Griping about one’s job is something of a national pastime. Depending on how cynical you are, you might be surprised to learn that 75% of employees polled find their work to be meaningful.
A recent survey from Right Management asked 1,000 North Americans “Do you find your work to be meaningful?” The results were surprisingly positive.
• 42% Always
• 35% Usually
• 16% Occasionally
• 4% Rarely
• 1% Never
“Our findings suggest that most employees care about their work—how it challenges them, offers a sense of worth or allows them to contribute to larger organizational goals and values,” says Michael Haid, senior vice-president for global solutions at Right Management. “But finding your work meaningful doesn’t necessarily translate into high performance. Companies want to aim for a convergence of meaningful work and high performance to further the organization’s objectives. It benefits the organization to not only help employees find the kind of work that inspires and motivates them, but ensure employees are committed to the success of their company.”
Further survey findings:
• Employees at smaller companies are more likely to find meaning in their work. Forty-two percent of employees at small and medium-sized firms said they always find their work meaningful, while only 36% in large-size firms said the same.
• Sales professionals were most likely to find meaning in their work, with 47% responding always, while consultants were least likely, with 25% responding always.
• More men than women always find meaning in their work, by 44% to 38%.
• Of those aged 25-34, 41% said they always find meaning in their work compared to only 28% of those aged 55+.
