job satisfaction

Discover 4 factors that affect job satisfaction

Companies that boost employee job satisfaction will see a return on that investment in the short, medium, and long term. However, organizations that overlook the importance of this concept -which is not as abstract or as difficult to monitor as it seems- are doomed to fall behind the results of their direct competitors. Let’s take a closer look at what factors affect job satisfaction. 

What is job satisfaction? 

Job satisfaction is related to a feeling of pleasure, contentment, and fulfillment related to our work. In other words, an emotional experience in which work provides us with some joy, not necessarily in the form of euphoria or because we love what we do (that is very lucky and not always possible). At the very least, it is a question of our work that does not give us psychological discomfort and even provides us with some well-being.

How? By thinking that we have done things well, feeling that we are being treated the right way, and seeing that the results obtained are very close to those expected (or even exceed them). In short, an employee experience that takes on a meaning beyond mere mechanical productivity. 

job satisfaction

Why is job satisfaction important?

Job satisfaction is essential because it is what a good employee experience is made of. Suppose employees feel that their experience in the company is a positive one, realistically and accepting the occasional tension that may have arisen along the way. In that case, it means at least two things:

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  • During their time with the company, they will have put their full potential to the company’s objectives at all times.
  • During their stay in the company and once their journey as employees is over, they will have acted as good brand ambassadors, favoring their inbound recruiting strategy, corporate reputation, and reputation as employees. 

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Factors contributing to job dissatisfaction 

There are many ways in which it is possible to achieve job satisfaction, such as having a comfortable schedule, a friendly and well-communicated office, and having a boss with good leadership skills who makes you feel valued and important. Add a good salary and a favorable work environment, and the likelihood of employees having a satisfying experience is significantly enhanced. 

This also tells us that there are many ways to produce dissatisfaction in employees, which sometimes -by providing extra professionalism- will not be noticed in the final product or service, at the cost of great psychological strain. It will manifest in apathy, idleness, and lack of commitment

To determine these factors, we must observe the endless combination and interaction between the personal (intrapsychic) elements specific to each individual and the environmental factors (in this case, those that refer to the company, not to the employee’s psychological characteristics or particular circumstances). In this case, we will pay special attention to the latter: what the company is not doing in your favor.

1. Unsatisfactory or damaging interpersonal relationships

One of the aspects of work that causes the most job dissatisfaction is poor relationships with co-workers and one’s manager, or when the employee feels mistreated by them. 

Everything has a limit, and so does our capacity for job satisfaction. Indeed, unless we have a supernatural capacity for resilience at work or our emotional intelligence has the protective capacity, we can all be somewhat satisfied with correct or even gray relationships as long as they are not damaging relationships. However, no one can find job satisfaction if they deal with an aggressive manager or with unbearable colleagues who make our lives impossible. 

2. Boring or meaningless tasks

Working on exciting projects, which enrich us as people by challenging our ideas, stimulating our creativity, and providing us with the opportunity to create something that will improve the world or people’s lives, is something within reach of a few individuals. 

In general, people perform relatively complex tasks, more or less stimulating and usually quite repetitive. When this is taken to the extreme, and a job does not enable our personal growth, does not allow us to learn and improve as professionals, and, above all, is monotonous and boring, our job satisfaction is likely to decline, even when all other aspects of the job are fine. 

3. Lack of valid social benefits

Companies in different fields are increasingly paying attention to building good well-being programs for employees, which can target these people’s needs and personal characteristics. 

Employees value all those measures implemented by the company that makes their lives easier rather than more complicated. The more absent the actions that make life easier and the more present those that hinder it, the greater the employees’ job dissatisfaction. 

4. Difficulty in work-life balance

Companies must understand that the time employees spend at work should not disrupt their well-being or motivation in general. One of the things that most hinders job satisfaction is being in a job that prevents finding a balance between work and the other aspects of the employee’s life

job satisfaction

Emotional well-being program for companies

At ifeel, there is one thing that generates job satisfaction and that is helping companies to provide that same satisfaction to their employees. How do we do it? Through the emotional well-being program for companies designed by our team of psychologists specialized in well-being at work.

Thanks to our emotional well-being program, your company’s HR managers can receive personalized, data-driven advice on how to improve their teams’ psychological well-being. In addition, this program offers employees a 360º mental health care service structured at different levels according to their needs. Try our program now to see how it could help you.

Visit our Resources section and take a look at all the content we have created for you: Podcasts, HR Guides, or Interviews with top HR managers. We also have a Psychosocial Risk Factors Template, so you can use it to comply with the requirements of the Labor Inspection.

If you found this post about employee job satisfaction interesting and you want more information about our emotional well-being program for companies, simply request it and we will contact your team as soon as possible.

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