Poster #3 - A Longitudinal Analysis of Workplace Perceptions Among Black Probation and Parole Staff

• In Event: Poster Session I (posters 1 - 79)

Abstract

This study examines changes in workplace climate perceptions among Black probation and parole staff in the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Division of Community Corrections Region 3 across the 2020, 2022, and 2024 employee climate surveys. Using repeated cross-sectional survey data, the analysis traces patterns across eight workplace domains, including job satisfaction, organizational commitment, supervisory relations, work environment, communication, training and development, pay and benefits, and knowledge and experience. Most domains improved between 2020 and 2022 but declined in 2024. The largest 2022–2024 decreases occurred in Work Environment/Unit and Supervisory Relations, while Pay and Benefits remained the lowest-rated domain across all three survey years. In contrast, Knowledge and Experience increased over time. Item-level patterns further identified persistent concerns involving compensation, promotional opportunities, benefits, and feeling valued, alongside continued strengths in mission commitment and peer relationships. Contextual employee comments from the 2024 survey also highlighted concerns about leadership visibility, workload, retaliation, recognition, and organizational culture; however, these comments serve only as contextual evidence and are not attributed specifically to the analytic subgroup. Overall, the findings identify a workforce that remains strongly connected to the agency’s mission while reporting growing concerns about supervision, workplace climate, and organizational support.

Author

• Amos Malone, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee