Job Satisfaction: The Angry Co-worker.

Have you ever worked with someone who was always angry and it seemed they were mad at the world? It's as if everyone has done something to offend them or cause them anguish. You are often times afraid to speak to or even ask them for help, which is pertaining to their job.

Guess what? I have been that person before. Some of the reasons were specific to job satisfaction and the lack thereof. Either I was being overworked, it wasn't the field I preferred, or I was being treated poorly by my supervisors. Unlike some that may have felt the same, I actually managed to do the job and do it well. Sometimes to the extent of receiving kudos and formal recognition. I chalk that up to my resiliency training, but we'll discuss that in another Psych Minute. On a serious note, what about those who fail or are boarder line at failing in their job performance due to the lack of job satisfaction? I want to give you an idea of how it directly affects the workplace and the overall success of an organization.

In a 2019 article, Job Satisfaction Statistics: Keep Your Workers Happy and Your Business Healthy written by Ivana Vojinovic, it states that job satisfaction statistics highlight the fact that happy employees really make a difference in any organization. Those who show up at work with an eagerness to overcome challenges, solve problems, and achieve set goals are the driving force of any business. Unfortunately, at the moment, only a third of the US workforce feels this enthusiastic about their job. 

The culture of an organization is based solely on its members. When an employee is disgruntle about work, it can become contagious and spread like a wild fire. Whether they are becoming unpleasant to work with or they are constantly bashing the organization in front of whomever, other employees feel this and they will either mimic the attitude or they will develop a dissonance. Any break down in communication or break in work relationships can and will effect the culture of an organization to the point of employees quitting, workplace conflicts arise, and people being let go or leaving. Employers despise firing or losing employees, but that is the end result when an employee is dissatisfied with their job. Employers should be able to spot these unsavory souls and develop a plan to increase their employees' level of satisfaction. Things that employers can do to help:

o Ask the employee how you can assist

o Listen to, but not record, their concerns

o Be sure the employee is a good fit for the position they hold

o If the employee is working outside of their normal role, change it

o Check if their compensation and benefits are adequate

o Inquire about their work-life balance

o Ask yourself if you or your leaders are treating the employees with dignity and respect

o Point out the added value that the employee imparts and tie into an organizational goal(s) or an organizational achievement(s)

Things you can do as an employee that will help. The same list above, but addressed from your personal and professional perspective to your employer. Try to be lenient if your reasoning for dissatisfaction is outside of what your employer can control i.e. personal problems, desire for a career change, lack of qualifiers or education for promotion, etc. Give your boss an opportunity to find a resolution and be ready to compromise, because only in a perfect organization will we get everything we want. But in this imperfection of organizations, we can find a happy median that balances your wants and desires with that of your employer's goals and needs.

So if you are that angry employee, wake up tomorrow with a different agenda in mind. Get on your boss' calendar and ready yourself to professionally express your concerns and expectations. Be sure to rehearse before your meeting. Also, bring a potted plant or a bouquet and place it on your desk. This will let everyone, that you probably chewed to pieces in the past, know that YOU are about to bring some change. Good luck!

References.

Vojinovic, I. (2019, September 9). Job Satisfaction Statistics: Keep Your Workers Happy and Your Business Healthy. Retrieved from https://www.smallbizgenius.net/by-the-numbers/job-satisfaction-statistics/

Disclaimer: This article is not based on research results, but is a personal construct theory from personal observation and personal experience of current events. All articles of APM are to provoke thought and influence future research.

Author: University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Professor Assistant, undergraduate at Colorado Technical University, Industrial and Organizational Psychology Major, February 2020 expected graduate date

Dated December 12, 2019. apsychminute@gmail.com