Filipinos Are Less Happy in The Workplace in Asia

Introduction

According to CNN Philippines (2017), a company’s style of management is a leading cause of unhappiness among Filipino employees. CNN Philippines also reported that the online employment portal Jobstreet.com presented its 2017 Happiness Index report on October 25, 2017, stating that the lack of career development and training opportunities are the top reasons why Filipinos are unhappy with their workplace. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being extremely unhappy and 10 extremely happy, Filipinos averaged 4.97 this year, a slight drop from 2016's 5.25 score. Jobstreet.com country manager Philip Gioca said, "This is a good wake-up call to them (employers) that the situation is not getting better; in fact, it is getting worse."

Factors Influencing Job Happiness

Jobstreet.com surveyed more than 9,326 respondents over a one-month period from July 31 to August 31 in 2017. Respondents were asked what would make them happier in the next six months, and 33% said a salary increase would make them happier, while 23% wished to resign or get a new job. Relationships with co-workers were cited as the top reason for their happiness. According to Gioca, the factors that drive job happiness or unhappiness among Filipino workers differed depending on age and career stage. Gioca also explained, "We have to understand that the workplace is composed of different generations. It would be best if managers can get to the heart of why this is happening as each company's DNA is unique." Regarding position level, the top executives have the highest happiness score, followed by fresh graduates, according to CNN Philippines (2017). The baby boomers like work because of the schedule, while younger workers consider work relationships and work location as important. Meanwhile, a lack of career development and training opportunities made older employees dissatisfied. Millennials are also discouraged by the same factors, along with poor pay. Gioca added, "One of the key takeaways should be that management should be able to address a communication line between their employees." With the drop in job satisfaction among Filipinos, the Philippines slides down to 3rd from 1st in 2016, compared with six other Asian countries. Job satisfaction is highest in Indonesia (5.27), followed by Vietnam (5.19), the Philippines (4.97), Malaysia (4.65), Thailand (4.55), Hong Kong (4.45), and Singapore (4.31).

Job Satisfaction Report

According to Jobstreet.com Philippines' Job Satisfaction Report (2017), 70% of Filipino employees are happy with their jobs, leaving only 30% who consider themselves unhappy. This satisfaction level is primarily because 15% of employees consider themselves "very happy" and 55% "quite happy," while 25% consider themselves "quite unhappy," and the remaining 5% "very unhappy" with their jobs. The report also reveals that the level of happiness among employees decreases as they climb the corporate ladder. Fresh graduates are happiest at 79%, followed by junior executives (70%), supervisors (67%), and directors (68%), while managers scored the lowest percentage of happy employees at 66%. The levels of satisfaction also see a marked decrease as employees stay longer in their jobs. Those who have stayed in their companies for less than a year are most satisfied at 75%, followed by those who have stayed from one to three years at 72%, while only 65% of those with longer tenure of three to five years are happy, and only 62% of those who have stayed with the company for more than five years consider themselves happy. When asked why they are satisfied with their jobs, 64% of respondents claim to be happy with the salary, company benefits, and incentives they are provided with, while job role is second at 62%, and career growth and the company’s learning and development programs come in third at 60%. The report also notes that the various drivers of job satisfaction differ in popularity according to position levels. Among fresh graduates, the primary reason for job satisfaction is salary, company benefits, and incentives. Junior executives and supervisors claim pleasant relationships with colleagues and bosses as their primary driver of job satisfaction, while managers and directors prioritize satisfaction with their job roles. On the other hand, employees who changed jobs in the past three years say they left because they were dissatisfied with the salaries, benefits, and incentives provided to them. Only directors expressed dissatisfaction with their company’s working environment, culture, and reputation as the primary reason they changed jobs. It was also found that 90% of those who changed jobs think they made the right decision, and 59% became happier. 50% of junior executives have plans of switching positions in the next 12 months, followed by managers at 48%, and supervisors and directors at 47% and 44%, respectively. Only 40% of fresh graduates are looking forward to a new job within a year, as 33% claim that they are still undecided about the path or career they are pursuing.

Conclusion

According to Manila Bulletin (2017), Filipinos are generally known for having positive, optimistic attitudes in life, reflected in their sunny disposition. Based on research conducted in 2017, 78% of respondents answered either very good or somewhat good when asked to rate the Philippines' current economic situation. The Manila Bulletin also highlights that, as of today, especially millennials who are working, don't stay long in one job but move from job to job. These millennials are distracted and not focused on what they are doing because there are so many sources of distraction and entertainment open to them. Therefore, the goal of the human resources department is to attract, retain, motivate, and improve the experience of today’s generation. By understanding the unique needs and preferences of different generations, companies can create a more satisfying and engaging work environment for all employees.

References:

• CNN Philippines. (2017, October 25). Filipinos Are Less Happy in The Workplace in Asia. CNN Philippines. https://cnnphilippines.com
• Jobstreet.com Philippines. (2017). Job Satisfaction Report. Jobstreet.com. https://www.jobstreet.com.ph
• Manila Bulletin. (2017). Filipino Work Attitudes and Job Satisfaction. Manila Bulletin. https://www.mb.com.ph