The role of work shifts on employee job satisfaction within the Tanzania police force: The case of Njombe region police force

Martha Edward Makatha; Modest Paul Assenga

doi:10.51867/scimundi.5.2.7

Authors

Martha Edward Makatha
marthamakatha1@gmail.com
Tanzania Institute of Accountancy, Tanzania https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6040-2873
Modest Paul Assenga Tanzania Institute of Accountancy, Tanzania https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5516-7508

Keywords:

Ergonomic Design, Job Satisfaction, Night Duty, Police Officers, Shift Work Pattern, Workforce Management

Abstract

Work shift is one of the factors that influence job satisfaction, especially for jobs that require 24-hour service for seven days, such as those in healthcare and law enforcement. In various parts of the world, police officers are required to have work shifts because their services are needed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This study explores the effect of work shift patterns on job satisfaction among police officers in the Njombe Region, Tanzania, focusing on the patterns and types of shifts. The study was grounded in insights from circadian rhythm theory, motivation theory, and the hierarchy of needs, which aim to explain factors influencing motivation and job satisfaction in relation to shift schedules. Out of 384 police officers in Njombe, the researchers randomly selected 169 respondents for this study using Yamane’s formula. Data were collected from 169 respondents using structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and regression. Findings confirm that fixed shifts and morning shifts are more preferable and have a significant impact on increasing job satisfaction compared to rotating and frequent night shifts. Therefore, a work shift is a strong predictor of job satisfaction. The value of p of the fixed shift was significant, and the regression coefficient of fixed shift was +0.36, while that of rotating was -0.27, validating the argument that fixed shift has a positive effect, while poorly managed rotating shift has a negative impact on job satisfaction among police officers. Moreover, the regression output shows that shift pattern is a strong determinant of job satisfaction among police officers, fixed shift pattern improves satisfaction (B=0.65, p<0.001); however, frequent night shift affects satisfaction negatively (B=-0.270, p<0.001). The impact of age and years of service has a significant positive effect, as p>0.05 exhibits a positive, statistically insignificant effect. Also, based on T-test results, there was a high level of satisfaction among officers on the fixed shift (p < 0.001) and the morning shift. These findings emphasize the vital significance of scheduling practices in improving workforce well-being and reducing dissatisfaction associated with night work. The study recommends that there is a need for shift policy reform that takes into account fixed scheduling, reduces the frequency of night duty, and ensures that fitness and creativity programs are incorporated into the policy to maintain higher energy levels. Based on the results, the study concluded that stable and predictable work schedules promote psychological well-being, efficiency, and effectiveness in operations, increase employee satisfaction, and reduce absenteeism and employee turnover. Findings serve as a basis for critical evidence in promoting workforce management within the Tanzanian police force. By aligning officers' demands with best practices in human resources, it is straightforward to enhance service delivery, performance, and the well-being of officers. Therefore, it is paramount for governments and administrators to ensure that work schedules are effectively managed, allowing police officers to perform their critical duty of protecting the community and its assets, as well as providing public safety.

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Author Biography

Martha Edward Makatha, Tanzania Institute of Accountancy, Tanzania

Martha Edward Makatha was born and raised in Tanzania, where she developed a strong interest in Accounts, Finance, Mathematics and Economics. This passion guided her journey to Certificate of secondary education 2004 and Advance of Secondary education on 2011 where she specialized on science at O level and EGM (Economic, Geography and Mathematics) at a level respectively. In additional to that, she successful completed her first Bachelor degree 2014 and qualified with Bachelor degree in Accounts and Finance, of Sokoine University followed by passing professional NBAA exam which made her to be recognized as Certificate Public Accountant (CPA (T)) 2017. Moreover, Martha had successfully completed her second degree and qualified for Master in Business Administration in Corporate Management (MBA-CM) of Mzumbe University 2020 and after reasonable working experience and professional hours she was upgraded in to Associate Certified Public Accountant in Public Patrice (ACPA PP) 2022.

From 2015 soon after gradation Martha began her career as Cooperative officer where she as responsible for advising cooperative about best business practice, over seen entire operation of 580 cooperative society at Njombe Region for the well being of Njombe community. In this role she managed to lead cooperative to keep financial records, preparing financial statement, design cooperative strategic plan and budget, and carrying business analysis. More over as Cooperative Officer she was responsible for cooperative supervision and promotion as well as organizing cooperative consortium and training on financial management, Customer care, credit appraisal and other issues important for cooperative development.

From 2015 to 2020 were she was working as cooperative she managed to held 35 training for cooperative board member at Njombe, Dodoma and Tanga region, cooperate with MUVI, MIVARAF and DSK project to provide 10 train of trainer to cooperative managers from 45 cooperative which was under SCULT, conducting research titled factor for increased non performing loan in cooperative which was used as basis for her master degree, leading establishment of 7 youth cooperative at Wang’ing’ombe District, 4 Women cooperative at Njombe District, and one irrigation cooperative.

More over from 2021 to 2023 she was transferred to COASCO where she was acting as Regional Cooperative Auditor (RCA) for Iringa and Njombe Region. At this new position she managed to plan and lead her subordinates to carry out audit assignment to 1274 cooperative societies located at Njombe and Iringa region from 2021 to 2023. Apart form auditing, she attended annual general meeting to read and interpret audit report for 320 cooperative and capacitated her subordinate to attend and present audit report for the rest cooperatives. Also, she led training on ho reduce audit quarrels, how to respond for audit findings and how to prepare financial statement as per international standard of accounts. During this period, she capacitated her staff to carry out normal audit assignment and forensic audit in both cooperatives and other public organization as recommended by her supervisor. On the part of administrative as Regional cooperative officer, she managed to ensure order and ethical behavior as civil servant working in the field of consultancy as account and auditor among her staff and herself, she managed to prepare various report, held meeting and resolve employee grievances as a way of enhancing peace and harmony working environment

After a number of years she gained strong experience in the field accounting, leadership and auditing through daily interaction with the ground root society (Cooperative Societies), police marker in the consortium and Cooperative federation at national level, various leadership international program attended like Young Africa Leaders initiative, (Nairobi Kenya) Community based microfinance ( at Wise credit union Ethiopia) and international program in rural cooperative ( at India) 2016, 2017 and 2019 she was shifted to academic institution to transform and transmit the experience to students at Tanzania Institute of Accountant (TIA) a government institute established to prepare professional accountant who can work in various public and private organization in the nation.

Therefore since 2024 Martha is working with TIA as lecturer where she led student to build their career in area of Accounting, Auditing and Business management. She is passionate about sharing her skills, knowledge and work experience to many students as possible in order to prepare them to become potential accountant and auditors who can contributes to the economic development of Tanzania and world community as a whole.

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