The Work-Life Dovetail Dilemma

Some people claim they can easily leave their job concerns and stress at the office at the end of each workday.  I believe that is easier said than done. How we regard our job, boss, employer, or career will have, at least, some effect on our private life.  Ok, so that’s not groundbreaking news. However, I am advancing the belief that pervasive job dissatisfaction or disengagement impacts much more than the unhappy employee.

In recent years, much has been communicated about the widespread lack of employee engagement in the US workforce. Employee engagement can be defined as the measure of pride, a sense of ownership, emotional investment, and energy that an employee brings to their job and gives their employer. According to Gallup, nearly 70% of US employees are either “not engaged”, or are actively disengaged.”  By any standard, that is a lot of bored, indifferent, or disenchanted workers who are not achieving their potential and are ill serving their employers. The reasons for this issue are many and I’ll discuss in another post.

In their private lives, disengaged workers are more stressed and less engaged spouses, parents, siblings, and friends. We know one’s mood influences their job performance.  Disengaged employees are less healthy, less productive, more error-prone and absent than their engaged colleagues. The Bureau of National Affairs reported that the annual cost of employee turnover (an outcome of employee disengagement) is $11 Billion. Gallup reported that companies with engaged employees outperformed those without by up to 202% annually.

Our work and private selves are more dovetailed than we may care to admit.  Long term disengagement with a job or career has a widespread and costly impact.  It harms one’s self-image, personal relationships, job performance, morale, employer profitability, and the overall economy! 

That should be ample motivation to tackle important life and career changes for a future of purpose and reward.  It is never too late!