he first professional probation officers in Croatia began their work in June 2011 when probation offices were opened. Preliminary research results on how they perceived their work, conducted in mid 2012, showed satisfactory initial motivation, job satisfaction and a relatively low level of professional stress. The primary aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the international empirical research results in the area of work perception, experience, motivation, stress and burn-out, and placing them in the context of the current Croatian practice. This way, foreign experiences, policies and practice become a platform for learning from different experiences and may be used for improvement and prevention of various adverse effects in our working environment. In conclusion, the authors provide general guidelines and recommendations for a Croatian context.