How To Make Workers Happy By Susan Adams
It’s no surprise workers are unhappy in this economy. Sure, there are bits of good news, like today’s report that private employers hired 222,000 in February, the most since last April. The jobless rate has inched down to 8.9%, according to the Labor Department, which seems like a positive sign. But the official unemployment number is based on a survey where people report that they’ve looked for a job in the last four weeks. Plenty of folks have given up looking, or are working part-time when they wish they had a full-time job, which means that the true number of unemployed in America is much higher. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this broader number as “U-6.” In February the U-6 unemployment rate was 15.9%. With joblessness running that high, it’s no surprise that workers remain at their posts, even when they feel disgruntled. A survey released today by consulting firm Accenture showed that only 43% of women and 42% of men were satisfied in their jobs, yet nearly...