The 10 Reasons Why Most People Hate Their Jobs

Dissatisfied employees are the cause of many problems at work.

Not only are they less productive, but they are also usually less engaged and more likely to leave the company.

When an employee is unhappy it can be like a virus spreading throughout the organisation.

This is because their interactions with colleagues are usually negative, meaning morale suffers as well.

We have all seen this when a particular employee is constantly negative or whining.

The effects can be insidious – reaching throughout the organisation.

To help better deal with unhappy employees, there follow 10 of the biggest reasons most people hate their jobs:

1. They feel ‘stuck’

 Many employees feel frustrated and unfulfilled because they have reached the limit of their advancement or development within the organisation. Everyone wants to feel challenged and to take their skills to the next level. Unfortunately, many organisations fail to recognise this. 

 2. They are poorly paid

 Although remuneration is not always the reason many employees feel unhappy, it can be a big factor. We all want better pay, but it is a different story when you feel you are being underpaid as this can lead to resentment, anger and bitterness.

 3. They suffer job insecurity

 Feeling insecure is a big reason many people are unhappy at work. Today’s ‘economic squeeze’, and the struggle for a better ‘bottom line’ using less resources, can lead to many employees losing their loyalty. Therefore, it is important that organisations reassure their staff their jobs are safe.

 4. The grass is always ‘greener’

 We have all heard the expression: ‘The grass is always greener on the other side’. Well, this is often the case for employees. Some are never totally happy as they are always looking ‘across the fence’ at what other organisations can offer them. To help offset this, try offering your employees more incentives to encourage them to stay.

 5. They don’t value their organisation

 Many employees’ values fail to align with the organisation they are with. And by not seeing ‘eye to eye’ with how their organisation operates, some employees become disillusioned. One good way to address this is to keep your employees abreast of your company’s mission statement, and to hold regular meetings to align them with this.

 6. They can't stand their boss

 One sure-fire way to make your employees’ hate their jobs is to employ a difficult or domineering boss. Poor bosses lead to disharmony and poor engagement in the workplace. Thus, a good leadership selection process is crucial for happier and more satisfied employees.

 7. Poor work/life balance

 Flexible working hours and remote working (working from home) are both excellent antidotes to an unhappy workforce. If you ban your staff from attending their kids’ events - or ban them from working from home occasionally - they will soon become unhappy and unproductive. Being flexible and encouraging your staff to be the same is also a great boost for morale.

 8. They are unappreciated

 Many staff work long and hard for little or no recognition. As a leader, try to acknowledge those people who helped you succeed, whether it is the researcher who spent many hours on a project you led, or the co-collaborator on a paper you published.

 9. They are over-managed

 Many managers constantly look over their employees’ shoulders. Remember, it is usually not necessary to constantly monitor what your staff are doing because as adults, they are usually quite capable.

 10. They lack passion

 If an employee is unhappy, try moving them across to another department, or offering them a different role in the organisation. Very often, this can work wonders!