Brits spend over six years of their life dissatisfied at work, according to research from UK job site Fish4jobs.
The researchers found that nearly a third of people (32%) spend half their annual working hours, an average of 861 hours and 12 mins each year, dissatisfied while working.
Over a lifetime that adds up to a staggering six years and six months.
Feeling overworked was by far the most popular reason that workers feel dissatisfied in their jobs, but colleagues’ behaviour also appears to be part of the problem.
The top reasons for dissatisfaction were:
A workload which is too heavy, chosen by 50%. This leads to a lack of a work/life balance leaving employees feeling pressurised and stressed.
People not pulling their weight in a team, selected by 44%.
Day-to-day responsibilities, which annoy 32%. This included stating there’s a disconnect between the job people thought they were being hired to do and the day-to-day reality of what they are working on. People also stated that they would appreciate a more honest initial description of what the job involves.
Difficult bosses cause problems for 23%. Nearly one in four perceive that senior management lack the skills to keep their teams motivated and happy.
A long commute time is something that 20% struggle with. With challenging and long working days, for one in five it’s the journey that tips them over the edge and leaves them feeling fed-up.
Despite these issues, 77% of workers said they won’t leave a dissatisfied job as they believe they’re lacking the skills to get a different job or because they don’t know what else to do.
50% of people believe they need to stay in a job for at least a year before it’s acceptable for them to have been seen to move on.
“There are many reasons why people stay in a dissatisfied job and seeing how it adds up to so many years and months is alarming,” said Belinda Hankin, Fish4jobs’ Director. “It often comes down to having the confidence to step out of an unsatisfactory role.”
