how much is work satisfaction worth

**MooseBucks** · 01-30-2018, 05:31 AM

I think this culture is in many large corps. My current role I hardly do anything. My previous role took me about 6 months in role to start to get busy. Took over two months to get me the system access I needed. I know someone who does contract consulting work and probably has about 3 hours of work per day.

**Smallsteps** · 01-31-2018, 04:11 AM

Moosebucks,
I guess knowing others are in a same boat should make me feel better but honestly the "it is corporate culture" line is aggravating.
I have worked in big and small firms and the attitude is about the management or the expectations and individual effort. I have seen more effort to avoid work then actually working.
When I came into this current role I had done a small stint with this company before I was familiar with the system in a matter of two weeks my production was surpassing a 10 year employees output. I was not told that but she asked me to slow down and take more breaks cause she was asked about her numbers.
So yesterday they asked me to stay on another 3 months I really wanted to say no and leave but agreed to stay on. I brought up the lack of work etc and was basically told they thought it would pick up. I know I am needed for vacations and medical leave but this will be a long 3 months.

**dojo** · 01-31-2018, 06:16 AM

It really depends. Do you need the money? Then stay put and earn your bucks. I had such a job years ago and would use the extra-time to build my own websites network. This translated into an easier time setting up my own business afterwards.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 02-04-2018, 04:13 PM

depends. If you want to switch to another job same field because you hate your job do it. You'll get promoted faster because you will perform better and like it.

If you are switching fields well that's a different comparison. Are you taking a paycut because you don't like what you do? Love it? Etc

**Smallsteps** · 02-13-2018, 04:17 AM

work by definition is not suppose to be fun while some people have jobs they like for whatever reason.
I just no longer see ANY place as more then a temporary gig (not the best move financially), I suppose but in the area I am at, many people whom seem content are people who live to do the bare minimum to not get fired. That to me seems sad. Life is too short to be as miserable as some of these People are I guess ignoring them is the best way to stick to the next couple of months.
So many people going through the motions. It has only been 1.5 weeks and I already wish I had said NO to staying the next couple of months.

**amarowsky** · 02-13-2018, 09:17 AM

Originally posted by Smallsteps View Post

work by definition is not suppose to be fun while some people have jobs they like for whatever reason.
I just no longer see ANY place as more then a temporary gig (not the best move financially), I suppose but in the area I am at, many people whom seem content are people who live to do the bare minimum to not get fired. That to me seems sad. Life is too short to be as miserable as some of these People are I guess ignoring them is the best way to stick to the next couple of months.
So many people going through the motions. It has only been 1.5 weeks and I already wish I had said NO to staying the next couple of months.

I believe you need a balance of fun and satisfaction to fulfill experience in life. I'm in a similar boat, but there is SOO much work to do at my work, there is no reasonable way to get there. So it winds up leading to procrastination, because I don't know what to start on..... So we are at opposite ends of what we're experiencing at work.

Maybe you should try to enjoy the breather while you can, and keep yourself busy with other things (reading, surfing the web, podcasts, etc...). Until your contract ends.

I do agree though, life is too short to spend >40 hours a week @ work, let alone the >7.5 hours getting to and from work or >5 hours of unpaid salary over time. There has to be a better mix than 50/50 YOURlife/WORK life. Just need to figure out the calculation, and how to obtain it.

if you do... then please share!

**Smallsteps** · 03-07-2018, 06:08 PM

Well I stayed the extra 2 months that was extended contract and was looking forward to this winding down.
Now today I hear from a co-worker that Management is planning to hire a permanent position and they really want to offer it to me. Honestly i would rather take out a kidney with a plastic spoon then spend more time at this place.
Now here is my problem... this will be the second Temp placement in a row that REALLY wanted me to accept a permanent position.
Both were jobs I excelled at but they offered no challenge and I was bored out of my mind. I am concerned this will limit my placements by the agency because in this area many employers use this as temp to hire.
I look at this like renting cars you take the JOB for a test drive .. I can manage a week during vacation but if I do not like it... I am not going to buy that car.

**Smallsteps** · 04-13-2018, 05:31 PM

I am pushing myself to be more upfront rather than try to be diplomatic from now on.
I politely told them due to the fact my husband was being recruited for another job about 150 miles away that I felt it would be wrong of me to take the job only to turn around and quit in a short time if I need to move.
I was thanked for being honest and upfront but they keep bothering me about has he made up his mind ?
am I moving? what are the odds?

I sent a very nice letter telling them to move forward and consider me out of the race because it was not fair for them to be in limbo. Well today I was treated like I have done something wrong. they have another person with the skills but they do not LIKE her. NOT my problem and seeing these people all in their 50+ act like I stole their lunch money confuses me.

