Verified by 
Workplace Dynamics
How Do You Know If Your Employees Are Happy Working for You?
Changing the way you view work stress will help you manage your mental health.
Posted October 9, 2024 Reviewed by Lybi Ma
Key points
- Recognizing the benefits of showing appreciation.
- Knowing how not to take work stress too personally.
- Exercising the importance of engaging in healthy relationships.
Some associates see their position as working to improve both the organization and themselves, while others work simply for the pay. The difference is that the former employees are invested in both the company’s and their own welfare, while the latter are only concerned about themselves. Either way, both workers are contributing to the organization.
Ken is a hardworking employee who always shows up to work on time. He maintains a quiet demeanor, he rarely talks to coworkers, and it can be difficult to read his expression. In the two years he has been with the company, he has become known for his peculiar personality. While this is not a typical way of knowing whether a worker is satisfied with his position, it is a too-familiar description of a person most people probably won’t like to work with.
On the other hand, Ken’s coworker John is friends with everybody at work. There is never a dull moment with John. He is the one person everyone wants to chat with. When he is not at work, everyone notices his absence. Most people can relate to these two different scenarios because they are more common in the workplace than most people realize. But what does it teach us about people and work?
If you have been in the workforce for a long period, you will agree that both the quiet worker and outgoing worker exist in almost every organization. Just because someone is quiet doesn’t mean that they are not happy with their job. Additionally, just because someone is an extrovert doesn’t mean that they are happy at work. How can a manager find out whether a worker is satisfied with their job?
Balance work and health: People who feel that their work-life and health are in balance tend to be happier than their counterparts. For one, when one feels that their life is in balance, they seem to be less anxious, less stressed, and contented. Simply put, anything in excess is not good. However, making efforts to integrate life activities is a healthy approach. Sometimes, it is not how much you earn that matters, but how well you manage your resources that matters. If you want to bring life’s events into a manageable space, learn how to plan, worry less, be contented, and show gratitude more often.
Show gratitude: One beautiful thing about gratitude is that everyone can show it at any given time. Showing appreciation is a universal construct that transcends gender, religion, political affiliation, country of origin, young or old, rich or poor. It is available to everyone who chooses to express it. In the workplace, managers who know how to appreciate their workers give them the best gift. Showing gratitude is a secret sauce in the hands of a wise person—use it well. Similarly, employees who know how to show appreciation to their managers and coworkers know the secret to living a balanced life. It is important not to take job stresses too personally because about 83 percent of U.S. workers suffer from work-related stress.
Do not take job stress too personally: Stress is not an event. It is a reaction to an event. Job stress is no different than life stress, whether it is child-rearing, paying monthly bills, preparing for exams, or taking care of a sick loved one. Stress is inevitable. How you manage stress determines how your body responds to it. About 54 percent of workers report that work stress affects their home life. It is important to learn how to manage activities that can lead to stressful situations both in personal and professional life. In the workplace, a worker who understands this secret relates well to their environment and relates well with their coworkers and management.
Know the importance of healthy relationships: Relating to one another respectfully is good for our emotional, social, and mental well-being. A good worker rarely shows animosity toward their coworkers or management. If there is any concern, a good worker goes directly to the person with whom they are having issues and tries to resolve it peacefully without disrespecting each other. Respecting each other’s opinions and finding a common ground to agree upon is a sign of emotional maturity. Once respect is mutual, working together becomes easy.
Always willing to listen and assist: Sometimes being consumed with work can make it difficult to give a coworker a listening ear. It takes conscious effort to listen to somebody else when we are busy. A well-intentioned worker will communicate their interest clearly to their coworker who needs their attention and assist them as soon as they have the time. A good employee is always willing to listen and assist when possible.
Employees who are consistently respectful, helpful, and calm will build a reputation of good character with their peers. It is up to the management team to recognize employees because coworkers know each other better than their management or the larger organization. An effective manager should encourage their workers by recognizing their efforts both implicitly and explicitly. Simply put, if a curious manager wants to know whether their associates are happy with the company or not, they should pay attention to whether their workers have a balanced work and life; whether they appreciate their job by appreciating their coworkers and management; whether or not they take their job stresses too personally; whether they relate very well with their coworkers; and whether they are good listeners and always willing to assist. If both managers and their associates make honest efforts to communicate their expectations with each other, companies and their workers will create a healthy work environment, which will in return increase productivity, engagement, retention, and more.
