Only 18% Feel Negative About Their Work On a Scale From Total Infatuation to Total Irritation
May 8, 2008 by David Zinger
Filed under Business
Here are the results of an employee engagement poll I conducted on Slacker Manager. From total infatuation to total irritation, 56% of 493 respondents held strong positive views about their work. Scan the statistics and ensure that you read the verbatim comments from each of the 7 categories.
by David Zinger
The poll is in. 493 of you responded! Thank you very much.
The question with 7 possible responses. How is work going? How do you feel about your job?(The percentage number in front indicates how many people out of a total of 493 selected that response.
I’m one of the “I hate my job” entries. I’ve finally slipped into the “actively disengaged” category.
I’ve been demoted twice in the last two months during “restructuring,” which is code for “we don’t want to hire anyone else so we’ll keep moving you peons around.” My manager says, “At least we won’t be changing your pay.” I say I’m underpaid as is.
I’m on my fourth manager since starting here 18 months ago.
It’s a pretty typical small non-profit: lots of waste, outdated hardware and software, surrounded by incompetent lifers and shoemakers, smelly buildings, insane turnover, and no respect for the people who keep the gears turning.
I realize this sounds really self-centered and arrogant, but I deserve better than this. I work hard. I get to work on time. I’m constantly looking for new things to learn. And this place blocks my path everywhere I turn.
I have a final interview tomorrow for a great new gig. I keep saying it’s not about the money, but the low pay is just adding insult to injury.
I’m trying to keep it together until it’s time to go.
Good luck with the interview tomorrow.
I found that there was much emotion in the people who had negative ratings of their work and I can sure hear you working at moving to work that engages you so I see this less as self-centered or arrogant and more of a pursuit of authentic engagement.
Take care.
I am glad to see that ha3rvey has the opportunity to get out. I worked in a similar horrible situation a few years ago, but have since found a fabulous job which I love. However, and please read carefully, I stepped into a minefield job in between! I had so much baggage from the bad experience, which I didn’t realize at the time, that in interviews, I wasn’t coming off very well. I took the only job that was offered to me because I was desperate. Turns out the employer was too. I used that job as a learning and cooling off period, and then landed the job I am in now.
My advice, be sure to drop all the baggage from the bad employer. It’ll really ruin your next job.
Sue.
Good points about the possible residuals of a very tough experience.
David
Seeing stats like that is truly pleasant surprise. It’s great to see that many people are actually doing what they love (or at least like).
ha3rvey – I feel for you bro – I REALLY do! I know exactly how you feel because I am going through the very same thing.
Ever since I recieved my MBA it has been a death spiral for me. Upper managers KNOW what I want because I have told them – yet I am passed over and over again because I am not in the clique. But where I live is an employment black-hole.
I too work for a local government agency and others have expressed their concern and desire to leave – many had expressed their desire to work FOR me if I ever get into a management position. I could easily walk away with 1/4 or more of the staff where I work!
But when your employer places you in a position where they openly know could cause physical harm … now that I am off of Worker’s Comp they place me in an even LOWER position. They don’t have to show me the door – I know already!
Some of my co-workers have already retained lawyers against my employer just in case! One co-worker had to bring in his lawyer to work to defend himself againt getting fired for some trumpt up charge!
So tell me how bad it is when several employees have to get lawyers to protect themselves against their employer! Now THAT is bad! And I haven’t even mentioned all the illegal, immoral, and unethical behavior!
Scott:
Not so much you are disengaged as a very disengaging place to work. I hope you can make changes either inside the organization or by getting outsite and leading others to more meaningful work.
David
Scott,
Get out! That is exactly what happened at the company I worked for! Their illegal, immoral and unethical behavior, actually stole the “soul” from all the good employees. The ones who were left, were employees you wouldn’t want to work with and in less than a year, the company folded. The worst thing is what it is doing to you! When that started to happen to me, and believe I hung on trying to change things and keep things good for the staff who worked for me, but finally, my husband and I packed up and moved to where we could both find work. (We both worked for them) We had 3 months savings, and just made it happen. It was scary, it was not easy, but sitting here 2 years later, it was the best decision we ever made.
Get out !!!!
Sue,
What a very tough time for you and your family that period of employement or should we day dis-employement was!!!
I salute you on making your best decision ever when you look back 2 years.
David
I am TRYING to ‘get out’! With the poor economy, etc, it is making it harder every day. There have been so many layoffs in the area. I have been looking out of state as well but it only makes the task even harder! I am not about to take a large pay cut in the process! I have seen positions that pay half or less of what I am making now. I don’t need that kind of stress to top things off!
As an example of the layoffs – the County let go almost 600 teachers, and other surrounding Counties have done the same. A very large and internationally known organization (“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”) is letting go many of their engineers, mechanical designers, and scientists. Along with them I am sure some managers. My state ranks 3rd in foreclosures and bankruptcies are sky-high. Retailers and restaurants are closing shop. I am a computer tech with many years of experience and graduated with my MBA in Information Security (GPA 3.85) and I can’t get into the Security Group!