I felt like I dodged a bullet with a good excuse but in reality I should have been brutally honest that I cannot work in the culture that is present there. So many doing SO little. I have a ballpark figure and many are paid more then THEY are worth yet are doing the very minimum. They do not have enough work if People actually DID their jobs.
I was trying to be civil now I see they feel forced to take candidate #2 and they are NOT happy about it. I told the agency I am with I thought they would hire the other temp but now they are trying to find a way to make the "opening" go away since I am not staying and evidently that is somehow MY fault? I had not promised them anything in this and I am mad I am being treated like crap because their plan fell through.

**helpfirstdollarsecond** · 06-09-2018, 08:02 PM

It's important

Work satisfaction is important bud - After all, most ppl spend half of their lives working. The last thing you need is an annoying workplace. The thing you have to ask yourself is why did you attract such a workplace? The same place might be perfect for someone else (Probably is for many ppl). That means it's not the workplace that needs to change, it's you. What is the 'life lesson' that you need to learn from there? What things are you doing or NOT doing in life that got you that position? Maybe it's time to go after what you always wanted?

**Smallsteps** · 06-10-2018, 06:31 PM

Work satisfaction is important bud - After all, most ppl spend half of their lives working. The last thing you need is an annoying workplace. The thing you have to ask yourself is why did you attract such a workplace? The same place might be perfect for someone else (Probably is for many ppl). That means it's not the workplace that needs to change, it's you. What is the 'life lesson' that you need to learn from there? What things are you doing or NOT doing in life that got you that position? Maybe it's time to go after what you always wanted?

Not exactly sure what you are getting at here. Did you read all the posts?
I was just posting that in my opinion many are simply going through the motions at work everyday and yet stay instead of leaving. Maybe it is rate of pay/ benefits/ location/ work hours etc.
My Post was asking if some here had an equation of what is enough to justify putting up with the BS.

I was in this place as a temporary placement not that I was attracted to this workplace. I really see that most people have no idea what a specific work place is like unless you spend time there. The real workplace is not evident even in your first week in some cases. Many People rationalize maybe to convince others or perhaps themselves that their work life does not suck.
Workplaces change all the time with change of staff/leadership or company direction so the idea a person is the one who needs to change to fit workplace is a cop out.

**disneysteve** · 06-11-2018, 04:59 AM

Originally posted by Smallsteps View Post

I really see that most people have no idea what a specific work place is like unless you spend time there. The real workplace is not evident even in your first week in some cases.

This is absolutely true. It takes weeks or longer to settle in and get to know the people involved and experience the workflow and see the strengths and weakness of the organization. Not only that but the dynamic changes every time staffing changes, new policies are instituted, or the business takes on new roles. I also think there is a "honeymoon" period when you start a new job where it's all fresh and new and exciting. You don't really start to see everything through critical eyes for a while.

**Fishindude77** · 06-11-2018, 05:11 AM

It's pretty darned important that you enjoy, or at least don't horribly dislike your work environments, as most will spend 40 years or more working.

If you've given it an honest effort (at least a year or two) and you just don't like the place, it's time to move on. If you see this pattern repeating itself job after job, it's time to look in the mirror, you might be the problem.

**Smallsteps** · 06-20-2018, 04:19 AM

I have been doing temp jobs for a few years now mostly because I cannot see myself at one place year after year. I did long term employee thing for many years but was very miserable. Temp work not only gets companies a try before you buy but also lets the temp see the real workplace atmosphere instead of finding out after you are hired on and hating it and then starting over. The last few temp jobs wanted to keep me but for workplace atmosphere I did not see them as long term jobs.
Why would I want to stay at a place where the regular employees complained all day about not wanting to be there or another place that thought everyone loves OT and wanted people to work 7 days a week, ok for short term but not for long term. I thought if they got caught up it would ease up but because so many were counting on OT they worked at a snails pace to keep it flowing I was doing the work of 2 while others watched videos on computer.

It would be easier to pay off all debts and focus on retirement goals if in a real job so I guess I might have to bite the bullet and take a real job warts and all. I just know when I dread each day and want any small ache or pain to be enough to call in it is a stressful way to live. Have another short temp thing next week but maybe I will try another direction in different type work.

**Smallsteps** · 06-28-2018, 04:13 PM

So I am put in for many jobs and unfortunately the first one that wants to interview me is the one I was least attracted to apply for.
The suggested pay is more then the other job I was hoping to hear from but the job description sounds less appealing.
I am going to interview tomorrow and probably will take the job if offered before I hear from any of the other options.
My only concern is that I study a lot of postings on Indeed and this company has had MANY postings in the last few months makes me nervous that people are not lasting I looked up reviews did not see any red flags so I guess I can just hope for the best.

how much is work satisfaction worth