Techies 'more unhappy than hairdressers'
Summary
Despite ranking high on the earnings charts, techies ranked near the bottom in job satisfaction.
Topics
Techies have lower levels of job satisfaction than hairdressers, librarians and truck drivers despite higher earnings than many other professions.
IT workers came 66th out of 81 professions ranked for job satisfaction in research carried out by the University of Bath, despite one in 10 techies earning more than £45,000 ($91,000)a year.
The research was based on a Department of Trade and Industry survey of 22,500 employees about their work experiences and ranks them on how satisfied they feel in their job.High-earning techies appear to be unhappy in their jobs despite the fact the research found earning more than £40,000 ($79,000) a year usually has a strong positive effect on job satisfaction.
The University of Bath's Professor Michael Rose, who carried out the research, said the most important factor in job satisfaction is the managerial skill in creating a sense of involvement for employees.
He said in the study: "ICT professionals emerge from the survey less satisfied with involvement, sense of achievement, job security and training provided."Rose said individual job satisfaction is down to a range of factors including pay, conditions of employment and "symbolic rewards" such as prestige.
Hairdressers ranked second in the overall job satisfaction league table behind corporate managers but some of the other professions with happier workers than IT included cleaners, librarians, secretaries and transport drivers.
The professions listed in the research, which was sponsored by the Economic and Social Research Council, are based on the UK standard occupational classification index.
Talkback Most Recent of 20 Talkback(s)
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Part of the problem is...
...a lot of computer people are in it for the money, not because they particularly like computers. Another part of the problem is that knowing a lot about computers is still seen as a social liability, particularly by corporate executives.
John L. Ries6th Aug 2007 -
I agree
I agree. During my job search, I've heard complaints about programmers who are just in it for the money. I didn't realize it was so common in my profession. I suppose it does make sense, though: We can be paid a lot.
Which is too bad - we really need people who are more passionate about what they do. Programming can be very demanding and difficult, and if you don't have a passion for it, you're gonna hate it.
I therefore rewrote my resume based on the advice of an expert in my field - and made sure I included volunteer projects I've done and Open Source stuff I've worked on. I want people to know I like doing this stuff.
CobraA16th Aug 2007 -
Management is the real problem
Since the "techies" are at the bottom of the management food chain, satisfaction comes from rewards and recognition by supervisors and upper management. As we all know, the upper management cares less about people than the "bottom line".
My own experience taught me how much more the IT budget was valued than my own time or efficiency. As a result I spent less, but the solutions had less long-term value and took more hours to implement.
This entire idea of "IT on the cheap" applies to the techies as well. We are no more appreciated than the cheaper equipment they want us to buy.
Take a look at the budget. If the company pinches pennies on the IT, they will treat techies badly as well.
raybailey6th Aug 2007 -
Its the Managerial way
Have no say!! Its the managerial way
anupshubha6th Aug 2007 -
why wouldn't be they happier?
They socialize all day, don't have to think that much, don't have to lift weights either. I think it's common sense. By the way, they also earn a bit less than techies.
dumaal7th Aug 2007 -
Middle level managers are the cause for this
As far as I know, people who are interested in programming or application development join the industry as freshers after completion of their college. They are trained into different technologies and put them into work. The middle level managers doesn't care about the interest of these people. They continue to be in this industry as it pays them more than any other industry but cannot deliver their maximum as they are not into their interesting field/technology. Interesting field/technology mean, one is interested in programming in certain technology, one is interested in testing, one is interested in client communication etc. No one cares about the interest of such people. They are just treated as machines. Obviously, job satisfaction is less. They are given a chance to prove themselves in their interesting area.
thirumal3777th Aug 2007 -
It's Management, People, and Us
I agree that some of it IS management. But in my experience it has little less do with they're unappreciation for IT people/services and more about the misunderstanding of what we actually do and how it DOES make a difference. But management's lack of knowledge when it comes to IT related areas is what is frustrating. When they don't understand it, they don't put money toward it. It's always one of those "techie things that just works by itself" which is the typical viewpoint you get from most managers.
With that 50% of the problem is the managers not willing to want to understand it and not wanting to know why they spend 80K/year on a person to do tech stuff, and the other 50% are the tech people themselves (and I'm one of them). By that, I mean, we also have to be willing to take the time and educate management/people on what it is we do...show them a step by step process, show them how much of a pain it is to deal with 100 employees with tech problems that need hand holding and still somehow be expected to concentrate and complete all of our projects by deadline.
The other problem that causes unhappiness for tech people are the actual people that we're trying to serve. Yes, it's a job. Yes, it might pay well. Yes, some of really DO care about what we do. But when you're basically doing customer service all day long and catering to the needs of hunderds/thousands of people on a daily basis who typically have NO idea what they're asking for or what they did wrong then it becomes frustrating. Hand-holding is not easy. Sure, we have to do it...but if people need to be willing to read the "help" before calling and try to understand it themselves. Unfortunately most people don't do that simply b/c they HAVE a tech support department. They can easily pick up the phone and call someone to fix they're problem magically. There's no incentive for them to try and do it themselves.
