Caring for the caregivers: how employee benefits and perceived organizational support shape job satisfaction among healthcare professionals

Abstract

Purpose Drawing on the organizational support theory (OST), the study investigates how employee benefits contribute to job satisfaction and whether employees' perception of organizational support enhances this relationship. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Using structured questionnaires, data were collected from 163 clinical and non-clinical staff members of 3 health facilities in Accra, Ghana. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS PROCESS macro to assess direct and mediating relationships between employee benefits, perceived organizational support and job satisfaction. Findings The results indicate that employee benefits significantly influence both job satisfaction and perceived organizational support. Perceived organizational support also positively affects job satisfaction, and the mediation effect was statistically significant. These findings suggest that both employee benefits and perceived organizational support influence job satisfaction. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to just three healthcare institutions, which may constrain generalizability. Future research should consider larger samples across multiple healthcare organizations to validate the findings and examine longitudinal effects. Practical implications Management should enhance job satisfaction by implementing comprehensive and equitable benefits programs. A strong organizational support culture can further improve morale and retention, especially in high-stress healthcare environments. Originality/value This study contributes to the growing body of research linking human resource practices to employee well-being by integrating perceived organizational support as a mediating mechanism. It provides context-specific evidence from the Ghanaian healthcare sector.