H.S. For Sunday 090207

You Love Your Job

Hey folks

Happy Sunday. Here is some news for you. You love your job. What? No, no, no. You really do. In the Health and Science segment this week, I’ll explain why. Did you know that those that make LESS then $12 grand are not as happy as those $110 grand? Really?

Let’s see what the experts tell us. According to LiveScience.com -American Workforce Surprisingly Satisfied By Corey Binns Friday Aug 31

Although many Americans will grumble about going back to work after they barbeque or hit the beach this Labor Day weekend, most will actually be content once they are back in the office. Regardless of complaints about downsizing, dead-end jobs, and burnout, most people in this country are satisfied with their jobs, according to a recent study.

"You hear all of these stories about a growing dissatisfaction with jobs being outsourced and downgraded, which present a negative state of workers," said Tom Smith, director of the General Social Survey at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. "But the level of job satisfaction has changed very little in 30 years."

The General Social Survey began in 1972 and is based on interviews with randomly selected Americans, conducted by the National Opinion Research Center/University of Chicago. Interviewers asked participants questions about job satisfaction and general happiness.

The study found that greater fulfillment comes with age, education and income.

One would assume that would mean those that are better educated, been in the work force longer, and are making MORE money. Would it not?

Of those surveyed, 86 percent reported being satisfied with their jobs, whereas only 4 percent said they were very dissatisfied with their jobs. Since 1972, job satisfaction has never dipped below 82 percent.

Among the interesting findings from the research: People with post-graduate degrees are more fulfilled at work than those with less than a high-school education. Fewer workers earning less than $12,500 per year are very satisfied compared to those making more than $110,000 a year.

Go figure.

Job satisfaction is greater among those who are still working after age 65 and lowest among workers under 29.

Making more money and maybe just happy to still be out of the house may play a part in this also.

Full-time workers are more satisfied than part-time workers.

Better jobs, more money.

Homemakers slightly edge both full- and part-time employed groups with greater contentment.

Simply put. NO amount of money can replace the rewards of raising your family. Maybe THIS is the “interesting” findings?

Blacks are less satisfied with their jobs than whites. Hispanics have somewhat lower job satisfaction than non-Hispanics.

Of course. The evil White man still holding others down and those poor Illegal Aliens, working for pennies. We have to fix this. Right?

Workers in the South Central states from Texas and Oklahoma through Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee, rate their job satisfaction the highest. Meanwhile, people living in the Western states are the least satisfied. Union and non-union workers have similar levels of job satisfaction. Men and women do not differ meaningfully in their average satisfaction.

“Men and women do not differ meaningfully in their average satisfaction.” Now that IS interesting. I always thought, or have been told, that women are NOT happy. I have been told that the gap between men and women is so vast that we need to punish men to make it equal. I guess not.

According to earlier results of the study, firefighters, the clergy and others with professional jobs that involve helping or serving people are more satisfied with their work and overall are happier than those in other professions.

That makes sense. More on that in a second.

"Of course, this is on average," Smith told LiveScience. "Some people go through their whole lives being unsatisfied."

OK, why and SO?

Helping others, and doing good toward our fellow man is NORMAL. We are made and meant to be one people. The Human race. We have come so far away from this NORMAL and inherent truth, and have filled ourselves with the me mentality, that we sometimes forget that. You want to have one of the greatest feeling you will ever have? Do something for someone else.

It doesn’t matter what it is. The Holidays are coming up. I remember my Grandmother ALWAYS made a feast. It was then mine and my friend Billy’s job to take plates of food to some of those less fortunate than us, or those that were alone. It was a GREAT feeling to see their faces when they saw the food.

I have given to food pantries. I have done many other things from time to time in my life. Even something as little as stopping to help someone broken down on the road, can give you that feeling. Do something for someone else. It doesn’t matter what it is. To you, it may be nothing. To them? It may change their entire life.

Look folks, life is too short. You are talking to a guy that has, driven a truck, loaded trucks, did law enforcement and security work, Hotel Management, Wrestled, among other things, been married and divorced, and I’m 38 years old. I was once told by an old wise friend of mine.

“In life, you will have many teachers, but in the end, life itself, will be the greatest teacher of all.”

It’s true. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned so far? Life is too short to wake up every day, and be unhappy. Enjoy every day as much as possible, and make the best of every situation. If you are in a job you do not like, get out of it. Do something you have passion for, and in the end, you will be far happier. Not just with your job, but with life itself. You only have one. DON'T waste it.
Peter