‘Happiness Index’ survey: Why Thai workers are more glum

By The Nation

 

 

In its “2017 Happiness Index Report” released this week, jobsDB (Thailand) said the three key factors in keeping employees content were convenience in their work location, their employer’s reputation, and their relationships with colleagues.
 

In a survey of 1,108 workers, 60 per cent of respondents said they were happy with their work, for an average ranking of 4.55 points on the “happiness index”. 

 

The happiest workers were in management (4.95 points), administration and human resources (4.94), engineering (4.86), IT (4.74) and transportation (4.73).

 

Compared to their counterparts in Hong Kong, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, Thais ranked fifth, slipping two spots from last year. 

 

Indonesia was at 5.27 points, Vietnam at 5.19, the Philippines at 4.97, Malaysia at 4.65, Hong Kong at 4.45 and Singapore at 4.31.

 

In Thailand, the least happy workers were fresh graduates and employees with less than a year’s experience, together scoring 4.35 points, followed by people with 1-4 years’ experience at 4.45 points. 

 

Top executives scored best, with an average of 5.19 points, while managers averaged 4.64 and supervisors 4.54.

 

Asked what would make them happier in the next six months, 37 per cent of the Thai respondents hoped for better opportunities and jobs elsewhere, 20 per cent were prepared to remain with their current job if they got a raise, and 8 per cent wanted more recognition or a promotion.

 

In the past, workers tended to prioritise job security, but now there is more ambition to rise to the executive level. 

 

Younger employees put a high premium on “inspiration” as a factor in choosing which company to join. They’re not afraid of leaving their comfort zone. 

 

However, both generations share keen interest in having a convenient work location, a company with a good reputation and good rapport with colleagues.

 

The factors that most make them want to quit are working with inefficient executives, chances elsewhere to advance in their careers and lacking challenges in the development of work skills.

 

Changes affecting the workforce in the past year have included the growth of the ageing society, robotics and AI technology, and startups attracting younger people who prefer to be self-employed.

 

There were also more young people using social media as earning tools.

 

The survey revealed that the key elements in retaining employees are to offer support and encouragement to enhance their capabilities, provide opportunities for career growth, and be able to see them as competent and successful role models.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30343573

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-20

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

The happiest workers were in management (4.95 points), administration and human resources (4.94), engineering (4.86), IT (4.74) and transportation (4.73).

What about asking people, who are actually working....and have to make ends meet on a 300 baht/day salary....

1 minute ago, JOC said:

What about asking people, who are actually working....and have to make ends meet on a 300 baht/day salary....

Did you do menial work before JOG, the people noted in the article do actually work but those with lower jobs often view those above them as not working. 

7 minutes ago, robblok said:

Did you do menial work before JOG, the people noted in the article do actually work but those with lower jobs often view those above them as not working. 

The headline says workers...

Here is The Cambridge Dictionary's definition of workers:

 

 

workers

[ plural ] specialized politics members of the working class (= a social group that consists of people who own little or no property and who have to work, usually doing physical work, to get money):

9 minutes ago, JOC said:

and have to make ends meet on a 300 baht/day salary..

And the entrepreneurial hard workers who have had their  roadside business dreams dashed..surely they have had the most "happiness" restored.

Positive spin was undoubted played out here (it was a Thai org) and so Thais are much MORE glum than this shows us. It's not scientific but every Thai I know is glum these days. Everything more expensive, no input to leadership and no one cares!  Hope it changes at some point.

2 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

Positive spin was undoubted played out here (it was a Thai org) and so Thais are much MORE glum than this shows us. It's not scientific but every Thai I know is glum these days. Everything more expensive, no input to leadership and no one cares!  Hope it changes at some point.

Don't lose hope my friend........We have the road map.....

39 minutes ago, JOC said:

The headline says workers...

Here is The Cambridge Dictionary's definition of workers:

 

 

workers

[ plural ] specialized politics members of the working class (= a social group that consists of people who own little or no property and who have to work, usually doing physical work, to get money):

 

Im sure you understand too that they just mean people who are employed by a company / boss. 

 

A worker is any individual who works for an employer, whether under a contract of employment, or any other contract where an individual undertakes to do personally any work or services.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

In Thailand, the least happy workers were fresh graduates and employees with less than a year’s experience, together scoring 4.35 points, followed by people with 1-4 years’ experience at 4.45 points.

Ah, the snowflake, we want it for free generation. 

Nothing very surprising in this report. It's all pretty much what one would expect.

Yet another totally insignificant survey taken from 1,108 respondents. Totally meaningless and unrepresentative from a Country that has a population of circa 70 million.... 

In my experience, the Thai work force responds well to fair or good treatment.  It helps if you make things fun.  If employees have low morale, then that is the fault of management.  Low morale equates to low productivity. 

 

We had a very very high profile project down in Singapore, and we bought parts from Thailand.  The factory was nothing to look at, but the people were great, and the workers seemed in rather good spirits from what I could see.  The manager took me to lunch, and he was quite pleasant and jovial.   His good vide must have rolled down hill.  I know most of the Thais I speak to are happy to have a job, not necessarily happy with the job.

Edited April 21, 20188 yr by yellowboat

16 hours ago, KiwiKiwi said:

Nothing very surprising in this report. It's all pretty much what one would expect.

 

No, it's surprising that the report claims their happiness is not all about the money, which is what we would expect here, 'cause we know. Another falsified report!

A little bit of common courtesy, and a " thank you " for a well done job, is greatly appreciated by many Thai workers who often feel under valued .

 

I often see the way that some Employers here treat their staff, and wonder how they get any people to work for them at all.

 

In the past, man management skills were pretty low on the priority list of many Employers, but thankfully, this attitude seems to be on the decline, which is good for the future.

 

 

19 hours ago, robblok said:

 

Im sure you understand too that they just mean people who are employed by a company / boss. 

 

A worker is any individual who works for an employer, whether under a contract of employment, or any other contract where an individual undertakes to do personally any work or services.

Valid as people who are self-employed are not considered workers in Thailand's unemployment statistics.

2 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Valid as people who are self-employed are not considered workers in Thailand's unemployment statistics.

 

Also workers are under employment, people who are self employed are not.  (just semantics)

 

I wonder who are happier, those self employed or those working for a boss. I have done the same job both self employed as for a boss. There is something to be said for both. Working for myself the money is better, working for a boss the problems and worries are less and holidays are real holidays.

4 hours ago, yellowboat said:

In my experience, the Thai work force responds well to fair or good treatment.  It helps if you make things fun.  If employees have low morale, then that is the fault of management.  Low morale equates to low productivity. 

 

We had a very very high profile project down in Singapore, and we bought parts from Thailand.  The factory was nothing to look at, but the people were great, and the workers seemed in rather good spirits from what I could see.  The manager took me to lunch, and he was quite pleasant and jovial.   His good vide must have rolled down hill.  I know most of the Thais I speak to are happy to have a job, not necessarily happy with the job.

Yeah bring a few cartoon books and a big pot of fish soup.