What makes people happy at work?

Workplace satisfaction hinges on performance recognition

Working life can be tedious and stressful at times for all men and women. Other times, going to work can be worthwhile and satisfying and our feet are as light as feathers when we head to work.

So what is it that makes people want to go to work and what makes them want to avoid it?

According to a recent survey of 326 office workers by Job Korea, an online job information firm, 39.3 percent of the respondents said they were happy to go to work when their performance was recognized and well evaluated.

Other reasons that made them happy at work were when they received an unexpected bonus (31 percent) followed by when they meet colleagues they get along with (14.3 percent).

On the other hand, workers did not want to go to work when they felt bored with the daily routine (29.2 percent). They also trudged to work with heavy feet when they had conflicts with their boss or colleagues (24.2 percent) and when they felt a limit to their capabilities (19.6 percent).

Low pay (9.8 percent) and not wanting to get up early in the morning (6.7 percent) were also reasons that caused allergic reactions to working.

As can be seen from the survey results, satisfaction with the work, having challenging responsibilities and recognition from accomplishments were most important.

“I value personal achievement most in my career. It feels good when you have done something challenging and this earned approval from your boss,” said Cho Lyee-jin, a 25-year-old office worker.

Kim Yeon-ji, another career woman in her 20s, said “I feel great at work when I’m working on something that I’m interested in and something I can focus well on. But I don’t feel like going to work when I have to finish something I don’t want to work on.”

Actually, 24.8 percent of the respondents of the survey answered that “potential for self-development” was the most important value they held at workplaces. Work that fit their aptitude and adequate pay for the work followed.

Most of the stress stemming from the workplace came from relationships with colleagues. As shown in the survey, human interaction was the second biggest aspect that affected happiness at the workplace.

“I don’t want to go to work when my relationships with office people are strained,” said Kim.

Silvia Kim, another worker in her 20s said, “I don’t feel like going to work when I have to face a colleague I don’t like. It’s also painful to go to work when I conflict with my boss or colleagues.”

Many of the workers also suffered from “Monday fatigue” or the “day after holiday fatigue.”

“I feel great at work the day before holiday but not so much the day after a holiday,” said Kim.

Survey answers showed 42.6 percent of the office workers relieved stress through leisure activities and hobbies. Others relied on alcohol (27.9 percent), reading books (11.3 percent) or conversing with family members (10.4 percent).

As advice to office workers on how to be happy at work, the Hyundai Research Institute released the “10 commandments for a happy work life” in 2010 which are: Control your thoughts, control your mind, control your behavior, be thankful, improve day by day, serve others, know your value, enjoy the present, express love, and be an attractive person. <Korea Times/Yun Suh-young>

news@theasian.asia