Some have told me that I am a threat to the Security Group because I know more then they do and would know what they are going wrong (or illegal). Yet they will add people without college degrees, experience, or certifications to their department. They advertize an open position, promote WHO they want and then close the position despite any qualifications of any others who qualify.
To make it from bad to worse our IT Security department, is rumored, is investigating people to find a means if firing them. One person was fired recently but I don’t want to go into details but one of the things is that others are mentioning to her in getting a lawyer and file a discrimination lawsuit against our employer – the local government. In the recent local news there is another case where the different local government agency is being sued for racial discrimination.
I have had a few co-workers who had confided in me that if I get a management position (which is what I am applying for) that they would quit to work for me. I could bring a full staff of Desktop Techs, Network Administrators, a few programmers, and even Administrative Assistants from my organization – THAT is how bad it is! But no one leaves because the jobs are not there or pay next to nothing!
Scott,
Given the time and energy in even writing your comments there is obviously a lot going on. I would encourage you to see if you can find a career coach or counsellor to help you sort out your decisions and actions.
David
I’ve been through it Scott and can empathize with you. Believe me when I say uou sound as if you are in the same mindset that I was! Panic , horrified, disgusted and trapped! Both my husband and father tell me that I have a “hard” head, and it took me a long while to understand the poison I was in the middle of, that I couldn’t do anything about it, and that it was only going to continue to get worse until it destroys itself. That’s what my company did! After 30 successful years, it was bought by an idiot who let it go down in flames in just 1 year!!!!
Are you in Florida????
Here is what I think, take it for what it is worth:
It will not get better
It will suck the life out of you
The affect it will have on you and your attitude and your trust in the work place will damage your ability to ge a “good employee” elsewhere.
You need a break before you try to get work elsewhere.
Believe that some employers just don’t care, and the worse position they get themselves in, the worse their decisions are.
Since you are not in line with the company values, they will find a way to fire you.
It’s sounds like you have a more hostile environment than I did!!
There are still plenty of companies out there, who do it right, and know the value of good work and good employees. You need to find one!
Sue
Sue,
These are very encouraging comments not just for Scott but for anyone in a “dis-employement” situation. Thank you for taking the time to offer your perspective.
David
Dave – was the purpose just to see how engaged readers of slacker manager are or do you see this survey as a representative sample of workers across America (extrapolate the results)? If the former, then this is interesting and shows readers of slacker manager are a positive lot!
However, you can’t extrapolate to the population because this survey was not scientific. The results could be skewed…i.e., those who read slacker manager are more likely to be positive about their jobs. Random sampling across a worker population or the like could help you extrapolate the results. Then, statistical methods could identify if the sample is representative.
I’m studying employee engagement in my Ph.D. program so I find this very interesting. What is the URL of your employee engagement site?
Work is a huge part of life, and for some it’s their whole life. In situations like these, you can’t see the forest for the trees. I wish someone/anyone had been able to get through to me earlier on when I was going through this, as truly, that company beat me down to almost nothing! The emotional toll on me and the employees was devastating! There were several individual EEOC complaints, and one lawsuit, and we all won what we were seeking. There was so much anger then, and in thinking about it now, it just seems like such a waste of time.
The work environment is not what it used to be. The “Golden Rule” which I grew up on, seems to be a thing of the past. Employers are digging for every ounce of profit, unfortunately, they are ruining lives as they go! Employers do not seem to understand (or they just don’t care) that with a vast majority of their employees, they hold their lives in their hands!
If there is anything I can do, anyone I can help by encouraging them through this time, I’m grateful to do it. This situation is usually hardest on the employees who care the most too, how ironic!
Ron:
I am aware there would be reliability and validity issues with a quick survey like this. I was overwhelmed by the number of responses and the emotion of the comments. As a practitioner and management educator I am much more interested in the criteria of usability and I believe too much has already been put into engagement surveys with very little return. The numbers by Gallup, Sirota, Wyatt, etc. etc. often come out relatively similar. I want to demonstrate primarily to myself that a quick survey is managable, insightful, and inexpensive.
David
Sue,
You would make a very fine career counsellor/coach for people going through difficult working situations.
David
Thank you, I apprciate that! I’m working on it :)
Sue
This was one of the richest comments we have had on Slacker Manager. People put a lot of thought and emotion and personal experience into their comments and I am very grateful for this as I learn even more through the conversation.
David – I have already talked to a counselor … I feel most of was useless. I explained much of what was going on (at that time), how I felt, brought in my documentation, etc. She mostly sat there and in the end asked what I felt the resolution would be. I explained that the resolution was for me to find employment elsewhere because nothing was going to change and most likely going to get worse (which it has)!
