Job Satisfaction Redefined

Employees nowadays have started having a totally different approach to office
and work. Employees are breaking away from the traditional norms set by the
older generation of corporate batches. Now, no longer does higher perks and
salaries top the list of priorities employees set. It is job satisfaction which
is the prime factor employees consider to take up or stay in a company, even in
times of slowdown.

Keeping this in mind major firms across the world have started taking
initiatives to ensure that their employees are happy and content with the job as
well as the working environment.

Key findings

A recent survey conducted by Kelly Services which spanned across nearly one
lakh people in 34 countries, including approxi­mately 3,500 people in India
revealed that the Indian workforce derives a greater sense of pride and
self-confidence in their jobs than workers in any other country. The survey also
found that more than half are prepared to accept a lower wage or a lesser role
if their work contributes to something more important or meaningful.

According to the survey, 94 percent of people in India said that their work
gives them a sense of pride, 92 percent said it raises their self-confidence. In
addition, 62 percent of people in India were ready to forego income or status to
contribute to something more meaningful.

The discussion

“While hiring has slowed down, quality workforce is still needed.
Organizations are critically evaluating the need of a position and are being
absolutely picky on the selection. Random hiring has come to a standstill now.
Indian market has been facing some difficulty in recruiting over the last three
months,” commented Lekha Sishta, VP-HR and Talent Management, SumTotal Systems
(STS).

Confirming the above, recently, students graduating with professional IT
degrees and diplomas are predicting a gloomy future for them as 'no vacancy'
signboards with a nicely composed letter of job refusal from HR department of
prominent IT companies are greeting them.

Among the more idealistic younger workers of generation Y (aged 18-29), the
willingness to make a sacrifice in terms of salary and job status is evident
across all countries, but most pronounced in Asia-Pacific. The survey also
highlights emerging career worries and planned job exploration by generation X
(aged 30-47), as well as a sense of disappointment and lost opportunity building
amongst baby boomers (aged 48-65).

On the recent findings, George Corona, Executive VP and COO, Kelly Services
said, “Our findings demonstrate important distinctions in how people from
different cultures and generations make their employment decisions. One
overriding trend is that people want their jobs to provide a degree of emotional
fulfilment, even if it means sacrificing money and status to achieve it.”

The survey clearly underlines the value of work in delivering non-monetary
needs such as pride and self-confidence.

“These findings show that the modern employment market is extremely dynamic
and that achieving a high performing, productive and stable workforce means
managing a complex set of cultural and geographic influences,” Corona concluded.

Encouraging employees to enhance productivity

It is in this loop that productivity comes in. If an employee is kept happy
and is having a greater amount of job satisfaction, productivity is bound to
improve. Companies have started encouraging 'co-curricular' activities among
employees. They are nowadays focussing on organizing events meant to keep
employees in a jovial mood and are renovating their canteens and table-tennis
lobbies in this regard. However, training needs of an employee is one area which
needs to be stressed under the prevalent market conditions.

Organizations are keen on developing employee skill-sets in batches and are
keeping track-records on the same. Employee retention is one area which is
crucial now. Despite the slowdown where people are afraid of losing jobs at the
company's will, even the company cannot afford to take the risk of losing
quality people.

Opportunity or crisis?

Limiting the case to the Indian perspective, by late 2009, it is expected
that due to loss of jobs globally, a bulk of Indian citizens might be returning
back home expecting to find jobs here. However, it needs to be re-instated that
already the domestic job market is concentrated and fresh graduates with IT
degrees will be eyeing the same job here. It is in this aspect that a major job
crisis is heading towards India. However, aggressive companies looking forward
to tapping quality resources are seeing the case as an opportunity.

Commenting on the scenario, Pravin Jalan of Kolkata-based Jalan Infotech
said, “In the present scenario, due to the ongoing crisis, jobs and the
appraisal cycle has been hit to a large extent with many firms resorting to
puting a hold on appraisals. However, as long as an employee is getting good or
optimized salary in accordance to the job role, there is no need to worry.”

Avishek Rakshit

avishekr@cybermedia.co.in