Pre- and post-war work motivation of teachers in war affected areas of Croatia

The aim of this study was to: a) determine factors that motivate and demoti vate elementary school teachers in areas directly affected by war, b) to co mpare them to motivators and demotivators in pre-war period and c) to compa re teachers' self-ratings of motivators and demotivators with their percept ion of their colleagues' motivators and demotivators both in pre- and post- war period. The questionnaire was designed in order to assess motivators an d demotivators in the work of elementary school teachers in war affected ar eas of Croatia. 135 teachers participated in the study Four different categ ories of motivators and demotivators were identified. Motivators included S elf-fulfillment and achievement, Working conditions (including salary), Pat riotism and socially valuable work and Peace (Peace only for post-war perio d). Demotivators comprised Social status, Unsupportive environment, Persona l problems and Lack of support from school authorities. These categories ro ughly correspond to the motivation-hygiene theory proposed by Herzberg. The main difference between teachers' responses for pre-war and post-war perio d is Peace emerging as motivator in post-war period, with highest rating. A part from peace, in post-war period teachers reported to be motivated mainl y by Self-fulfillment and achievement and Patriotism and socially valuable work, while Working conditions (including salary) had the lowest rating. Th e same order of motivators was found for pre-war period. When their colleag ues were concerned, teachers rated them as less motivated by Self-fulfillme nt and achievement and Patriotism and socially valuable work and more affec ted by demotivators than themselves.