Discusses the possible reason for workers who cannot hold down a
steady job. How genes influences employee satisfaction; Result of the
study which determines how biology affects job permanence.
By
PT Staff, published on November 01, 1997
Memo to workers who can't hold down a steady job: it could be
partly genetic.While studies have suggested that genes influence employee
satisfaction, researchers have for the first time linked genetic factors
to job turnover.
Using genetic data and questionnaires from 2401 pairs of identical
and fraternal twins, University of Minnesota researcher Brian McCall,
Ph.D., calculated the siblings' job satisfaction levels, their work
values (such as whether they enjoyed challeges), and the frequency with
which they switched jobs and fields. Genetic factors, McCall reports in
the Journal of Vocational Behavior, explained a third of the twins' job
changes and 26 percent of their career changes Even when work values and
job satisfaction were accounted for, one in five job changes and 15
percent of career switches were attributed to genetic factors.
While McCall believes this study is a promising first step in
determining how biology affects job permanence, he notes that the job
data recorded for each subject didn't distinguish between voluntary and
involuntary departures. So it's unclear whether genes influence the
tendency to quit jobs--or a talent for getting fired.
ILLUSTRATION
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