Dissatisfied With Your Job? Here Are Your Options

Loving what you do increases your happiness and feeling of fulfilment.

But what if you don’t love your job?

According to research, job satisfaction in the UK remains dangerously low.

Overall, 54% of employees said they were happy with their jobs, and 46% were dissatisfied or neutral about their job.

Job dissatisfaction can be linked to a variety of factors, ranging from management style to pay and stress.

For many high-earners, job satisfaction has remained the same across the last few decades. Yet, the low-earners’ experience has dramatically worsened since the 1990s, when over 70% described themselves as satisfied with their jobs, as they earn enough for a living without facing the high-stress levels of other professionals.

What can you do about job satisfaction?

More than you think, actually.

Read on to find out what they are:

You can leave your job if it doesn’t meet your needs

Talk to your manager or supervisor about your dissatisfaction, and see if there’s anything they can do to meet your needs.

For example, they could offer a role in a new department, give you more responsibility in your current role, or pay for relevant training.

If they can’t meet your needs, leave whenever you find something more suitable.

Some people stay in a dissatisfying job if they think it will be hard to find something better. You may want to take some time to make that leap, and only leave when you have secured a great job elsewhere.

If you’re looking for a job, find a great recruitment agency that can sell you. Try specialist agencies that only work in your industry. Contact this professional communications recruitment agency if you’re looking for executive-level role in corporate communications, financial PR and sustainability communications.

Or you can simply go through job boards like Hiredonline to find the job relevant to your skillset in any industry.

Working with a recruitment agency will get you in front of your ideal company quicker.

You can ask for voluntary redundancy (and get a lump sum)

Redundancy doesn’t always have to be a term that’s loaded with fear. For some, it’s a rare opportunity to get some money and start again if your job is no longer working for you.

Read more about redundancy pay, also known as the settlement agreement, and why do you need it.

How much money you get will depend on the years of employment, your salary, and your age. It’s common that people in bigger companies who’ve worked in one place for 10+ years, get around £30,000 in a lump sum. That’s a great amount of cash to have a little break and take some time to find the job or your dreams or retrain.

Your reasons for voluntary redundancy could include:

• new technology or a new system has made your job unnecessary
• the job you were hired for no longer exists
• the need to cut costs means staff numbers must be reduced
• the business is closing down or moving

If you are entitled to statutory redundancy pay the calculation is based on:

• how long you have been continuously employed
• your age
• your weekly pay, up to a certain limit (£594 current maximum)

You should check your employment contract to see if your employer offers a more generous redundancy package.

You can strike if you work in the public sector

If your work in the public sector, workers who are grappling with dissatisfaction and inflation face a serious issue: wage value has fallen steadily for over 10 years. For union members, the only way forward is to get heard through organised striking actions. Most unions even have a strike pay system, ensuring workers can still meet their basic needs even on strike. Yet, with increased costs of living, this isn’t a valuable option.

You can start a business on the side

Starting a side business while working full-time might sound impossible, but it can be done.

Side hustle ventures are a fantastic way to get started in the world of entrepreneurship.

For instance, you can carry on working while building a successful presence.

Many solo entrepreneurs consider learning additional skills if it won’t lead to a pay raise or promotion, at least, it will keep them fresh and up-to-date with current trends that can be used to establish their brands.

More importantly, a profitable side hustle venture can expand and even replace your full-time career, giving you finally the job satisfaction you needed.