06/08/2007 by admin.

Job satisfaction amongst teachers has increased dramatically since 1999, with the profession rising from 54th to 11th in a league table of job satisfaction published today.  

 The table, published in the Industrial Relations Journal, ranks 81 occupations defined by the UK Standard Occupational Classification (2000) by how satisfied employees feel in their job. 

It uses the latest information from the Department of Trade & Industry’s Workplace Employment Relations survey of 2004-2005, which polled 22,500 British employees about their work experiences. 

Top of the table are corporate managers and senior officials and hairdressers and beauty therapists come in second place. 

Most of the top ten job satisfaction occupations are management positions. Information and communication technology (ICT) professionals in 66th place have a low job satisfaction ranking despite being paid more than others towards the bottom of the table. 

Journalists and other media professionals are in 50th place. Despite often poor rewards and job security, arts performers and administrators also make the top ten (ranked 10th). 

“Individual job satisfaction is made up of a range of factors including material rewards, such as pay and conditions of employment, and symbolic rewards, such as prestige,” said Professor Michael Rose from the University of Bath who carried out the research, which was funded by the Economic & Social Research Council. 

“It is also influenced by psychological rewards, such as being able to express creativity, and social rewards, such as having a supportive colleague network. 

“There is a high correlation between the position of occupations now and when the last table was produced six to seven years ago. 

“Major changes of position for larger occupations, such as teaching, point to real shifts in job rewards and experiences. 

“The wider public is often given the picture of teaching as an occupation low in material returns and with the attractions of sense of achievement, job quality and social status in decline. 

“These findings suggest that teaching professionals are now close to the top of the UK’s job satisfaction while others, such as ICT, languish near the bottom.” 

Money obviously isn’t everything as despite receiving higher pay - one in ten of the ICT professionals surveyed earned more than £45k - many reported low job satisfaction. Usually earning in excess of £40k has a strong positive effect on job satisfaction. 

“The most important factor in determining the levels of job satisfaction in the survey is the managerial skill in creating a sense of involvement,” said Professor Rose. 

“ICT professionals emerge from the survey less satisfied with involvement, sense of achievement, job security and training provided. 

“Improving job satisfaction across occupations is complex, but could be done. 

“Reducing the deficits that reduce job satisfaction in occupational groups could have benefits for subjective wellbeing - which impacts on health, productivity and social good.” 

Occupations taking a tumble in the table include records clerks, household services, childcare, secretarial services and leisure and travel services. 

“These are all occupations in which women heavily predominate, confirming a long term trend towards lower women’s job satisfaction,” said Professor Rose. 

“Job satisfaction among skilled construction workers, an almost exclusively male group of occupations, also fell sharply in recent years. 

“Financial service managers and retail managers have show huge rises in job satisfaction, with the credit and consumer booms boosting career opportunities and rewards.” 

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11/06/2007 by admin.

According to a new report, workers want a siesta during the day to help them recharge their batteries. A survey of 4,300 adults by budget hotel chain Travelodge showed that most believe 40 winks during the working day would be beneficial to body and mind and would help them to become more productive.  

One in four of those polled said they would want shops to close if the siesta became part of the British way of life. Wayne Munnelly, director of sleep at Travelodge said: “Individuals should build in a few minutes ‘downtime’ each day to recharge batteries.”  

In response to the findings, Travelodge hoisted the siesta campaign flag by installing hammocks at its head office last week so that weary staff could enjoy a short afternoon rest. Professor Jim Horne, of the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University, commented: “A nap is nature’s way of overcoming that afternoon ‘dip’ in energy levels when we find it difficult to concentrate and think clearly, leading to mistakes.  

“A short nap will restore alertness and improve productivity.” 

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07/06/2007 by admin.

A new report out yesterday says that conflict in the workplace is rife with one in three workers clashing with a colleague every week.  The survey of 1000 workers by law firm Eversheds showed that most workers believe conflict is bad for their health. It is the younger workers are most likely to be at odds with someone they share an office with. 

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