Sue – I agree with you regarding the work-vampires. To give you an example, my former Supervisor and Manager in my last review criticized my customer service. His is dispite all the ‘at-a-boy’ e-mails he was getting regarding my service. I know this for a fact because I had a couple of managers ask me later if I heard about the e-mails they sent! A friend told me that someone overheard my (former) Manager telling someone that she wanted me to quit.
The result – They gave me physical and demeaning work while everyone else (half my age) did normal work. Because the work was so physical I ended up with arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, a thickened tendon, and a torn ligament. And that is just one shoulder! I was lucky thus far to avoid surgery and was able to heal naturally.
During this time I was told to keep going … even where I was working in a trailor in 140 degree tempature inside! Finally I said NO, I’m injured! – and went to the doctor. (also e-mailed my new Supervisor)
The doctor placed me on light-duty (I was given 30 days) hoping I could work it out my situation. On the 31st day I was given another order for 800 pieces of equipment that I had to go through!
I asked the doctor for a longer extention and he wrote one ‘until further notice’ – I was then suspended and then given Worker’s Comp, the given the lowest position that could possible give me. I sure worked HARD on getting my MBA to work the lowest possition!
And regarding the 800 pieces of equipment … they gave it to someone else, who then complained that it is TOO much for one person! Granted that I am older but twice as strong as anyone there – the donut-munching, nintendo playing co-workers couldn’t handle what I did on my own!
I am considering getting a lawyer myself. I figure when I leave I will file charges of age discrimination.
And yes but I’m between the two coasts next to Mickey Rat.
BTW – I recieve e-mails all the time from customers regarding the great service I provide! I recieve about one or more per month (and to think my former Supervisor and manager said I need to improve my customer service). And when I talked to some of my customers that I use to make site visits complain that they don’t see me any more! Quite the opposite from what my Supervisor was telling me!
Scott,
I wish you all the best on the changes you seem to be ready to make. I hope that you can find what you need and let go of what is dragging you down.
David
Great post and comments. Just discovered the blog and I’m really enjoying it.
I too am in a difficult situation whereby my boss was demoted into the position I was hired to fill. Difficult, but I have a lot of respect for him and am working through that with him.
Unfortunately, his demotion was part of the ‘executive re-org’ which not only threw a wrench in the organizational design and put the strategy into the hands of those who have can’t see the whole picture, but it also put new people in charge that are wholly lacking in the soft skills. A killer for a startup. The morale is in the dumps and anyone left who is engaged uses that energy to bitch and moan. It’s an energy black hole.
That kills me and I’m losing the battle to stay engaged. I’m finding what really matters to me is culture, morale and helping others find what they love to do. What this means is that I’m in the wrong function, possibly the wrong company (though lots of opportunity if I can figure out the following…) and have no idea how to go about creating a niche for me to focus on smoothing out the sharp edges of the softer skills.
Any ideas? (I believe culture is one of the few things that is driven top down. I’m firmly in the middle buying some ability to craft a new role, but little ability to affect the major issues I see.)
Thanks.
I think you awareness if quite key here. Don’t lose the battle even if you need to change the battlefield or find a place where there is not a battle but caring and development. I find that knowing my strengths and using them everyday makes a big personal difference on both contribution and my own happiness. Soft skills are hard skills but if we don’t care we end up with others who grow increasingly care-less. Take care and give care.
I absolutely agree with David. You’re awareness puts you way ahead of the “game”. You don’t provide very much back story such as: what were the real reasons they chose to demote your boss instead of keep him at his level or terminate him? What would make a company put their strategy in the hands of people who can’t see the whole picture? Are they friends? Are they investors? What??? How long has it been in start-up mode? How large is the company? But I’ve never been afraid of giving advice before
In my experience, losing the battle to stay engaged means you feel as though you have been cut out. That you have lost any responsibility or authority you once had to have impact on the organization. Being engaged and motivated also relies on results. It may be that you cannot see the results of your hard work. Be grateful in that you have realized what really drives you in your job (something people often don’t find out about themselves), and capitalize on that.
If you decide to stay, here are some suggestions. Work with your boss on quarterly plans, so that you can reach goals and produce results that you can see and feel, while the guys fight it out at the top. If your boss buys in to this, he should set them as well. If the top guys are any good, they will see the value in the two of you. It’s not easy to push things “up” the ladder, but it may buy you some time to either weather the storm, or define your strengths until you can find another job.
You are absolutely right. Culture is driven from the top down. Whether it is a good culture or a bad culture, it does come from the top. I’ve worked in several start-ups. It’s never an easy journey, the people change constantly, and in my opinion it takes a strong, focused, open-minded, intelligent, seasoned set of individuals to do it well. There is going to be a lot of change, transition, waste, confusion. Some people thrive in the start-up environment, many do not. Keep your eyes and options open. Keep up your energy, ideas and your optimism.
My biggest advice, is either decide whether you are in or whether you are out quickly, and then put everything into it.
All of that will serve YOU well.