ABSTRACT
The term 'commitment', which has its origins in existential philosophy, means involving oneself actively, deeply and tenaciously in what one is doing, with the activity perceived as meaningful and important. Commitment in social work is important because of its association with motivation, values, recruitment, job satisfaction, job retention, job turnover and work performance. Professional commitment can be seen as "a measure, or indicator, of behaviour towards one's profession and the efforts that are invested in it. A personal commitment to social work can emerge from a variety of sources. Sound administrative support and comfortable working environments are seen to enhance commitment. Commitment for social workers involves strong attachments, long-term bonds, active dedication, caring, a strong sense of responsibility and the provision of reliable, committed responses to service users. There are tensions and contradictions between professional and organisational commitment, with social workers generally being less committed to organisations.
