An Examination of Officer Job Satisfaction and Workgroup Cultural Fit

Abstract

Research has found officer job satisfaction to be correlated with aspects of their work environment. Police culture serves as a coping mechanism for work environment stressors. Despite the connections, research has yet to investigate the impact of a broad range of cultural norms as well as the influence of cultural fit and strength on job satisfaction. The current study examines how officers alignments with traditional police culture norms, relative to their workgroup peers (i.e. cultural fit), relate to job satisfaction. Results indicated that officers who adhered to traditional norms, in general, were more satisfied; however, officers who subscribed substantially less to traditional cultural norms relative to their workgroup peers (i.e. con-culture misfits) were significantly less satisfied. Being a con-culture misfit was associated with perceptions of danger and role clarity. Collectively, the findings provide practical insights for departments concerned with their officers satisfaction by addressing cultural features of their work environments.

Emotional intelligence as a predictor of workgroup fit among police leaders

“…A small number of policing studies have examined police officers' workgroup fit. Consistent with evidence from other occupations, this research has found that workgroup fit—particularly on shared value orientations—is associated with positive outcomes, such as increased job satisfaction and improved self-legitimacy (Ingram et al ., 2021; White et al ., 2021; White et al ., 2022). Ingram et al .…”

“…Consistent with evidence from other occupations, this research has found that workgroup fit—particularly on shared value orientations—is associated with positive outcomes, such as increased job satisfaction and improved self-legitimacy (Ingram et al ., 2021; White et al ., 2021; White et al ., 2022). Ingram et al . (2021) examined workgroup fit that was based on the officers' shared role orientations toward policing, assessing discrepancies between the officers' acceptance of traditional police culture .…”

“…Police workgroups are a salient organizational entity that must be considered when examining differences in officers' shared occupational outlooks (Ingram and Terrill, 2014;Ingram et al, 2013Ingram et al, , 2018, and policing scholars have used the person-environment fit theory to examine how police officers' value orientations align (or fit) with the dominant value orientation in their workgroups. These scholars have reported positive outcomes such as increased job satisfaction and improved self-legitimacy when the officers feel like they fit in with their workgroups (Ingram et al, 2021;Rief and Clinkinbeard, 2020;White et al, 2020White et al, , 2022. The newness of these studies limits what we know about the individual and organizational benefits of fit in policing, and studies have not examined workgroup fit among command staff officers.…”