Enhance Job Satisfaction: 10 Research-Supported Methods for Boosting Your Workplace Joy
Top 10 Factors for Job Satisfaction According to SHRM Survey
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) conducted a survey on employee engagement to help companies identify programs and practices that could improve employee happiness. The survey found 10 major factors to be the most important contributors to job satisfaction.
- Recognition and rewards: Employees feel fairly acknowledged and rewarded for their efforts.
- Growth and career development opportunities: The availability of advancement and learning opportunities is crucial.
- Supportive and effective leadership: Managers who communicate clearly and support professional goals are essential.
- Work-life balance: The ability to maintain a healthy balance between personal life and work is vital.
- Alignment with company values: Employees’ values aligning with the organization's mission and culture is key.
- Job security and stability: Confidence in continued employment is important.
- Teamwork and collaboration: Positive interactions and cooperation among colleagues are crucial.
- Employee empowerment: Autonomy to make decisions and contribute ideas is necessary.
- Employee well-being: Attention to health and wellness within the workplace is important.
- Strong workplace culture: A motivating environment characterized by openness, inclusion, and shared purpose is essential.
These key factors are derived from SHRM-related insights and employee engagement research that emphasize recognition, growth opportunities, leadership quality, work-life balance, and alignment with organizational values as central to job satisfaction.
To maximize job satisfaction, SHRM's findings recommend prioritizing programs and policies that enhance recognition, leadership support, career growth, and work-life balance.
Action Steps for Job Satisfaction
- Improve your team's culture by doing team-building exercises to get to know your team and learn from each other.
- Have a conversation with your boss about adding in more pride-producing activities or changing where you do your work.
- Get rid of work silos by ensuring you know your company and team's business goals and that your knowledge is shared.
- Decode your boss's bad mood to manage up effectively.
- Become indispensable by making yourself a bridge in the organization, sharing knowledge and data with others.
- Make sure you are doing at least one pride-producing activity every few days.
- Keep the company mission front of mind and write your own mission statement.
- Relationships with co-workers are the most important factor for professional happiness, so set aside time to get to know them and plan at least one work-based social engagement a week.
- Stop a bad mood "virus" from spreading in your organization by decoding your boss's bad mood and managing up effectively.
- Get rid of a work silo by ensuring you know your company and team's business goals and that your knowledge is shared, and by writing a tutorial for what you do and why.
- Make a work nest by personalizing your work space to improve your overall job satisfaction.
- Keep your tasks fresh by varying the pace of your day, changing up your work space, and volunteering for new team tasks or responsibilities.
The survey found that 88% of employees are satisfied overall with their current job. By focusing on these key factors, companies can create a work environment that fosters job satisfaction and employee engagement, leading to increased productivity and organizational success.
- To cultivate personal growth and career development, consider engaging in team-building exercises and having conversations with your boss about activities that instill pride in your work.
- By fostering a health-and-wellness focus and promoting work-life balance, organizations can prioritize employee well-being and create a workplace culture that supports mental health.
- To enhance workplace culture, individuals can work towards improving relationships with colleagues, planning regular social engagements, and sharing knowledge and data within the organization.
- By recognizing the importance of alignment with company values and offering educational and self-development resources, businesses can encourage employee empowerment and job satisfaction.
