Job satisfaction is the key to surviving and thriving in a workplace and by extension, in one’s career. It is important not just for the employee, but for the employer as well. It is important for the employee to be satisfied with their job, and for the employer to ensure that their employees are happy in their workplace. The greater the job satisfaction, the more the company is likely to achieve and extract from its workers. In the end, satisfaction with the workplace and the tasks benefits both these groups of people. In this article, we will discuss the immense role that job satisfaction has to play upon an individual’s career, and the growth of a company.
Saves the company money
From the company’s point of view, the aspect of job satisfaction comes with very tangible economic factors attached to it. To begin with, the company stands to lose a substantial amount of money if an employee is not happy with the work they do or the general environment of the workplace, and eventually leaves for better prospects. The company invests a substantial amount of money in recruiting and training the employee. All that money is lost if the employee decides to suddenly leave. And then, there are additional costs; the replacement procedure involves even more unprecedented spending- from the cost of placing an advertisement to the loss of productivity that will invariably occur when one of the cogs in the workplace wheel drops off. Besides, in such situations, until such time that a replacement is recruited, the work is divided among the existing workforce, and the additional load creates dissatisfactions that might pose the risk of further resignations.
Keeps up morale
An unhappy employee is bad for the company in various ways. Not only will they find no enthusiasm in the work they do and do everything half heartedly, they will also considerably lower the overall morale of the workforce. First of all, productivity will decline, and this attitude will pose a bad example for the others around said employee. The other employees will feel dissatisfied if the issue is not addressed and they have to take up extra workload to meet deadlines and fix errors, and that will create a general dissatisfaction and ultimately lead to overall loss of productivity. A dissatisfied employee will also spread a lot of negative vibes all around, possibly influencing newcomers and old-timers alike. There is also a great chance of an unhappy employee badmouthing the company elsewhere- by word of mouth or by written reviews, lowering the chances of the company attracting a potential workforce.
Increases productivity and turnover
An employee who is happy at the workplace will work harder. They will genuinely like what they are doing, and try to do their due to the company wholeheartedly. This is reported irrespective of the job role or pay grade of the employee. Such an employee will be more receptive to training and constructive criticism, and will take minor ups and downs in their stride without letting it affect their performance. An employee generally happy with the workplace is likely to help in bringing in the organization a workforce that is equally capable. As a result, productivity of the company will be naturally higher as the employees will put their heart and soul into their job and never shirk their duties. It will be easier for them to focus on the task at hand because they will not be distracted by thoughts of their dissatisfaction, which, if true, will possibly be at the peak while they are at work.
Ensures employee loyalty
A loyal employee is an invaluable asset to a company. If the employees of an organization are happy with the work they do and the general environment of the company, they will be more likely to stay on in the organization for a longer period of time. By ensuring that the employees are happy, the company will never run the risk of losing employees after spending a lot of money on their recruitment and training, and be forced to spend even more money on finding and training a replacement. A satisfied employee will make sure that the good bits about the company are advertised outside, thus attracting more potential candidates for the company. The organization will also be able to rely on a happy employee when tough times arise, and such an employee will strive to keep the morale up within the workforce at all times.
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Satisfaction with one’s job ensures that the employee is able to out their heart and soul into their work. This, in turn, ensures better progression in one’s career, as good work will be rewarded whether in the current job or elsewhere. If you are happy at your workplace, you will work hard, earn more for the company and for yourself, and when the time comes, you will be able to part amicably and secure glowing references for your next position. This is why it is important to choose the right job and, more importantly, the right workplace.