The UK has never had higher levels of work-based stress and depression. In order to counter this, the nation has to find a way to be happy in its work.
The pursuit of money and profit is the defining characteristic of the western world in our age. Statistics, however, show that despite our increasing wealth, our happiness is at an all-time low.
Work-Related StressAccording to a United Nations report, work currently kills more people than war. There are approximately two million people per year who die due to occupational injuries and illnesses, more than three times the average number killed in warfare each year. The British Medical Journal (Oct 2002) has found that people with stressful jobs are twice as likely to die from heart disease than those who are content in their jobs. This is because long-term stress like that created from many of today's jobs is worse for your heart than gaining 3 stone in weight or ageing by 30 years. Moreover, going into work whilst feeling ill (as opposed to taking sick leave) doubles the risk of heart disease for 35-40% of the population.
What these statistics tell us is that, as a nation, we really should not put as much emphasis on our careers. Far more important to happiness are our family and friends, the way we spend our leisure time, the amount of our leisure time, and the fufillment that one feels in their jobs. According to a recent survey, being a hairdresser is the most fulfilling occupation. This is no doubt helped by the fact that they get to make idle conversation all day, are part of a community, and meet lots of interesting people. It is not surprising to note that the least happy profession is that of administration, currently the biggest sector in the UK today.
Job SatisfactionWith statistics like these, it is quite clear that the current social trend for working longer hours to make as much money as possible is doing people more harm than good. UK government research shows that 1 in 6 people are working more than 60 hours per week. However, in a quest for job satisfaction, one should perhaps forget about the pursuit of money and instead concentrate on doing something that they enjoy. Job satisfaction comes from a meaningful and fulfilling career, from pursuing one's interests and doing something that suits one's strengths.
The majority of people, when asked, will state that they hate their jobs and only go to work to pay their bills. The Happy Planet Index - an alternate way of measuring the well-being of people to the government's economic measures of GDP - contradicts this with research which finds that once a person has reached an income of around £11,000 per annum, or minimum wage, then happiness does not go up relative to a higher income. Once £11,000 has been reached, the only factors that make for happiness are family, friends, leisure and job fulfillment. The message here is to live life to its full and find work that offers fulfillment. Only then will one be truly happy in their job.
