More than a third (38%) of respondents cite salary or wages as one of the top 10 factors that play an important role in their happiness at work, according to research by One4all Rewards.
It’s The 2018 Happiness Survey, which surveyed 1.024 full or part-time UK employees, also found that 37% of respondents cite relationships with colleagues as a key factor impacting their happiness at work, compared to 34% who value the nature of their work in itself.
The research also found:
- 29% of respondents define flexible working as one of the top factors that influences their happiness, compared to 25% who feel that their relationship with management affects their workplace happiness and 18% who value training opportunities.
- 21% of respondents state their physical working environment as a factor that plays a key part in their happiness at work; 20% however state their annual leave allocation as a factor that influences their happiness at work and 20% think that the level of their workload plays an important role in their happiness at work.
- 44% of respondents believe a pay rise of 25% would improve their employee satisfaction, compared to 33% who feel they would be happier at work if they received a 10% pay increase.
- 21% of respondents feel that receiving thanks from their boss for good work will improve their morale, compared to 20% of respondents who believe a promotion will achieve the same morale boost.
- 20% of respondents think that receiving increased recognition for the work that they do and the contribution that they make to the organisation will increase employee morale, compared to 18% who believe their morale would improve if they were awarded benefits linked to their work, such as discounts and subsidised gym membership.
Alan Smith (pictured), UK managing director at One4all Rewards, said: “It is interesting to see how happiness levels vary between the different demographics. For example, those aged 55 and over are happier than any other age group, but interestingly they are also amongst the most likely to believe that the nature of work they do plays the most key role in their morale at work, putting more emphasis on this than salary, bonuses, annual leave or anything more tangible.
“This is a factor for other age groups, but it is only those aged 45 and over who prioritise this above salary. Clearly, the UK workforce recognises that money is not everything, but one size definitely doesn’t fit all. In order to maintain or significantly improve morale, it is important for employers to take note of what drives the different kinds of individuals in their workforce.”