We’re happier at work – even if we don’t actually need the money

SOCIAL AFFAIRS EDITOR FORGET Monday blues and Friday clockwatching, it seems we are happier at work than ever before.

Although staff are putting in longer hours, are more stressed and less secure in their jobs than in the past, many people are so wedded to their work that money is becoming a secondary consideration, according to the 30-year British Social Attitudes survey (BSA).

Its most recent edition suggests 62 per cent believe they would enjoy a job “even if [they] did not need the money”. That includes 14 per cent, or one in seven, who strongly agreed with that.

When the question was asked in 2005, only 49 per cent agreed overall, with nine per cent agreeing strongly. Experts claim the shift could be because jobs have become more “interesting” and less rigid due to changes in the economy and more graduate staff.

But psychologists said what makes people happy may have changed, with career replacing family as a priority.

Dr Stephanie Morgan, occupational psychologist at London’s Kingston Business School, said: “For all the talk of work-life balance, there isn’t much indication that we are getting it. People are actually working longer hours and feel less secure – and those two things are probably linked and therefore mustn’t be neglected.

“But people are enjoying the work and are saying that they would do it even if they didn’t have to … maybe the balance is considered to be acceptable. It might not be a perfect balance but if you are enjoying the work and go home and in the hours you have you are a better partner and parent [maybe] that is considered sufficient.”

The figures, published by NatCen Social Research, show a marked contrast between the recent economic dip and previous financial uncertainty in terms of enthusiasm for work. The numbers saying they would enjoy a job even if they did not need the income slipped from 54 per cent in 1989 to 48 per cent by 1997 during the 1990s recession, in line with what might be expected. Yet it rose sharply during the recent downturn.

The report says changes at work, with many employees in less rigid conditions, could be part of the explanation. Graduates in work have more than doubled since the mid-1980s and are more likely to say they would work even if they did not have to.

Kirby Swales, director of the NatCen Survey Centre, said there was evidence that both white-collar workers and those in manual or routine jobs are “buying in” to their work more than before, but often for different reasons.

“There is a common pattern of people working harder but being more happy. It could be at the lower end, the job satisfaction is driven by fear of recession but at the managerial end it is more driven by the changing nature of work … and people are willing to work harder.”

Respondents were asked if they considered their job well paid and secure, as well as aspects such as if it was “interesting”, if it made them feel “useful” or let them work independently.

Job satisfaction has risen in the past two decades but job security has not and has even deteriorated in traditional working-class “routine” or “semi-routine” posts. Professionals report having more freedom and flexibility than a decade ago but it was the opposite for some “routine” staff.

Yet both groups are more likely to report working longer hours and feeling stress at work than in the past.

Mr Swales added: “It does seem to be increasingly accepted among people that they have to go that extra mile and they accept that work is a bit more stressful and a bit more imposing on their work-life balance but if that is associated with more autonomy there are