A past study by Gallup showed that only 15 % of full-time employees worldwide are engaged at work. It is safe to say the remaining at least 70% are not engaged because they hate their job. What could be the reason for this? The study attributes these shocking numbers to a lack of job satisfaction, especially among millennials and workplace culture. From an expert point of view, dissatisfied employees are the root cause of these worrying and sadly growing numbers.
Dissatisfied employees in most cases hate their job. They are unhappy, less productive, less engaged, and a liability to any organization. They are like a virus creeping through the workplace as their energy rubs off their colleagues, killing their morale. What could cause one to hate a job they longed for and even prayed for? Reasons vary depending on the organization, industry, profession, and many others. Below are some common reasons why many people hate their jobs to understand better how to deal with the situation.
- Lack of growth
Doing the same thing year in year out indicates a lack of growth in one’s skillset. It shows one is stuck somewhere in their career path. A lack of passion and inspiration often follows this stagnation. Prospect of growth, progression, and personal development are the only saving grace to this phenomenon.
2. Job catfished
Many people experience this. Job Catfishing is where what was promised and expectations created during the recruitment stage don’t match the experience. For example, the commission structure shown during the recruitment stage differs from what is currently being offered after attaining the target. This leads to the aggrieved employee feeling lied to, and such incidents stir up negative emotions toward the job.
I recommend going back and reviewing the contract with both the HR personnel and the manager to deal with this. In the process, clarification and adjustment should be made where necessary. Having a Pro and cons list of the job particulars is also advised. If the cons outweigh the pros, start preparing for your exit.
3. You can not stand your boss.
One sure way to make employees hate their job is when they have a problematic boss. Some bosses are domineering and set their employees up for failure. We’ve heard of bosses who intentionally withhold resources, set non-achievable targets, refuse to give feedback and others who are micromanagers. To deal with this, leadership training should be done every now and then for those in leadership positions.
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4. Poor pay
Everyone wants good pay. When one is underpaid, one tends to feel overworked. This results in them hating their job as the gains do not equal the input. The stress of paying bills with limited income takes a toll on their emotions, making them negatively look at their job. Stagnant wages also leave employees dissatisfied as the economy continues to grow as well as the inflation rate.
To handle this issue, Take time, research the market rate, and bring the findings to the HR and managers’ attention. If no action is taken, be on the look for better opportunities in organizations that use market rate as their benchmark. As you do this, do not forget personal development to give your brand a competitive advantage.
5. Unfulfilling career paths
Many individuals in full-time employment or a nine to five job spend at least a third of their day at work. What happens if you are in a career you don’t like? What results are expected when you spend a third of your day balancing profit and loss while you would instead be designing some piece of art somewhere? With time you learn to hate your job. Cases of people being in unfulfilling careers are rampant and result from how people view different jobs. The perception that one profession is superior to the other has lead to many being in unfulfilling careers. This issue is further propelled by a complex combination of gender, academic performance, socio-economic status, upbringing, and many others.
To break free from unfulfilling careers, one needs to spend time exploring themselves. In the journey of self-exploration, explore your passion, your strength, your weakness, your values, what you want and don’t want in your career. Be honest and open with yourself, as this process will eventually lead you to your true passion.
To find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth. –Pearl Buck
6. The workplace is toxic.
Toxic workplaces are synonymous with negativity and lack of respect. Every move employees make or words they utter, there is a high probability they will be in trouble afterward. A toxic workplace is restrictive in terms of employee engagement, creativity, communication, and others as every action is marked by drama and infighting. We have written more about toxic workplaces. Click here to learn more on how to deal with toxic situations in the workplace.
7. Value no longer align
Personal values shift as one grows older and wiser. Some career values that were acceptable to you while an intern might no longer serve you as a mid-level manager point in your career. What happens when your job or even workplace cannot meet you at the level you currently are in terms of values? For example, When you joined your current workplace, then management picked you due to your open and expressive nature. Five years down the line, the new management does not want employees to express any opinion contrary to that of the management. Most likely there is be a crash of values. On the one hand, there is the company’s new culture, and on the other hand, there are individual values.
In such cases, Have a list of your values and those of the organization and see which ones can be realigned. If you cannot find common ground, be on the lookout for opportunities within organizations that fit your current values and future aspirations.
8. Lack of work-life balance
Lack of a work-life balance is a happiness killer for most employees. The burnout and fatigue that result from the imbalance make employees hate their jobs due to constant burnouts. There are cases where employees cannot attend essential functions such as their kids’ events and doctor’s appointments due to work-related commitments. The continuous thought of missing out on important events makes them unhappy at work and unproductive.
Flexible working hours and remote working is highly advised. It boosts the employees’ morale. Making use of your leave days is also encouraged. It helps recharge one’s energy levels.
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9. Experiencing imposter syndrome
Imposter syndrome can make you feel like a fraud at work. The constant feeling of being imperfect often results in a person setting unrealistic and unachievable standards of competence. A small mistake in the workplace is enough to detonate feelings of failure and shame. These feelings, later on, start to reflect on an individual’s performance. To address this issue, check the environment around you and deal with the problems causing the confidence level to dwindle. Engage your mentor as their confidence will surely rub on you through positive affirmation and advice.
10. The grass is greener job syndrome.
It is said that comparison is the thief of joy. Some individuals cannot be contented with the job they have. They always want what they don’t have or what someone else has. The syndrome’s signs include; always looking out for new opportunities but sabotaging them once you get them, always complaining, making impulsive decisions, and inability to commit. These feelings eventually contribute to an individual’s low-self esteem and moods, anxiety, and stress.
Gratitude is the antidote to this syndrome. Instead of continually seeking and thinking about what you don’t have, learn to appreciate what you have. Also, remember to live in the present. This syndrome usually has someone living in the imagined future. The present is all you have to make choices and create change. Look to see how you can be happy in your current job and ways you can influence your employer to be better. You may think the grass is greener on the other side, but if you take time to water your grass, it would be just as green.
READ ALSO: Supporting mental health in the workplace
