RaiseCapital.com

Worker Happiness On The Decline
by RaiseCapital.com | Posted on January 12, 2010

The Entrepreneurs who use RaiseCapital.com are typically independent and strong willed individuals who like to work for themselves.  A recent survey suggests that working for yourself (while difficult and stressful) provides a better chance at happiness than working for someone else.

Job satisfaction in America hit a record low in 2009, according to a survey released this week by the Conference Board -- with only 45 percent of workers reporting contentment with their jobs.

Clearly, the economic downturn is partly to blame. Workers have lost their jobs and taken less fulfilling, lower-paid positions. They've had to pick up the slack when colleagues were laid off, managing bigger workloads with no pay increase. They've had hours cut and benefits such as 401(k) matches dropped.

But job satisfaction among all age and income groups has been on a consistent downward trend since 1987, when the Conference Board began tracking the numbers.

"What we've seen over last 22 years is that irrespective of whether the economy is boom or bust, the overall level of satisfaction expressed by U.S. workers has been steadily declining across every single aspect of the job," says Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board's Consumer Research Center and author of the report.

Those aspects include wages, benefits, job security, promotion policies, bonus plans, work load, work-life balance, communication, potential for growth and recognition, among other components of the job.

The theory that workers are choosing finances over fulfillment seems to be reflected in the Conference Board's findings: Half of employees don't feel engaged in their work -- another record low.

Being an entrepreneur and starting your own business can not only lead to financial success but also fulfillment and happiness.

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