Monday, March 12, 2012

Feeling Valued at Work Linked to Well-Being & Performance, APA Survey Finds


A survey by American Psychological Association (APA) found that employees who feel valued at work are more likely to report better physical and mental health, as well as higher levels of engagement, satisfaction and motivation, compared to those who do not feel valued by their employers. The survey found that more than one in five (21%) working Americans said they do not feel valued by their employers.

  • 93% of those who feel valued by their employers said that they are motivated to do their best at work, versus 33% of those who do not feel valued.
  • 88% of valued employees reported feeling engaged, versus 38% of those who do not feel valued.
  • 21% of employees who feel valued said they intend to look for a new job in the next year, versus 50% of those who do not feel valued.
The survey also found that two out of five employees (41%) reported typically feeling stress at work. Commonly cited causes of workplace stress include low salaries (46%), lack of opportunity for growth or advancement (41%), too heavy a workload (41%), long hours (37%) and unclear job expectations (35%).

APA offers resources to employers for creating a psychologically healthy workplace, including information on employee involvement, work-life balance, employee growth and development, safety and health, and employee recognition.