INVESTIGATING THE INFLUENCE OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP STYLE ON EMPLOYEES JOB SATISFACTION AND TURNOVER INTENTION IN THE SOUTH AFRICA PUBLIC SECTOR

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the influence of transformational leadership style on employees’ job satisfaction and turnover intention in the South Africa Public Sector. Surprisingly, only fewer studies have been conducted in South Africa to find the reasons behind public sector employees job satisfaction and turnover intention. This study employed a quantitative research approach, and a self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 250 participants around the North West province of South Africa. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse data. The statistical tests used including descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha, and Spearman’s rank-order correlation. The results revealed that the positive correlation between transformational leadership and employees' job satisfaction leans towards a small effect size or no practically significant correlation (r = .228), while a negative correlation between transformational leadership and turnover intention leans towards a small effect or no practically significant correlation (r = -.091). Leaders in public sector departments should pay more attention to their followers’ job satisfaction and turnover intention to help them feel connected to the organisation. Recommendations for future research were also provided. The research results strengthen the significance of attributes of transformational leadership in leading officers in the public sector organisations in South Africa that wish to promote positive attitudes in employees and their work climate.

Key words: transformational leadership, employees, job satisfaction, turnover intention; South Africa, public sector.