Increasingly disgruntled workers want more meaningful jobs

Some workers in Canada are growing increasingly disgruntled with their jobs amid a desire for higher salaries and better working conditions, such as flexibility, according to research released this morning.

Overall job satisfaction levels have dropped three per cent since 2021 and fallen 24 per cent since the pandemic began, said The Great Workplace Study, conducted by Léger for Hamster, an office supply distributing company. As inflation climbs and the costs of everyday items rise, a good salary is becoming more important and workers think their paycheques aren’t measuring up.

Canadians are 10 per cent less satisfied with their salaries now than they were this time last year.

Workplace conditions, such as vacation time, flexible schedules and benefits, also appear to need improvement. Satisfaction in that category dropped six per cent since 2021.

But perhaps most worrisome for employers is that people say they are less engaged with their jobs.

“Fewer workers are willing to go the extra mile or give their best to their job and to their employer,” the survey said.

Commitment to work has fallen a “significant” six points from last year, the study said, a finding that could spell trouble for organizations already struggling to retain staff amid a tight labour market.

Indeed, people say they are looking at their jobs as a means to an end and threequarters admit they’re only there for the paycheque. That compares to 36 per cent who say they find meaning or fulfilment in their work.

Such low levels of engagement come at the worst possible time for employers desperate to keep staff from leaving amid labour shortages. As it stands, one in five workers said they are thinking of seeking out new opportunities.

Hamster said workers have become emboldened over the past two years and don’t think twice about quitting if it means they can find what they’re looking for somewhere else.

“(Canadian workers) know that they now have increased bargaining power. If they feel their conditions could be better with another employer, many would no longer hesitate to change jobs,” the survey said.

Topping employee wish lists are “fair and equitable” wage hikes, good benefits and flexible work hours. Employers should take notice and then do what they can to meet their staff’s needs, Hamster said.

“Labour shortages are biting Canada and the various industries across the country are facing major challenges in acquiring and retaining talent,” Denis Mathieu, president and general manager of Novexco Inc., which owns Hamster, said in a release.

“It is crucial for employers to adopt a human approach and truly understand the aspirations and needs of their employees in order to better respond to them.”