A higher salary won’t make workers happy, and those on $300,000 a year suffer the most

Most workers believe a higher salary will make them happier about their job but in reality a $300,000 pay packet won’t make the problems go away.

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Think a higher salary will solve your work problems? Think again.

Work coach and consultant Cholena Orr says there are three reasons money cannot buy happiness at work.

Orr, director of pac executive Human Capital, says workers need to weigh up the personal cost of being paid more money.

Its 2015 Workplace Productivity Study finds happy employees are more productive – and a whopping one in three Australians are unhappy at work.

Among the most miserable are those earning more than $300,000 a year.

“Why? Likely because at that level you’ve made too many trade-offs for work and have become unhappy,” Orr says.

She outlines the three reasons why earning more will not lead to greater happiness.

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1. Money can’t buy you friends in the workplace.

“Social connection is an important factor in our happiness at work,” Orr says.

“When you spend eight or more hours, five days a week at work, it’s important that you are surrounded by people you respect.

“When interviewing for new roles, try to get an understanding of who you will be working for and with.”

2. Money alone doesn’t give you a sense of achievement.

“Choose a role where you can believe in your work,” she says.

“Whether it’s serving customers, helping people with their retirement savings or being the director of first impressions (receptionist), the work you do – when done well – should mean something to you.

“When it does you’ll do a better job and you’ll be happier at work.”

3. Money doesn’t give you the right amount of challenge.

“Research has found that when we feel challenged in our work – but not too challenged – we are happier,” Orr says.

“If you take a role that you can do in your sleep, you’re likely to be bored; if you take a role that makes you feel like you’re drowning, you’re likely to feel too overwhelmed and anxious.

“Find something that stretches you just enough to keep you motivated.”

Orr says there are questions workers can ask themselves to determine the right choices for their career:

* What do you want for your career in the long term?

* What are you looking for right now?

* What have you liked most about your previous roles?

* What have you liked least about your previous roles?

* Why do you want to leave your current role?

Originally published as A higher salary won’t make workers happy, and those on $300,000 a year suffer the most