Employee Surveys Show Only Half Are Satisfied With Jobs

Only 55 percent of employees earning more than $50,000 and 45 percent of those who earn less than $15,000 annually declare they are satisfied with their jobs.

Those findings ought to set off alarm bells with employers and employees alike.

There is no doubt that productivity and employee retention is impacted by workers’ satisfaction; therefore, employers’ bottom lines benefit when their workforce is satisfied. Employees who are satisfied in their work earn more and enjoy better mental and physical health.

How do you feel about your job? It’s time to get started right away to improve your life at work if you are among the huge number of those who are “unsatisfied”. Left uncorrected such a state of mind slowly but surely breeds frustration and ennui, which in turn sap your strength and abilities to build a successful career.

Rate Your Job Satisfaction

The first step is to take inventory of your career path. Rate each of the following points on a scale of one to ten. The higher the number the more satisfied you are.

1. The total of your compensation: your paycheck, your benefits including health insurance, savings and retirement and vacation.

2. Your balance between work and time-off.

3. Your workload.

4. Your chances for advancement.

5. Your job itself.

6. Your boss relationships.

7. Your work environment.

Take the total of your ratings and divide the number by seven. On the scale of one to ten, how satisfied are you with your career? Now, move to step two by answering these questions:

1. What changes can be made to raise your satisfaction level to the seven to eight range in your present job?

2. Is the shortfall in your satisfaction score due to external forces that surround your job?

Are You at Fault?

To get at the root of your dissatisfaction, you have to ask if the source of your problem is within yourself.

You must recognize that many of your problems may be of your own making; they will follow you wherever you go until you change your mindset.

If you are not convinced that you can achieve a seven or eight score on your present job, it’s time to consider looking elsewhere.

Whatever, you do, if you are not reasonably well satisfied with your life at work, take action this day.

Remember the frog. Place him in a cooker of cool water and place it over a flame. The frog will frolic about happily as the water goes from cool to warm. He will continue to adapt, swimming about contentedly, even as the water begins to simmer. It is not until the water reaches the boiling point that the frog finally recognizes he is in serious trouble and tries to get out. But by that time, his strength has been sapped and it is too late.

About the Author:

For more advice on how to accelerate your career participate in Ramon Greenwood’s widely read Common Sense At Work Blog. He coaches from a successful career as Senior VP at American Express, author of career-related books, successful entrepreneur, and a senior executive/ consultant in Fortune 500 companies. For free career coaching visit: http://commonsenseatwork.com/job-advice-principles