Of course most workplaces have some dissatisfied workers, but a new research study by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College tells us that those who are most satisfied with their jobs are older employees. Workers under 30 are almost as satisfied as their older colleagues. The most dissatisfied? Those employees between the ages of 30 and 39.
These results aren’t extrapolated from just a few respondents. For this study, the Sloan Center surveyed 11,298 workers working for seven multinational companies at 24 work sites in 11 countries.
Why is the 30-39 age group less satisfied? Personnel from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania offer an interpretation: “That is the stage of life where people typically start a family and have young kids at home.” Further, “these people are more likely to feel the strains of balancing work and life, thus pulling their minds away from being fully engaged” at work. This age group “is in an intense career stage where they are often engaged in continued on-the-job learning, with greater responsibilities.”
These findings do not suggest that employers should not hire employees who belong to this age cohort. They do mean that employers should be aware of these data and should work with these specific employees to pull them through the occupationally rough times indicated by the Sloan Center findings.
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As a worker who belongs to the 30-to-39 age group, I feel the urge to comment on this. Balancing work and life (including a blended family, home renovations, planning vacations with family who live out of state, spending time with friends, returning to school to further my education, and having some me-time to relax and catch up on sleep) often makes me feel as though I am pulled in multiple directions at once. At this stage, it is very important to prioritize and learn to manage your time. All of these elements are an important part of my life, and neglecting one of them can throw everything else off kilter. When the right balance is achieved, life can be pretty good for us 30-somethings!
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