Author Dr. TaMika Fuller highlights 2023 Career Optimism Index^® study findings and implications for support systems and employee retention

University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies has released a new white paper, “How Support Systems Contribute to Increased Retention in the Workplace,” by TaMika Fuller, DBA, an affiliate of the Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR) and College alumna.

The white paper draws upon data from the 2023 University of Phoenix Career Institute^® Career Optimism Index^® study to explore how support systems within the workplace such as employer resource programs, networking, coaching and mentoring contribute to talent retention. According to the Index, approximately 80% of employees who have mentors believe they are progressing well and at the right place in their careers; however, only 56% of employees without mentors feel the same way. The white paper provides an overview of the impacts of coaching and mentoring in the workplace specifically.

“We know that employee turnover is expensive for employers and exacerbates morale problems,” states Fuller. “Formalizing coaching and mentoring programs as support systems for employees can help employees achieve career goals while building a stronger culture and happier workforce.”

Fuller is an economics professor at a community college in Texas and has been teaching economics and business-related courses for 17 years. She earned her doctorate in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

The full whitepaper is available at the University of Phoenix Career Institute^® webpage or as a direct link here.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

About the College of Doctoral Studies

University of Phoenix’s College of Doctoral Studies focuses on today’s challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The College’s research program puts students in the center of an effective ecosystem of experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time.

About the Career Optimism Index®

The Career Optimism Index® study is one of the most comprehensive studies of Americans' personal career perceptions to date. The University of Phoenix Career Institute® conducts this research annually to provide insights on current workforce trends and to help identify solutions to support and advance American careers and create equity in the workplace. For the third annual study, fielded between December 9, 2022 – January 13, 2023, more than 5,000 U.S. adults were surveyed on how they feel about their careers at this moment in time, including their concerns, their challenges, and the degree to which they are optimistic about core aspects of their careers. The study was conducted among a diverse, nationally representative, sample of U.S. adults among a robust sample to allow for gender, generational, racial, and socioeconomic differences and includes additional analysis of the workforce in the top twenty DMA markets across the country to uncover geographic nuances. The study also explores insights from 500 U.S. employers who are influential or play a critical role in hiring and workplace decisions within a range of departments, company sizes and industries to provide comparison between the workforce and those who hire, train, and retain them.

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