Happiness among their workers also is up by 40 per cent because of the better workplace conditions that have been on offer for the past few years.
Research released by Leadership Management Australasia reveals 53 per cent of employees are satisfied in their job this year, up from 37 per cent in 2011.
Passionate
The survey says almost two-thirds of supervisors (up from 37 per cent) and 78 per cent of senior managers (up from 28 per cent) find themselves engaged and passionate about their work.
This job satisfaction is the highest since the professional network’s Leadership Employment and Direction (L.E.A.D.) Survey of 4500 blue- and white-collar workers began in 2000.
Chief executive Andrew Henderson said it was a surprising result amid the hardship being experienced by some sectors of the economy.
He said efforts to save money and boost production had seen many companies scale back benefits such as overtime or work-from-home arrangements during the economic downturn.
Less pressure
However, now that organisations were re-implementing benefits staff were happier and managers were feeling less pressure.
‘Everybody wants to feel secure in their roles, wants to continue to receive their benefits, their salaries etc,’ Henderson said.
‘Managers and leaders also feel the added pressure of responsibility.’
‘If indeed the organisation is returning to stability, steady incomes and cash reserves, and the focus is on growth and prosperity, the ability to feel the added responsibility and stress is alleviated.’
Henderson said happiness would continue to rise if employers continued to re-implement other benefits provided before the downturn, such as paying staff above-average salaries and recognising the efforts of workers.
Double-edged sword
‘This is the double-edged sword: we have a workforce that’s engaged and happy but at the same time, organisations need to be very wary about the data coming out about employers of choice,’ he said.
‘They have an engaged workforce who are willing to go the extra mile and increase productivity, and employers of choice will recognise and reward staff in recognition of performance.’
