of the turnover process experienced by employees. The study hypothesised that job satisfaction and affective organisational commitment mediate the effect of overall justice, centralisation, trust and job challenge on turnover intentions. A cross-sectional survey design with a random sample of trainers and learners from a South African gold mining company was used (n=171 and n=230, respectively). Results indicate that job satisfaction mediates the effect of centralisation on turnover intention for learners. Only job satisfaction directly predicts turnover intention for trainers, and overall justice and trust play a direct role in the prediction of turnover intention for learners. It was also found that job challenge predicts job satisfaction for trainers, whilst job challenge, centralisation and trust predict job satisfaction for learners. Therefore, to retain trainers, the mining company should focus on enhancing those factors that facilitate job challenge perceptions and job satisfaction. In retaining learners, its thrust should be increasing job challenge, decentralisation, overall justice, trust and job satisfaction. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie is onderneem om te bepaal watter determinante 'n rol speel in die beroepsbevrediging van grondvlak maatskaplike werkers en watter gehalte van die werksleweprogramme benut kan word om dit aan te spreek. Tydens die empiriese fase van die studie is 'n vraelys aan die maatskaplike werkers van die Vereniging vir Liggaamlike Gestremdes (streek Wes-Kaap) gesirkuleer waarin aannames oor beroepsbevrediging en gehalte van die werkslewe getoets is. Die response bevestig 'n hoer arbeidsomset as die gemiddelde, 'n behoefte aan billike en regverdige vergoedingspakkette, bevorderingsgeleenthede, 'n werksomgewing wat werksekuriteit bied en 'n gebrek aan inspraak in die leierskap en bestuurstyl van welsynsorganisasies. Die rol wat die supervisor kan speel figureer sterk sowel as die behoefte aan gehalte van die werksleweprogramme soos, deelnemende bestuur, sensitiwiteitsopleiding, doelwitbestuur en spanwerk. Enkele aanbevelings vvord aan administrateurs en supervisors gemaak oor die uitbou van maatskaplike werkers se beroepsbevrediging en die benutting van gehalte van die werksleweprogramme sodat arbeidsomset bekamp en koste-effektiwitet verhoog kan word. / This study was undertaken to establish which determinants play a role in the job satisfaction of direct service social workers and what quality of worklife programmes can be utilised to address the problem. During the empirical phase of the study, a questionnaire was circulated to social workers of the Association for the Physically Disabled, Western Cape, in which suppositions regarding job satisfaction and quality of worklife was tested. Responses confirmed the need for fair remuneration packages, promotion opportunities, job security, a high labor turnover and a lack of participation in the management of welfare organisations. The role of the supervisor figures strongly. Quality of worklife programmes such as participatory management, sensitivity training, management by objectives and teamwork are needed. Suggestions are made to administrators and supervisors concerning the development of job satisfaction and the utilisation of quality of worklife programmes to control labour turnover and improve cost effectiveness. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Maatskaplike Werkrigting)

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie is onderneem om te bepaal watter determinante 'n rol speel in die beroepsbevrediging van grondvlak maatskaplike werkers en watter gehalte van die werksleweprogramme benut kan word om dit aan te spreek. Tydens die empiriese fase van die studie is 'n vraelys aan die maatskaplike werkers van die Vereniging vir Liggaamlike Gestremdes (streek Wes-Kaap) gesirkuleer waarin aannames oor beroepsbevrediging en gehalte van die werkslewe getoets is. Die response bevestig 'n hoer arbeidsomset as die gemiddelde, 'n behoefte aan billike en regverdige vergoedingspakkette, bevorderingsgeleenthede, 'n werksomgewing wat werksekuriteit bied en 'n gebrek aan inspraak in die leierskap en bestuurstyl van welsynsorganisasies. Die rol wat die supervisor kan speel figureer sterk sowel as die behoefte aan gehalte van die werksleweprogramme soos, deelnemende bestuur, sensitiwiteitsopleiding, doelwitbestuur en spanwerk. Enkele aanbevelings vvord aan administrateurs en supervisors gemaak oor die uitbou van maatskaplike werkers se beroepsbevrediging en die benutting van gehalte van die werksleweprogramme sodat arbeidsomset bekamp en koste-effektiwitet verhoog kan word. / This study was undertaken to establish which determinants play a role in the job satisfaction of direct service social workers and what quality of worklife programmes can be utilised to address the problem. During the empirical phase of the study, a questionnaire was circulated to social workers of the Association for the Physically Disabled, Western Cape, in which suppositions regarding job satisfaction and quality of worklife was tested. Responses confirmed the need for fair remuneration packages, promotion opportunities, job security, a high labor turnover and a lack of participation in the management of welfare organisations. The role of the supervisor figures strongly. Quality of worklife programmes such as participatory management, sensitivity training, management by objectives and teamwork are needed. Suggestions are made to administrators and supervisors concerning the development of job satisfaction and the utilisation of quality of worklife programmes to control labour turnover and improve cost effectiveness. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Maatskaplike Werkrigting)