Satisfaction Isn’t Guaranteed
By Paul Seaburn – March 1, 2011
Mick Jagger still sings about a man who gives him useless information that’s supposed to fire his imagination, but it doesn’t seem to give him any satisfaction. Perhaps it’s time for his good friend Keith to tell Mick to get a different job.
A recent poll taken by the Conference Board, a non-profit global business research group, found that only 45 percent of American workers are satisfied with their work. I find those numbers hard to believe. If the population of the U.S. is around 300 million, this means that 135 million workers are unhappy with their jobs, while the other 165 million work for Google.
The Conference Board found that job satisfaction was at 49 percent in 2008 and many economists blame the drop on the worst recession since the 1930s. I’m guessing that these economists were part of the unhappy 45 percent.
Surprisingly, many workers say it’s not the economy. They’re unhappy because their jobs aren’t interesting. In the past, we were happy with seemingly uninteresting jobs because they usually had one aspect that made them interesting: good pay. With inflation and health care costs eating up good pay like it was covered with good barbecue sauce, the only other option workers can come up with to make their jobs more satisfying is wearing an iPod. Ultimately, this only makes Apple employees happy.
Conference Board experts say it’s important that workers find their jobs interesting because it makes them more likely to be innovative, productive and calculated risk-takers. On the other hand, disinterested workers are innovative, productive and calculated at taking home anything that’s not nailed down to sell on eBay.
When the Conference Board first conducted this annual survey in 1987, 61 percent said they were happy in their jobs. You might think that more people were satisfied with their jobs in 1987 because Ronald Reagan was president. Then again, the survey takers in 1987 may not have polled his vice president, George H.W. Bush.
The survey found that the happiest workers were those ages 25 to 34, possibly because they see their opportunities for more interesting jobs increasing as baby boomers retire. To those young workers waiting for baby boomers to retire, I have two words: Mick Jagger.
Perhaps I’m being unfair to Mr. Jagger. After all, while he sang about dissatisfaction and not always getting what you want, he also had a message for America’s corporate and political leaders who seem to be avoiding dealing with the issues of job interest and worker satisfaction. That message is that happy and interested workers give back much more than they get. What today’s workers are saying to their employers is, “Start me up. If you start me up, I’ll never stop.” Maybe it’s time for corporate America to listen to Mick.
Then again, Mr. Jagger, why does that drummer who works for you never seem to smile?
A recent poll taken by the Conference Board, a non-profit global business research group, found that only 45 percent of American workers are satisfied with their work. I find those numbers hard to believe. If the population of the U.S. is around 300 million, this means that 135 million workers are unhappy with their jobs, while the other 165 million work for Google.
The Conference Board found that job satisfaction was at 49 percent in 2008 and many economists blame the drop on the worst recession since the 1930s. I’m guessing that these economists were part of the unhappy 45 percent.
Surprisingly, many workers say it’s not the economy. They’re unhappy because their jobs aren’t interesting. In the past, we were happy with seemingly uninteresting jobs because they usually had one aspect that made them interesting: good pay. With inflation and health care costs eating up good pay like it was covered with good barbecue sauce, the only other option workers can come up with to make their jobs more satisfying is wearing an iPod. Ultimately, this only makes Apple employees happy.
Conference Board experts say it’s important that workers find their jobs interesting because it makes them more likely to be innovative, productive and calculated risk-takers. On the other hand, disinterested workers are innovative, productive and calculated at taking home anything that’s not nailed down to sell on eBay.
When the Conference Board first conducted this annual survey in 1987, 61 percent said they were happy in their jobs. You might think that more people were satisfied with their jobs in 1987 because Ronald Reagan was president. Then again, the survey takers in 1987 may not have polled his vice president, George H.W. Bush.
The survey found that the happiest workers were those ages 25 to 34, possibly because they see their opportunities for more interesting jobs increasing as baby boomers retire. To those young workers waiting for baby boomers to retire, I have two words: Mick Jagger.
Perhaps I’m being unfair to Mr. Jagger. After all, while he sang about dissatisfaction and not always getting what you want, he also had a message for America’s corporate and political leaders who seem to be avoiding dealing with the issues of job interest and worker satisfaction. That message is that happy and interested workers give back much more than they get. What today’s workers are saying to their employers is, “Start me up. If you start me up, I’ll never stop.” Maybe it’s time for corporate America to listen to Mick.
Then again, Mr. Jagger, why does that drummer who works for you never seem to smile?