Work Rewards, Job Satisfaction and Accreditation in Long Day Care

Abstract

The Quality Improvement and Accreditation System (QIAS) is designed to create benchmarks for quality long day care (LDC). As accreditation does not influence employment conditions, high staff turnover and departures from the industry of qualified and experienced workers is the result. High staff turnover and industry attrition of workers can be abated if both the determining and contributing factors of quality care are simultaneously addressed. Failure to examine and improve the extrinsic rewards of work in LDC will dilute the child-centred outcomes of accreditation as well as the occupational commitment of child care workers.