Workers Have Job Satisfaction, but Dislike Change

All employees have some gripes about work, but most of us are satisfied with our job, according to a recent survey from the American Psychological Association (APA). The "2017 Work and Well-Being Survey" reports that overall indicators are encouraging: The vast majority of professionals are motivated to do their "very best" for their employer, and most feel valued at work. The employees surveyed have the resources required to manage stress, and most are even content with the state of their work-life balance. There is one dynamic, however, that can reverse such sentiments: change. In fact, those who experience recent, current or anticipated changes on the job are more likely to suffer from chronic stress. "Change is inevitable in organizations, and when it happens, leadership often underestimates the impact those changes have on employees," said David Ballard, head of APA's Center for Organizational Excellence. "If they damage their relationship with employees, ratchet up stress levels, and create a climate of negativity and cynicism in the process, managers can wind up undermining the very change efforts they're trying to promote." More than 1,500 employees took part in the research, which was conducted by Harris Poll.