Who's happier on the job, men or women?
Bankrate.com

How happy is your staff? It probably depends on how many of your employees are women.

Women find more fulfillment in their jobs, according to a nationwide survey by the Gallup Organization. And that trend is growing.

Gallup's 2001 survey of worker satisfaction found that all employees, regardless of gender, are more content -- up 4 percent -- with their jobs compared to 2000. Perhaps, researchers say, a slumping economy made everyone's job look better. But when broken out by gender, the job satisfaction rate among women rose at twice that for men: up 6 percent for women vs. 3 percent for men.

As for job engagement (being committed to and involved with their work), more than a third of female workers report that they were engaged with their jobs, compared to only a quarter of their male counterparts.

Gallup also found women less likely to be categorized as fundamentally disconnected, a classification that accounts for the bulk of a business's least-productive employees. Only 11 percent of women fit this category, whereas 17 percent of the men did.

Happier at home, too
Workplace contentment also seems to transfer to off-the-clock hours. Gallup reports that 39 percent of the women surveyed were happy with their personal lives, compared to 35 percent of the men.

Job satisfaction is an emotional work component that translates into real bottom-line dollars. Employers know from experience that happy employees are better employees.

Gallup research bears this out, reporting that satisfied employees are proud of the work they do, are loyal to the company and generally are more productive. Happier workers tend to tout the company and its products and plan to stay with the firm for the long haul.

Are your workers satisfied with their jobs? Have you noticed a direct correlation between disgruntled workers and productivity? Have you seen a noticeable difference in the job satisfaction (and productivity) of your male and female staff?

-- Updated: Dec. 13, 2002