Pay And Stress Lead US Worker Concerns

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Aug. 5-8, 2010, with a random sample of 1,013 adults, aged 18 and older, living in the continental U.S., selected using random-digit-dial sampling.American workers are generally satisfied with their jobs until it comes to what are probably the two most important factors. They find their jobs stressful, and they are not paid enough.

Gallup looked at 13 measurements of worker satisfaction. People like their co-workers. Is is any wonder? They have been in the same boat of fear for months as they share concerns about their fragile prospects. Workers also like flexible hours which may be due to the number of part-time employees who do not have to work the hours that most full-time people do.

Thirty-two percent of those surveyed complained about on-the-job stress saying that they are “totally dissatisfied” with their situations. That should not come as much of a surprise. People who still have jobs worry about keeping jobs. Many workers work harder because their “employers” have downsized in the wake of the recession. That leaves each worker who is still working with move work to do.

Pay dissatisfaction is also not particularly surprising. Many companies froze compensation in 2008 as the worst of the economic downturn hit. What is surprising is that only 26% of people are “totally dissatisfied” with their pay.

Perhaps the only odd thing about the poll results is that a larger number of American workers are not bothered by pay or stress levels. Maybe many of workers are just happy to have a job.

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Aug. 5-8, 2010, with a random sample of 1,013 adults, aged 18 and older, living in the continental U.S., selected using random-digit-dial sampling.

Douglas A. McIntyre