Assessing the Degree of Job Satisfaction for Short-Term Contract Employees at Tanesco in Ubungo, Dar Es Salaam.

Abstract

The focus of the study was to assess the degree of short-term contract employees‟ satisfaction in TANESCO, at Ubungo, Dar es Salaam. Specifically, the study determined the influence of type of short-term employment contract on employees‟ satisfaction. Secondly, the study examined the contribution of perceived personal needs in short-term employment contract on employees‟ satisfaction. Lastly, the study established challenges of renewal short-term Employment contract on employees‟ satisfaction. The study employed a cross-sectional research design with a mixture approach. Data were collected by using questionnaire to 80 employees of TANESCO and 10 key informants (managers of TANESCO) interviews. Besides, data analysis involved descriptive statistics and inferential analysis to analyze the quantitative information. For qualitative information, a content analysis was involved. The study found that employees at TANESCO were not being satisfied with short-term contract because it offers for lower salary, and low benefit allowance. Moreover, findings also indicate that employees have their own needs to be highlighted in the short-term employment contract. These include; promotion opportunities, medical services, and good leadership in the organizations. Others include; high salary and good working conditions. Lastly, the current study also found there are challenges facing employees in a renewal of short-term employment contract. The challenges include; a renewal needs more efforts in re-negotiation, fear of not given again the contract, and an employee can be terminated at any time. In regression analysis, the study found the two variables; type of contract and personal needs are positively significant statistically (p≤0.05) with employees‟ satisfaction. However, challenges of renewal of short-term employment contract shows a negative but significant statistically with employees‟ satisfaction. The study concludes that employees at TANESCO who are provided with short-term employment contract are not satisfied with organization because short-term employment contract treats them differently from employees of long-term or permanent contract. The contract is also not made to include their needs, additionally they face with challenges during its renewal. In addition, the study recommends that TANESCO should invest more efforts to see how it can provide permanent contract, in particular for employees who have worked with the organization for more than one year.