What Is Job Satisfaction? The Secret to Employee Happiness

For the first time, the number of employees who were satisfied with their job reported a drastic rise.

The improving economy was one of the main reasons for an increased level of satisfaction among employees.

Most organizations strive for employee satisfaction but cannot achieve that goal. Hence, it is important to know the factors that contribute to an increase in the satisfaction levels of the employees.

In This Article

The Definition Of Job Satisfaction

Job satisfaction is an unmeasurable metric, but it is a positive emotional experience you get when doing a job.

The leading organizations are trying to measure this feeling, with job satisfaction surveys becoming stable in most places.

It is vital to understand that job satisfaction varies from one employee to another. The reasons why one employee may feel good in a particular job will not apply to others in the same work under the same conditions.

For these reasons, it is vital to have a multi-dimensional approach to employee satisfaction that taps the following areas:

Due to the challenging nature of the job, an employee is pushed to new horizons.
A level of convenience and flexible hours
Frequent appreciation by the immediate management and the organization as a whole
Competitive pay that enables employees to maintain a good quality of life
The promise of career progression in synchronization with the personal growth targets of the employees

The Reasons Why Job Satisfaction Is Important

Once you are actively working on the satisfaction levels of the employees at the workplace, you end up with employees who are engaged, motivated, and willing to go the extra mile.

This is bound to benefit your company in numerous ways.

A satisfied employee is the stepping stone to a satisfied customer.

An unhappy employee, and believe me, their interactions with customers will be erratic.

A customer care center cannot afford unsatisfied employers, which is sure to show in every word and campaign they work on.

Even if a non-customer faces issues, low satisfaction levels can lead to errors in the workflow. For these reasons, customer satisfaction is vital for companies.

Voluntary turnover is expected to come down.

In some cases, turnover can benefit a company because it brings in new talent. Though voluntary turnover may look a tinge different as you risk losing out on top talent that you have trained over the years,

The worst part is that this talent takes away the tribal knowledge once they leave the company, which can lead to tougher competition for your products or services. If the worker is satisfied, they are less likely to quit.

The possibility of referrals increases.

An employee referral is an effective recruitment method; the number indicates referrals comprise 40% of applications.

An employee who is satisfied with the work conditions and the pay scale is more likely to recommend the job to a friend than a dissatisfied employee.

Non-compensation-related factors contribute to this benefit, as employees will assess multiple factors before recommending it to someone.

Satisfaction has a direct bearing on productivity levels.

In a positive work environment, the employees are likely to bring their best selves to work daily.

According to statistics, happy employees are more than 20% more productive than unproductive employees.

Another reason for this, in addition to the fact that higher satisfaction prioritises employee wellness, exists. Hence, for this reason, they are more likely to look after themselves and cope with burnout or health issues before it becomes too late.

In the long run, HR costs are significantly reduced.

As part of the HR budget, you must plan for both short-term and long-term costs.

Low satisfaction levels could dent the variable aspect of this equation and lead to rehiring costs in the case of a turnover. All this will lead to a situation where you must invest more than necessary.

You need to prioritise job satisfaction in your company so you can stay ahead of the curve, as there are no unprecedented issues arising due to low turnover.

Examples Of Companies That Have Embraced Job Satisfaction

When it comes to ensuring job satisfaction, no one-size-fits-all model works for the entire workforce.

Apart from the factors listed above, there are a couple of companies from which you may draw inspiration.

Amazon

Is a dynamic company demanding high productivity from its employees? The company has focused on employee satisfaction as a vital module for providing customer-centric services.

Research indicates that Amazon has gone on to exceed the national average when it comes to the parameters of job satisfaction.

Apple

Like Amazon, Apple also prioritises customer satisfaction as one of the vital ingredients for success.

Based on various reviews conducted, it is an obvious fact that Apple emerged as the leader when it came to customer satisfaction.

Discounted rates and good pay were some of the prominent reasons for the high satisfaction levels of Apple customers.

