Does Your Workplace Give You Pain or Pleasure

Do you have to psych yourself up just to walk through the doors when you arrive at work? You love the work, but the work environment sucks. The following quote is from the article “What are the Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction” by Brian Hill.

“Management’s role in enhancing employee’s job satisfaction is to make sure the work environment is positive, morale is high and employees have the resources they need to accomplish the tasks they have been assigned.”

The statement outlines several aspects that affect job satisfaction. Social workers who have worked five or more years in the profession may feel the negative effects when these aspects are lacking. They may not feel empowered, however, to change the environment as a whole. As a result many suffer in silence. The irony is that social workers often do to ourselves what we discourage in those we serve.

Assessing and deciding what you need to feel completely satisfied at work starts with asking five smart questions.

Do I feel safe, stable and secure?

This question addresses the basic human need for safety. The location, type, maintenance of the workplace impacts one’s feeling of safety when at work.  Many social workers meet clients wherever the client happens to be at any moment. This means our “office” may be under bridges, in wooded areas, or homes. For this reason, we need procedures to maintain as much safety as possible for ourselves and our clients.

Stability of the organization also plays an important part in feeling safe. A stable organization has leadership with a clear vision, strong community support, and established financial backing. Additionally, the organization’s actions toward employees and clients align with the stated mission.

Can I be my true self?

This question goes beyond individual personalities. It requires an in-depth assessment of style, mode of operation as well as personality on an individual and corporate level.  Every workplace environment has its own collective personality. Think about where you currently work. Do you feel as if you fit like oil and water? Perhaps you fit like an ingredient in a tossed salad. Some work environments have suit and tie serious personalities. Others have loose, lax and playful personalities. These descriptions fall on opposite ends of a continuum and most work environments fall somewhere in the middle. Your comfort level plays a role in your effectiveness at work because comfort promotes confidence.

Can I realize the full extent of my skills, abilities, and interests?

Workplace environments that encourage employee growth cultivate loyalty.   Some social workers may only think about how their skills, abilities or interests enable them to meet the requirements of their jobs. They should, however, think about the impact these have on their capacity to meet the mission of the organization. Insightful leaders in the organization understand and use all available resources to meet the organization’s mission. This includes allowing staff members to do those things they do best.

Social workers who find opportunities to incorporate their favorite skills, abilities or interests into their daily work will experience great satisfaction.

Do I feel supported?

Employers, who are attuned to the needs of their employees, provide policy driven support that considers the whole person. Policies, procedures enhance employee effectiveness and efficiency without detracting from the function of the organization.

I personally experienced an unexpected outpouring of support from an employer when my family needed it. Essentially the executive director created a leave donation program while I was on bed rest during my first pregnancy. Our baby was born one month premature and stayed in the hospital neonatal intensive care unit. Four days after delivery, I was discharged and my husband was hospitalized in an intensive care unit in a different hospital. This was a harrowing time for my family. My paid leave was to end in a couple of days. My husband worked for himself at the time and all work and income stopped when he was hospitalized.

The director of human resources called me saying she had been trying to track me down. Before I could update her on our situation, she shared that I was the first recipient of the newly approved leave donation program. Co-workers donated the maximum amount I could receive within a few hours of the request she sent on my behalf. The human resources director told me that the executive director said that I was to stay home, heal and take care of my family as long as I wanted. I will never forget this blessing.  This is an example of support that beyond the walls.

Are we working toward the same outcome?

Do you share the vision and mission of your organization? Does the result you are working for match the result your organization expects? These are crucial questions for social workers. Social workers who have been on the job for at least five years, have worked in the organization long enough to know whether goals align.

Employment is similar to a relationship. Dissension occurs when individuals in a committed relationship disagree on goals and desires. No one is happy and the relationship suffers. Committing to the organization’s mission does not mean that you have committed to its method for achieving the mission.

When you work in your ideal environment, you work in agreement with the process as well as the outcome.

Marcyline Bailey, ACSW, LCSW is the author of Five Smart Questions Social Workers Should Ask if They Want to Boost Their Social Work Income e-book Starter Guide and Planner. Both available as a free downloads.

“I work with social workers and hard working professionals who want to be happy. I would love to hear from you.” You may join the conversation by commenting on this post or on our Facebook fan page REAL Social Workers Online Magazine or connecting with me on LinkedIn.