Examining Co-Worker Relations as a Mediator of Career Development and Job Satisfaction in a Selected University

Abstract

Job satisfaction remains a persistent challenge for organisations, including higher education institutions, because non-academic staff members provide essential support functions. Although career development is a determinant of job satisfaction across multiple sectors, research on its operational mechanisms in higher education institutions in developing nations remains scarce. The study examines how co-worker relationships affect the relationship between career development and job satisfaction among non-academic staff at a South African university of technology. The researchers used a quantitative research design to gather data from 280 non-academic staff members who completed a structured questionnaire. The researchers used regression-based mediation analysis to assess the proposed relationship model. The results show that career development directly benefits job satisfaction and provides an indirect benefit through co-worker relationships. The relationship between career development and job satisfaction showed that co-worker relations partially mediated career development's impact on job satisfaction. The study demonstrates how businesses should manage their resources through career development programmes, which also help employees build beneficial relationships at work. The findings provide valuable guidance to managers and human resource professionals who want to improve employee satisfaction while increasing organisational productivity.