It may not be possible for every company to provide employee privileges like Amazon or Apple.

Still, it can lead to a direction where a company is able to focus on customer satisfaction and rely on the necessary measures to make it work.

Factors That Determine Employee Job Satisfaction Levels

There is no precise definition of job satisfaction, and the factors contributing to it depend upon the nature of your job.

An example is that a satisfied employee in software development would be different from a satisfied employee in the manufacturing sector.

But there are a few traits that every workplace geared towards employee satisfaction and well-being will have.

Does your company care about its employees?

It is not only about caring but also communicating this regularly to the employees via newsletters, paid incentives, or other forms of communication.

Companies that have a superior level of job satisfaction, like Google or Starbucks, also feature employee happiness and stories as a part of their communication strategy.

Will the workplace have sufficient room for the employees to engage in their favorite hobbies?

Most of us are known to spend a considerable amount of time at work, but this does not mean we are ignoring our personal interests or hobbies.

In a workplace where employees have time to read a book or catch up with the latest news, such behaviors are not considered slacking off as they provide the optimal level of satisfaction.

What is the time frame between promotions?

The current environment is fast-paced, and employees are likely to switch jobs if they do not see greener pastures.

One of the golden rules to follow is to keep the intervals between promotions as long as an average employee’s tenure.

For example, if an employee stays with your company for an average of 5 years and two months, you should schedule promotions every two years. Communicate with your employees about the company’s promotion policies.

Are employees respected by their peers?

A workplace that fosters some form of criticism or is regularly under scrutiny opens ample scope for dissatisfaction.

The distractions can be avoided through a one-on-one conversation with the employees or through the data collected by employee satisfaction surveys.

Does the company encourage a culture of two-way feedback?

Employees require regular feedback, both constructive and positive, to ensure they are on the right track.

They would even like to share their feedback or assist senior management in guiding the future of the company.

For maintaining employee satisfaction, a culture of two-way feedback is necessary. It is necessary that you act on the feedback that you receive.

Where do you stand currently when it comes to work-life balance?

It is necessary for companies to develop a non-toxic culture of high performance where productivity is not prioritised over well-being. A positive work-life balance is key to this.

Flexible working hours, mandatory time off, and paid time off are a few of the ways by which you can achieve a perfect work-life balance.

What is the relationship between the employees with their reporting heads?

All of us are aware of the proverb, “employees do not quit jobs; bosses do.” This is something that is confirmed by studies, and voluntary attribution can be attributed to the performance of the immediate supervisors and not the job itself. Even targeted job surveys can help to avoid such a situation.

Does your organization follow inclusive and fair policies?

Inclusion and diversity in the workplace benefit the business and improve the organization’s culture and environment. The moment you ensure fairness towards all the employees. Regardless of their age or gender, you are bound to enhance the average satisfaction levels of the employees in the company.

It means that job satisfaction should not be meant for a select few but for everyone across the company to experience the feeling of well-being.

Will the employees be able to nurture creative instincts in a job?

This is dependent upon the specific skill of operation, but employees should be stifled when it comes to displaying creativity in their jobs.

Learning along with development programs can be formulated to develop learning skills that will make your company innovation-friendly.

Otherwise, there is a risk that the workers would feel unheard of if you impose the same set of rules on them again and again.

Do the employees feel secure about their role?

Job security is a major concern as technology updates existing processes and technology threatens the legacy model of working.

Being a future-centric employee, you need to clearly explain how the role of an employee will be transferred in the coming weeks and help them deal with this change.

At no point in time should the employees feel insecure about their jobs, and this can be ensured when you maintain a consistent level of communication between the employee and the employer.

Conclusion

It does not take a lot of effort to keep the employees engaged and happy. They want to be trusted and respected when they are working in a safe environment with ample opportunities to advance.

The moment a company finds a way to deliver on these important aspects, it can satisfy employees and help build a stronger, more stable, and profitable future.