How to avoid a lack of work engagement among public police professionals

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the combined effect of five conditions—influence at work, interactional justice, workload, laissez-faire leadership, and emotional exhaustion—on the absence of work engagement in public police professionals. Using qualitative comparative analysis on a sample of 119 police professionals, the results show that none of the conditions on their own is necessary to lead to the absence of these professionals' work engagement. In addition, five casual configurations allow for the conclusion that influence at work, interactional justice, emotional exhaustion, and laissez-faire leadership are key conditions, while workload is less decisive in leading to the absence of work engagement in police professionals. The results inform managers of public police institutions on what variables can further contribute to creating workspaces in which learning, professional development, and positive experiences prevail among employees. This study is especially valuable to police professionals because the very nature of their work leads to engagement in acquiring a very powerful meaning