Animal shelters care for tens of thousands of lost and unwanted animals each year. Their contribution to animal welfare is significant, but those on the frontline are at risk of job stress and burnout.
Exposure to animal suffering, participation in euthanasia, job demands, and tight resourcing can undermine the feelings of satisfaction that come from being in the presence of animals and making a difference, explains lead researcher, Dr Vanessa Rohlf.
The research team explored the relationships between job demands, resources, workplace wellbeing, performance, and intentions to leave in animal shelter workers.
“In particular, we investigated whether this cohort were able to actively manage workplace demands by modifying their work to better fit their strengths, passion and purpose. This approach, known as job crafting, can have positive impact on workplace wellbeing and performance.”
The paper, published in Anthrozoös, found that job demands and resources predicted workplace wellbeing.
“Work engagement, but not exhaustion, was related to performance, while both engagement and exhaustion were related to intentions to leave,” she says.
“We found that animal shelter workers employed job crafting behaviours like seeking feedback on performance, finding opportunities for growth and minimising demands.”
And Dr Rohlf argues that this is where the gains in wellbeing can be made.
“Our findings indicate that workplace interventions that build resources and minimise demands may be effective in promoting both wellbeing and performance in animal-shelter environments,” she says.
“Workplace strategies that offer flexibility and encourage job crafting – particularly those that involve finding opportunities for growth and seeking feedback on performance – offer additional bottom-up approaches to complement top-down interventions.”
“This approach is something that may make a real difference to workers and deserves further exploration.”
