Lived Experience of Employees of Services Division from their Job and Employment status: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the lived experience of employees of services division from their job and employment status.

Methods: The research method utilized was qualitative and descriptive phenomenology. The study population was all employees of Services Division working at the University of Guilan. Participants in the study were also selected in a purposeful and criterion-focused manner. Their number was also selected according to the theoretical saturation of 9 people. The data collection tool was also a semi-structured interview.

Results: Findings were analyzed using the Colaizzi method. As a result of the analysis, 5 main themes and 21 subcategories were obtained. The first main theme was injustice, which included the sub-categories of unfair judgment, feeling of discrimination, feeling of injustice, high work pressure, high work expectations, and lack of support. The second main theme of low self-esteem with sub-categories was lack of credibility, not being seen, being humiliated, not being valued, not being respected and not being understood. The third main theme was the lack of motivation for progress, which includes the categories of helplessness and despair from changing the existing situation, lack of promotion and job promotion. The fourth main theme was not benefiting from job privileges, which included the subcategories of insufficient salary, delay in receiving salary, lack of loans, lack of supplementary insurance, lack of leave, and the fifth main theme was lack of job satisfaction, which included the subcategories of lack of motivation, Job insecurity and instability.

Conclusion: The findings of the present research showed that service sector employees do not have a positive psychological experience of their job situation. These findings can be used for managers of recruitment companies and employers.