Date

5-20-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Sarah Jo Spiridigliozzi

Keywords

Organizational factors, well-being, retention, leadership, culture

Disciplines

Education

Abstract

Many organizations continue to face a rapidly declining workforce within the field of education. Organizational factors such as leadership or communication style can have |drastic effects on educators’ well-being, which is also linked to long-term organizational commitment. This mixed-methods study explored the role of organizational factors on employee well-being and retention in the elementary educational arena. In conducting semi-structured interviews, ten participants who held various roles within a school campus were included in this study, focusing on their lived experiences. In addition to informational interviews, a final, post-interview survey question was incorporated to provide a holistic approach in investigating the role workplace factors have on employee outcomes. A thematic coding analysis highlighted recurring themes derived from participants lived experiences, which included: leadership, workplace culture, organizational supports, and opportunities for growth. The data indicated that effective organizational practices, including strong communication, morale, equitable salary, and professional development opportunities had beneficial effects on employee outcomes. Conversely, insufficient communication, poor collegial relationships, and lack of career advancement shaped negative educator outcomes including burnout, weakened organizational trust, and increased attrition rates. When asked about workplace satisfaction, only half of the participants indicated satisfaction with their current workplace. The data contributed from this study can assist school leaders in harnessing their leadership abilities to cultivate a positive school community and boost organizational health.

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