Editor’s note: Paul Abbate is the senior vice president of Ipsos Public Affairs’ Omnibus Services business in the U.S. This is an edited version of a post that originally appeared here under the title, “Can’t get no job satisfaction? Think again.”
Eighty-five percent of Americans are satisfied with their jobs; however most would change something if possible, or at least this is what a recent survey from Ipsos Public Affairs’ Omnibus Division recently uncovered. In the May survey, U.S. Work Place Satisfaction, it seems as if most workers are satisfied with their job but would like a more appropriate salary (27 percent, with women 34 percent), and benefits (17 percent, with women at 19 percent). What would I change? Well probably a more comfortable chair, room with a view, access to more K-Cup coffee machines and an ability to walk on water.
But if these requests cannot be satisfied, maybe it’s time to take action and change jobs. Forty-one percent of Americans think it is likely they will change jobs in the next 12 months, and Millennials top out at 56 percent. Are Americans really fickle, or looking for a change? Whatever happened to the dawn of The Organization Man, William Whyte’s seminal work from the ‘50s, where Americans graduated high school, got a job and then parked their bottoms at a desk or assembly line, and didn’t move until Mr. Pension-profit-sharing-palooza was dumped in their laps enabling retirement in Sarasota, Fla. until dust-to-dust sets in.
We also asked, “If you found out tomorrow you were financially able to quit work, would you?” Only 40 percent said they would stop working, and the remaining 60 percent said they would prefer to continue working.
Say what? That’s not my American dream. Powerball will set you free! I live by this motto. Even my financial advisor admitted under oath that you can’t beat the return on investment from a $2 winning ticket, and all you have to do is throw caution to the wind with the 175,223,110 odds for winning.
The tongue and cheek aside, here is what we can glean from the findings from this omnibus survey research:
- Employers have satisfied employees but to build retention and maintain greater longevity and loyalty with employees, fair pay and benefits go a long way to mitigating work force migration.
- Younger up-and-coming workers (Millennials) are looking to move and experience more with their career, and they will be the toughest to retain regardless of fair pay and benefits.
- There is a genuine desire to work in the U.S. when 60 percent say they would continue even after they are financially well off. Uncle Sam can feel proud.
