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BUSINESS
Bitterness trend seems to pervade every workplace
The Workbytes staff has been wrestling with some weighty subjects. Each, surprisingly, corresponds to a letter of the alphabet:
A. How is it possible to get a mosquito bite there?
B. What effect will all this unsightly scratching have on our workplace attitude?
The second answer is particularly important in light of Zogby International's "Attitudes in the American Workplace" survey, in which nearly half of all workers described themselves as "bitter" about their careers.
The survey "uncovered an attitude shift among U.S. workers, who are more disillusioned and fed up than ever," said Workbytes new friend, Frank Kenna, whose Connecticut communications firm, Marlin Co., hired Zogby to take a look at the "bitterness trend."
The underlying message was this: U.S. workers have become a really grumpy bunch.
We moan about working too many hours. We grouse that we're not paid what we're worth, etc. Turns out we even hate the word "grouse" and the abbreviation "etc."
It should be noted, of course, that most of the gripes are as old as the workplace itself. You'll remember from sixth-grade history class, for example, that Paul Revere whined about the mileage reimbursement rate shortly after he delivered the first pizza.
But while the complaints sound familiar, the Zogby survey shows that U.S. workers' collective 'tude has reached an all-time low.
The poll was conducted in May, which means folks -- particularly those with the word "assistant" in their job title -- have probably gotten even crabbier. Seems that service-industry drones, semi-skilled schlubs and laborers are the most bitter, according to the results, but "managers reported an even higher dissatisfaction when we asked about their belief in the 'American dream,"' Kenna told Workbytes.
Experts blame all the bellyaching on the economy, which has gotten so bad middle managers are now asking for change back after they put in their 2 cents worth. Everywhere you look, there's news of more layoffs, more outsourcing and more cutbacks.
Workbytes recently pondered the trend.
The solution came to us in the form of a press release from Ambius, a company whose own study, published last week, blamed the outbreak of workplace gloom and/or doom on "cramped and noisy work environments with no natural light, greenery or ventilation."
Ambius says all the work force needs to perk up is a few potted plants and some better-looking co-workers. No lie.
The survey found that 75 percent of workers agree that "the surroundings make work a pleasant and enjoyable place." And 62 percent said they would be more motivated if their employer "made more of an effort" to spiff up things. A surprisingly large segment of respondents reported that "what they'd most like to have in their work environment are more attractive colleagues."
But Kenna argues that it'll take more than a few ferns and a hottie in the next cube to make our national bitterness subside.
"The average U.S. worker is in pain," he said.
And remember, Mom says scratching will only make it worse.
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Write the columnists at The Des Moines Register, P.O. Box 957, Des Moines, Iowa 50304-0957.
