Working Life and Satisfaction of Swiss Prison Governors: Results of an Explorative Study

Abstract

Utilizing an online survey of governors from Swiss penal institutions and prisons (N = 45, response rate 54.2%), the framework conditions of leadership work in the correctional system were investigated. In addition to descriptive analyses, correlation analyses were used to examine whether there are links between the evaluation of resources, the evaluation of the prison climate, and the evaluation of one’s own space to manoeuvre, and whether this influenced the respondents’ perception of employees’ co-determination. Overall, a relatively high level of satisfaction was found regarding respondents’ abilities to shape everyday working life. Furthermore, there are significant correlations between satisfaction with one’s own space to manoeuvre and employee participation. In some institutions, the provision of resources should be improved. About two thirds of respondents report difficulties in recruiting staff.