Stress and satisfaction among employees in AIDS service organizations in New York

In recent years, employees in AIDS service organizations have witnessed a number of changes and challenges in their work, ranging from shifts in the population primarily affected by HIV disease, treatment advances and its implications, and changes in administrative factors such as cuts in funding, reorganization, and changes in job function. This study examined the motives, stressors, and rewards of employees in AIDS service organizations in New York City. The main reasons for choosing to work in this field were a desire to help and having experienced the loss of some-one to AIDS. A large number of respondents had been working in the AIDS field for 5 or more years and perceived the level of stress to be mild to moderate. They reported that the rewards of this type of work outweighed the stressors, and the level of job satisfaction was very high.