Workplace discontent spreads globally

BambooHR - a global human resource recruitment platform, analyzed data from nearly 60,000 employees of 1,600 businesses from January 2020 to June 2023.

“Staff were neither happy nor sad, instead expressing a sense of resignation or even apathy,” the report said. “Most accepted that morale was getting worse.”

Although more and more companies are becoming more aware of the importance of work-life balance and implementing policies such as extended vacation time and remote work, it seems that it has not been able to improve the situation.

According to research, the biggest causes of dissatisfaction are unfair treatment at work, inconsistent pay, lack of support from colleagues and bosses, and unreasonable workload.

Srikumar Rao, author of “Happiness at Work,” said the most common complaint he hears is “lack of control.” The pandemic has revealed how little control we have over our own lives and careers, and it’s hard to be at peace with that realization, he said.

Inflation, widespread layoffs, and uncertain return-to-office policies are all troubling employees and creating a “deep sense of unease” in the workplace, according to Jenn Lim, CEO of organizational consulting firm Delivering Happiness.

As of early 2023, about three-quarters of adults admitted to feeling anxious about the economy, while nearly half were concerned about work-life balance, according to a survey of more than 1,000 adults by Harris Poll (a subsidiary of market research firm Nielsen).

Another factor contributing to employee dissatisfaction is a disconnect with their role. Emily Liou, a career happiness consultant and former recruitment expert, said there has been a real shift in how people view their careers post-Covid-19 and the Great Recession.

“I don’t hear a lot of people say ‘I want to make more money’ or ‘I want to climb the leadership ladder’ anymore. Now, ‘I want to feel more connected to my job’ or ‘I want to be more passionate about what I do’ are more common,” Liou revealed.

New Gallup research shows that remote workers in particular feel disconnected from their company's mission and purpose, which can be detrimental to their overall happiness and performance.

According to psychologist Adam Grant, employees who understand the meaning and positive impact of their work are not only happier but also more productive. In addition, they also tend to receive raises and promotions more than the other group.

Focusing on employee engagement and satisfaction is not only important for mental health in the workplace, it also impacts a company's bottom line.

Gallup found that companies with more engaged employees have higher profits and lower turnover and absenteeism. In fact, Gallup reports that the global economy is estimated to lose $8.8 trillion, or 9% of global GDP, if employees are dissatisfied.

According to Lim, bosses do not need to spend too much money and effort to motivate employees. They just need to create an environment where they feel attached, listened to, and understood.

“You don’t have to fix everyone’s problems in one day, just making a goal of having a meaningful conversation or meeting with the people you manage once a week can make a big difference,” she advises.