Essentially everyone is to blame in some fashion. But I think the most important thing is getting management to understand what we do and how hard it is to accomplish. If they could truly see that and understand it...maybe watch us for an entire day...then they would have a greater appreciation for what we do and would understand why we need certain tools/technologies to accomplish our jobs.
spydrlink@...7th Aug 2007 -
Feedback and self worth
I thin part of the problem is that IT is so broad, that managers can come from different disciplines, and they may not understand exactly what is being achieved in an area different from their own background.
Another thing about IT compared with other professions, is that its a very black and white profession. When users click their application, it either works or it doesnt. When users try to login remotely after having their new vpn client installed, they either can or they cant. When an upgrade is done to the new file server, they can either access their old files or they cant. And when a new print driver is installed, they can either get their documents or they cant.
Many other professions and trades have a large element of grey that their proponents can hide behind, and the feedback mechanism isnt anywhere near as sharp.
I think that techies have a hard time generally because their subject matter is under so much more scrutiny, simply because of the feedback mechanism.
I'm now in a senior managerial role. I deal with techies every day, and I know noone is perfect. I try to provide some latitude, but there are very often issues that techies bring with them to the workplace that they need to resolve themselves.
I also think that the workplace is changing, and people need to take more reponsibility for their own careers. I you really want that certification, then go and get it. I did it many times in the past with no assistance from my employers, and I'm very happy with where I've wound up so far.
If you are proactive about your career, then you will feel more in control, and will feel as though where you are is a result of your own actions, rather than being where the ebb and flow of the company takes you.
It doesnt always work out, but I'd rather have as much control over my career as possible.
roberto_maietta@...7th Aug 2007 -
Dream job
I think maybe it's because few people go into things such as hairdressing for the money. Most people become hairdressers because they are passionate about it and want to do it.
More people tend to go into IT because it's a bigger market and there's money in it, etc, and not necessarily because they enjoy it.
imperfection7th Aug 2007 -
Most people do it for the money
There is money to be had in hair dressing. $100 or more an hour plus tips isn't bad considering that hair dressers need only take a 5 month couse then put X amount of hours apprenticing before they can run their own salons where they get 100% of the profits and get the profits from product sales to boot.
Hair dressers on commision don't make as much. They get commision at 40% most often. So that $100 per hour they only see $40 and out of the $40 comes the cost of product. What remains is still pretty good. $25-$30 is better than minimum wage. Of course if they aren't good at their job they won't get many clients. Also so would working in shop that has few clients and little chance for walk ins.
Seems to me like a job to get into for the money. You won't be out much getting into the career. Not like getting a post secondary education to be a tech and putting in the grunt time for low pay to get the experience.
I know a bit about hair dressing as my wife was a Hair dresser and she quit to become a book keeper for less pay per hour but better hours. Hours such as weekends off and evenings off.
voska7th Aug 2007 -
I know the feeling
Back when I started as a programmer, May 13, 1974, I loved my job. I remember thinking that I couldn't believe I got paid to do something I enjoyed. Now, every day I have to force myself to go to work. So, why don't I find another career? Like the article said, now I'm in it for the money.
Azathoth7th Aug 2007 -
Complete understandable.
When you only get noticed when things go wrong doesn't make for a happy job.
Here's the rub. If things are going good then you are happy then you might get that pink slip. Since things are working so well, why do they need you around? After all they aren't noticing any of the work you might be doing. Now if things are going wrongs then people see you working because they aren't until you fix it. This makes for miserable working conditions if it persists due to too much overtime and stress. Now if you hate your job already this just makes it that much worse.
I've been in a job where we did our job well. We were very proactive and things were never down for the user. We did most of our work when the users was out of the office. So this gave us a lot opportunity to do things that need to be done. The users never so a blip but we worked hard to achieve this. Then Management decides they don't need us since the system never has any problems. The question is why pay us to be there for system that works so well. If a problem does arise they can pay a consultant to fix it, if that ever happens. Needless to say I lost my job and everything went to hell in hand basket because we were there doing our jobs anymore. 6 months later they scrambled to hire everyone back but of course I got higher paying job elsewhere. The same concerns are seen here too. I like my job but a fear to do it too well.voska7th Aug 2007 -
When you take a job
for the only purpose of making lots of money and have no passion about the job, then is it really worth the misery for the extra money? In other words this kind of supports money can't buy you happiness... having enough to be comfortable is really all you need, everything else is a waste.
Linux User 1475607th Aug 2007 -
Who doesn't do it for the money?
I like my job but I do it for the money. If I didn't need the money I'd I ditch this job. There is something about working 8 hour days on schedule. Personally if I could work when I wanted as long as put X hours I'd be happier. I'd be even in happier if X hours was say 20 hours a week with the option to work more. Since that doesn't exist I'm stuck working for a pay cheque in regularly shifted 40 hour week plus overtime that is mandatory unless your refuse to much.voska7th Aug 2007 -
See I found a job I am passionate
about and make a fair wage... it's a matter of not settling for misery just for money. It's a nice way to shorten your life by 7-10 years. But if that's what you want... go for it! But I guarantee you will perform better and be happier at a job you are passionate about. Linux User 1475607th Aug 2007
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