What Makes an Employee Happy

And How It’s Not Always About the Pay

I used to think I have it all when it comes to my job. I have a competitive salary package. I have a boss who attends to our needs while giving challenging tasks. I get to go on trainings that help me hone my skills. I have friends whom I enjoy being with, and at the same time, don’t get to see a lot of during off-days, which I totally prefer. It’s not exactly near my place but I can manage. I don’t exactly get the schedule that I want but I can easily apply for leaves, as long as I have leave credits, so I can make plans and still have a life. In short, I was happy and contented. I love my job.

Then everything changed. To make a long story short, our department had to close and we all had to be transferred to other departments within the company, while retaining our positions. It was sad because I have been there ever since I started working. Five years. That’s how long I was there.

So I got transferred to a different account, with a location that’s much farther from my house. I got a fixed schedule with weekends off, which was great except that with this new schedule, I have to deal with the horrible Metro Manila traffic everyday. I had a bad first impression about my boss, which eventually changed when I learned about his quirky and funny side. Except that he usually holds meetings past our shift, which means that we had to go kThe work load? I can manage. Except for the part that it can get so toxic that barely get to take a breather.

Simply put, I am unhappy. I am unhappy because I miss my old colleagues. I miss my previous boss. I am unhappy because now I don’t have the luxury of working out or running before or after work, because of the over time. I am unhappy because I barely have time for other things except on weekends. Truth be told, I am uninspired. Despite the fact that I am being paid well, and more than enough for that matter, I feel demotivated. So at the end of the day, what makes an employee happy is not always the salary. Sometimes, it’s the people you work with. Sometimes, it’s whether or not your job allows you to have a life outside work. These may be little things, but sometimes, it’s these things that make an employee stay at a company.