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By Yvonne La Rose
Over the past couple of years, I've been asking folks, "Why do you like your job?" I’ve spoken with fast food workers, office workers, government employees, transit security workers, librarians and people on the street. Their reasons were as varied as the individuals speaking. However, there were some commonalities.
It’s Not About the Money
One thing should be of interest to HR professionals, managers and recruiters who are constantly looking for the quality hire: the one element that did not affect job satisfaction for the people I interviewed was amount of pay--even for the person who demonstrated dissatisfaction with the job. No matter how many dollars and cents you throw at a person, if a positive work environment, quality, challenging work and a sense of worth are missing, levels of satisfaction and productivity will plummet. You may as well invest precious dollars in a dry oil well.
Choosing the Respondents
People were selected for the poll at random, based solely on whether they looked approachable at the moment. One person was standing at a bus stop. She had just gotten off work. Two others were at their desks. While both appeared satisfied, one's face brightened as she agreed to answer the question, while her co-worker's face darkened. A state security officer, new to the position by about three weeks or so, was happy to respond.
Several of the office workers had become friends because they commute to and from work together at approximately the same time. What attracted me to them was the fact that they were so convivial and their conversations so diverse and outward in perspective.
The librarians were chosen because it's a profession that tends to be taken for granted and I felt they would have some interesting thoughts to share.
One of the employers is a regional turnkey business services office suite. The fast food workers are from Yoshinoya and McDonald's. The transit officer is a California deputy sheriff. Several of the office workers are in support positions in local government. I also surveyed a manager at FedEx/Kinko's.
What They Said...
- Fed/Ex Kinko’s Manager
She shared that there's more opportunity for promotion now that the two companies have merged. She was pleased that the work opportunities have become more diverse since the merger and that working conditions have vastly improved. She also has a good selection of hours to work and is happy that training opportunities are available for people who wish to advance within the company.
- McDonald’s Manager
In the same vein, the McDonald's manager cited a “grow into it” environment with the company. You can come in as a food server and stop there, if that's all you want from your job. But people also come to McDonald's and prove themselves worthy of promotion. That's how they get ahead. If they're fast, accurate, courteous and enthusiastic, he told me, they will be noticed and they will be offered not only an increase in salary, but an opportunity for promotion. Promotions come in stages. Those stages are always prefaced by training to ensure that the person knows what they're supposed to do and that they're doing it properly before they make the leap. Additionally, if an employee wants to continue his education, there are ways that the company can support that endeavor. (Note: the McDonald's survey took place more than three years ago; present opportunities may not be as substantial).
- Yoshinoya
The Yoshinoya employee literally raved about her employer, stating, "I love working there! It's like family"--but a family where works hard. What she meant by “having family” is that the company truly cares about the welfare of its workers. It offers flexibility. The pay is good for fast food work. Benefits are available, which was of paramount importance to this young woman. And the work hours were a good match for her needs. But the family atmosphere, the care and interest the company shows for the welfare of its workers were the most important issues for her.
- The Librarians
Both librarians professed a love of books and information, they had different perspectives about what keeps them in the profession. One said that she enjoys research--the challenge of finding diverse information from so many different resources. The other finds enjoyment in not only the information but also by serving the public. She sees herself as providing a unique service. She absolutely loves her work, finds it extremely satisfying and feels that she has found her proper calling.
- The Office Workers
The office co-workers had very disparate perspectives. One respondent’s face dropped at when asked the question. Judging by the guarded words she used, I would assume she's suffered disappointments in the past that seem to carry a common theme. However, she expressed relief that her working conditions at this office were much better than at her previous place of employment. The opportunities were greater and she felt she could rely on the representations her employer made.
Her co-worker, on the other hand, was extremely enthusiastic and animated. She is a college student. Her job meets her needs—it is a means of earning income to pay bills and education costs. The challenges are not such that they "go home" with her, which means she can then focus on earning good grades. For her, the job is a way to ensure her own future success.
- The Sheriff
The California deputy sheriff is in the transit security section. He is relatively new to the job. He beamed at being able to wear the uniform and appeared gratified that someone would ask about his satisfaction with the job. He stated that he likes the courtesy and friendliness of the people he interacts with.
The commuter friends were local government workers and office support staff. Given their work environments, it seemed prudent to avoid asking for a lot of detail, to avoid compromising workplace confidentiality issues.
One worker said she is just glad, given these times and her age, that she even has a job. Actually, she has two part-time jobs, but considers the daytime one her primary situation. Between the two, however, it sounded as though she derives more satisfaction from the evening work where she has more freedom and enjoys the company of the clients.
The commuters both agreed that having autonomy on the job and being heard were their main elements of satisfaction. Being viewed as an authority and being relied on for expertise were addition, important factors for them.
Summary
Okay. Now, I'll turn my informal poll around and ask you, "Why do your workers like their jobs?" It might just be a good idea to ask them. Hiring a quality employee is half the job in hiring; retaining that employee is the other half. I hope that this random and unscientific poll will provide you with some food for thought.
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Author Bio: Yvonne LaRose is a Certified Domestic Violence and Legal Advocate. Her practice focuses on organizational and career development, especially in regard to diversity. Contact her at ylarose@recruitandretain.net.
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