‘Happiness’ study reveals concerning issue impacting Aussie workplaces
There is an alarming new trend sweeping workplaces across the country - and it is one that should terrify all good bosses.
It has been a tumultuous year when it comes to work, with constant disruptions resulting in a rather worrying trend emerging among workers Down Under.
Between companies continuing to push return-to-office policies, the rise of AI-related sackings and the brutal job market in general, it comes as no surprise that Aussies are feeling burnt out and fed up as we reach the end of the year.
A survey of more than 3000 Aussie workers, SEEK’s Workplace Happiness Index, has revealed just over half of Australians (57 per cent) are happy at work, while one in three often dread going to work.
Worryingly, this is only a minuscule improvement from last year’s index, where 55 per cent of participants said they are happy at work.
Kylie Pascoe, from SEEK’s Customer Insights & Research team, said the figure moving such a small amount in the past 12 months proves there is “clearly still a job to be done” when it comes to workplace happiness.
“While you may not always love every job at every life stage, being happy at work can significantly impact your overall wellbeing and quality of life,” she said.
MORE: 5 signs your workplace is toxic – and what to do about it
Breaking the data down further, some of the areas where Aussies are least happy when it comes to work include their company’s commitment to environmental frameworks, career progression opportunities and stress levels.
Salary is also a big point of contention, with just 42 per cent saying they are happy their compensation and only 44 per cent are happy with senior leadership.
However, there were some areas that saw higher satisfaction rates, with location of work being the most common aspect that people were happy about, with 67 per cent satisfied with where they work.
The majority (61 per cent) were happy with their team and colleagues, 60 per cent were satisfied with their current work life balance and 59 per cent were happy with their day-to-day responsibilities.
There was also a clear happiness divide when it came to the different working generations, with Gen Z and Baby Boomers at completely opposite ends of the spectrum.
Of the youngest working generation, just 56 per cent reported feeling happy at work.
MORE: The best work-from-home jobs in Australia
Notably, Gen Z workers also seem to face the greatest workplace challenges, with just under half reporting feeling burnt out or exhausted by their jobs and 41 per cent often dreading going to work - the highest rate among all generations.
Comparatively, a whopping 73 per cent of Boomers are happy at work - making them the most content generation in the workplace.
Ms Pascoe said the current feelings around burnout and exhaustion being experienced by Gen Z may reflect their career stage.
“They typically hold entry-level positions which can come with lower salaries, fewer responsibilities, and pressure from both themselves and their managers,” she told news.com.au.
“Our data shows Gen Z values purpose at work as much as other generations, but they haven’t yet found roles that provide it, with only 1 in 2 being happy with their purpose at work.”
Gen Z worker Tiegan has experienced first-hand just how much of an impact burnout and stress can have.
While the 21-year-old was completing her degree, she was juggling full-time study, multiple internships and a casual bartending job.
“I definitely experienced severe burnout, both from the workload and the pressure I put on myself,” she told news.com.au.
“There’s a stereotype that Gen Z ‘doesn’t want to work’, but for me it was never about work ethic. I’m more than willing to work hard, but I refuse to work for free unless the internship is genuinely paying me in knowledge, mentorship, and real experience.”
Tiegan was completing an accelerated two-year degree, which added to the stress of the situation.
Now, the 21-year-old works full time as a junior publicist at a boutique PR agency and the change in her happiness has been drastic.
“My boss is a huge part of why my transition into full-time work has been healthy. She leads with a work-life balance mindset and trusts us to work remotely,” she said.
“No micromanaging, no mouse tracking, no pressure to perform in unnatural ways.”
Tiegan is encouraged to work when she is at her most productive, saying the flexibility offered by her job “changed the quality of (her) life post-burn out”.
“I feel extremely grateful to have found a role and boss who support my growth without compromising my wellbeing,” she said.
“After experiencing burnout so young, I now prioritise healthy work environments, boundaries, and constant learning.”
Millennial worker Maddie also knows how important a change of pace can be when it comes to enjoyment at work, having recently pivoted away from her law career to move into the beauty marketing space.
The 28-year-old Sydney woman spent five years moving up the ranks of a global law first and, while she valued the structure it provided, she eventually realised it wasn’t a career she saw her self in long term.
“There was a lot of stress, anxiety and impostor syndrome and I wasn’t feeling inspired or energised. I spent a lot of Sundays dreading the week ahead,” Maddie told news.com.au.
She loved the intellectual challenge the role provided, but was craving a career that felt more creative, fast moving and aligned with her personal interests.
She had always had a passion for makeup and brand building, which is why earlier this year she decided to pivot into beauty marketing and now works as a Marketing Operations Lead.
“It’s definitely been a big change but I haven’t once looked back,” she said.
“Most importantly, I am genuinely happier in my career now. I feel energised by the creativity, the pace and the ability to be a part of building brands that people genuinely love.”
The pace and the variety of work has been the biggest change, going from spending most of her days at a desk to now having a job where no two days look the same.
Maddie said she used to be “bewildered” by people who were genuinely excited to go to work, but she is now one of those people.
“Career pivots can be scary, you might need to take a pay cut, you might be starting at the bottom all over again. I know people say oh it’s just a job - but the truth is we spend a lot of time there,” she said.
According to SEEK’s Workplace Happiness Index, the most important thing when it comes to Australians’ happiness at work is feeling like they have a strong purpose.
This is followed by their day to day responsibilities, senior leadership, company culture and stress levels.
Speaking to news.com.au Transitioning Well organisational psychologist Justine Alter said it is not unusual for people to be experiencing burnout at this time of year.
In some cases, these feelings of burnout can also lead people to look towards the new year with an element of “dread and foreboding”.
“When we’re talking about early career workers, it can be helpful to shift your focus towards factors that can protect against burnout,” Ms Alter said.
“For younger workers it may be helpful to think about how you can find purpose in your every day work.
“It’s important to acknowledge here that not every role is going to change the world. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find purpose within your day-to-day.”
Communication is also key to helping manage burnout, with Ms Alter pointing out that good leadership can help workers protect themselves against mounting work-related stress.
“It’s important to remember that our leaders aren’t mind-readers,” he said.
“All workers, regardless of generation, need to feel safe to tell their managers and leaders what it is they need in order to work well. This isn’t a one-sided conversation.”
