First-year Constables: Occupational Burnout, Stress, and Attrition.

• In Event: Promoting Police Officer Health and Wellness

Abstract

At the start of their policing careers, constables (or early career police officers) are at the highest risk of attrition. While attrition rates have been examined in relation to stress, burnout, and the mental health of sworn officers at different ranks, there is little research that has examined these factors with officers at the start of their career. This exploratory research sought to address this gap in knowledge and presents findings from semi-structured interviews with 46 Australian constables regarding their experiences of, and perceptions of, burnout, workplace stress, and attrition. Applying a thematic analysis to identify patterns in the data, the findings suggest that constables are highly cognizant of the occupational factors which affect police work, and are very aware that differing workplace interactions (with officers or citizens) can contribute to occupational burnout and stress. The findings from this exploratory study contribute new knowledge into the extant policing literature regarding the current Australian (and global) staffing crisis because until there is better organizational management of occupational burnout and workplace stress for constables in their first year of policing, attrition rates of constables will remain high, and the staffing crisis (underpinned by constable attrition) will continue. This will be discussed.

Author

• Toby Miles-Johnson, Western Sydney University