**4. Findings and Discussion**

#### *4.1. Sample Profile*

The selection of this population was justified as it ensured a diversified sample with the representation of distinct municipal workers with distinct socio-economic characteristics, professional roles, education, contracts, and working in different sized municipal institutions. Due to limitations, in terms of data access, the convenience sample procedure tried to incorporate the maximum number of institutions, for a total number of 308 municipalities in Portugal, in order to ensure the total geographical coverage of Portugal, including five regions of continental Portugal: north, center, metropolitan area of Lisbon, Alentejo, and Algarve, and also two autonomous regions: Madeira and Azores. Based on the complete survey responses from 459 respondents, the convenience sample was generated. Previously, we described the socio-economic characteristics, professional profiles, and the size of the municipal employees' institutions (see Table 1).

A total of 89.98% of participants reported a feeling of contributing to productivity, with 69.28% stating that they felt they were experiencing a good QWL. Nevertheless, only 27.67% of workers considered their salary appropriate. Taking as reference the three dimensions of assessing burnout, i.e., emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and low effectiveness, 44.23% agreed they experienced emotional exhaustion and feelings of high levels of stress/anxiety in the workplace; 28.54% expressed feelings of cynicism, stating they had become more critical at work, both of colleagues and working conditions; and 30.06% felt low effectiveness at work, lacking satisfaction in job achievements. Table 2, presented below, summarizes this descriptive information.

**Table 2.** Sample characteristics (n = 459).

