Employee engagement, job satisfaction and decent work in the Zimbabwean gold mining sector

Abstract

Orientation: The mining industry is a high-risk industry with demanding work environment. Often times, it encounters a myriad of problems that include failure to retain top talent due to lack of job satisfaction. Productivity of the mining companies usually decrease due to these problems.

Research purpose: The study seeks to investigate the relationship between employee engagement, job satisfaction and decent work considering Kwekwe District as a case study.

Motivation for the study: There is limited research conducted on the link between employee engagement, job satisfaction and decent work, particularly in the mining sector.

Research approach/design and method: This study is quantitative in nature. Using the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, Decent Work Scale and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, the data used were gathered directly from 253 miners in the gold mining environment. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to assess the relationship between employee engagement, job satisfaction and decent work and to test the structural model.

Main findings: The results of SEM show that employee engagement is positively linked to job satisfaction; decent work is positively connected to employee engagement; and decent work positively influences job satisfaction. Further, the study indicates that decent work fully moderates the relationship between employee engagement and job satisfaction.

Practical/managerial implications: The constructs of employee engagement, job satisfaction and decent work are significantly related. Human resource interventions are needed to deal with these constructs.

Contribution/value-add: This research contributes to the existing body of literature by revealing the relationship between employee engagement, job satisfaction and decent work.