Sadly, it is all to familiar. You work your heart and soul out for a company to be rewarded with nothing at the end of the day beyond your base salary - no bonus or annual increment in salary in line with inflation, no recognition or reward of any kind...and at the same time you see select senior executives or managers getting these "extras" for doing very little.

It's no wonder that a growing part of the workfoce is becoming more and more disgruntled with their lot. Loyalty is a 2 edged sword, that cuts both ways. Lots of companies seem to either forgotten this or choose to ignore it.

Executive compensation is a national disgrace, a financial obscenity. Most American executives are just egomaniacal psycopaths, full of hot air and void of any human decency. You want engaged workers? We'll be engaged when those bastards start showing a shade of morality.

This study reveals some great news for companies who differentiate themselves by being employers of choice. In the future, the companies that will have the greatest competitive edge will be those who respect and nurture their most valuable assets and provide the vision, inspiration and environment that will support them. A motivated and engaged workforce will deliver greater productivity and innovative products and services. I see a major opportunity for employee focused companies to take a giant leap ahead of their competitors. Take care of your employees and they will take care of the business.

I think it's interesting that we talk a lot about "engaged" workers but not about engaging work. I hope that these studies will spark the conversation about what we're working so hard for rather than about how we create meaning for meaningless work. I long for the day when American business means meaningful business done in meaningful ways-- when CEOs won't have to pretend that there's more to life than the bottom line because their companies are actually doing something that matters in ways that matter. Imagine going to work everyday knowing that what you're doing is really worth giving your life to? Now THAT'S engaging!

In the knowledge economy no company can survive without engaged individuals.

Without them you cannot create value in the long run.

Great comment from Jason Jaggard. I agree!

An old adage still rings true... there is dignity in any job done well. This disaffected group wants the diginity without the effort.

Try employing them. Most need basic remedial training, they have poor manners in general and even less of a clue about business/service etiquette, and they carry a sense of entitlement about what they are and aren't willing to do.

Bill Gates said it well in his commencement address... these disaffected kids need to get a grip on the real world.

D

Many, only once or twice in their lives, get to be involved with a start-up company, enjoying the fast pace and unknowns, wearing different "hats" 10 times a day. I don't think there is anything more captivating or invigorating than watching something that you have helped create, grow into an international success.

Unfortunately, all four of the start-ups I have been involved in have become giants of the industry and, having become the monster that we built, are teetering on the edge of the economic cliff, having lost the entrepreneurial spirit that made them a success. Where did the people go that had that spirit, you ask? They went out the door when the MBAs came in.

I have worked for over 40 years in the telecommunications industry, from stepping offices, to the latest opitcal technology. There were times that we couldn't depend on Corporate to answer our questions so we had to use our minds. Our job descriptions were thrown out the door because there was no position for what we were doing...and never enough time to do it. There were times when I would fly to Los Angeles, from SFO, 3 times in 24 hours because the technology was changing that quickly.

Yes, in a rush to save every penny, corporations have jumped over the very value of their company...the people that endured the start-up.

I'm in the "disaffected" generation of workers who definitely desires engaging work to keep me interested. Yet, I realize that chances are slim that I'll always do work that is wholly captivating and exciting. So, I follow this principle to make sure I'm working for the correct reason & person, and with the right attitude:

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (Colossians 3:23-24)

I have two jobs while working on gaining escape trajectory for my chosen career in the entertainment industry in my "spare time."

One of my jobs has drawn me back into the dreary cubicle life, working for a VP/COO at a non-profit that simply doesn't know how to properly utilize my skills, so I end up directionless most weeks, fulfilling various needs, but never feeling part of something bigger. If it weren't for the fact that she went to bat for a juicy salary and has been very flexible about my time, I'd be gone, but I'd still like to be more engaged by this job.

My other job involves 7 different job descriptions, having evolved from one to multiple duties over the past two years, as I apply for promotions or am requested to take on supervisory work. On one hand, this demonstrates that my managers recognize ability and reward it with job growth and variety, which keeps me from being bored. However, the job does not pay well (half what my other job pays), and it may be tough to stay there in the long run. I know one manager has the potential to capitalize on my own potential, and it seems he recognize my uniqueness, which is a huge intangible plus for me, but I feel like I'm always going to be at this cusp without realizing any serious gains. Due to the financial restrictions of working at a giant multi-national company, I feel like I'm limited in my ability to earn what I'm worth and that my manager is limited in his ability to compensate me equitably. Thanks to my job title, I'm more or less seen on a cost spreadsheet as being a line item, and not as an individual with added value. That can also become dis-'engaging.' Consequently, if they lose me, and others like me, they will continue to retain the status quo, which leads to stagnation.

When companies put the bottom line ahead of challenging, growing and compensating their workers, they risk losing the engine that could grow the corporation.

One thread that seems to run through all of these comments is a sense of dependence on the company. Until the "good" companies differentiate themselves from the "Scrooge" companies that only exploit their employees, an employee must look on his company as suspect and unreliable. Better yet, workers at any level, in any company should not depend on the company, but use it to gain skills and experience. By all means a worker should keep a daily diary of his accomplishments for the company and, more importantly, for himself. In other words the employee is using the company to build a dossier of his/her best work. While polishing and growing skills and experience, the employee should be networking like crazy, that is from strength while working, not when you're out of a job. All this effort in one's own behalf puts you on the road to your next best move. Anyone who works should always be working toward the next best move for him/herself. Loyalty to yourself is your primary responsibility and the only loyalty you can count on. Don't work scared, always be using the company to set up your next best move. That's all that counts in today's company/employee relationships. You may even find work you love, here and there.

I worked for a company for 25 years. I'm not sure when it happened, but somewhere during year 24 my worth came into question. Two weeks after my 25th anniversary with the company, I was laid off. It was the most devastating day of my life. I tried to greet each new day with a smile. I never took time off without checking workload and the schedule for other employees. I very seldom called in sick. Yet, one day, I was ushered out the door like I had made no contributions to this company in all those years.
I don't hold any animosity, though. I learned a lot there, and I made some good friends. But, I'm realistic. I'm not there anymore and will soon be forgotten. Although, they did ask me to come back and train the employees that were left to pick up the slack when I left.
Now any job I get from this point on, will be just a job. Years ago I told my dad I'd gotten a temporary job at some company. He looked at me and quite seriously asked, 'Aren't all jobs temporary?' I didn't see it then, but I do now.
Thanks for letting me vent.