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A recent survey examines views on how satisfied Polish employees are with aspects of their work. It shows that 78% are generally happy at work, while 81% consider their job important and that it has significance. However, only 57% thought their work allowed them to use all their skills and just under a third of respondents were unhappy with their wages. In general, respondents were likely to be more positive about the fulfilment they get from work than about the stability of their job.
In January 2013, the Polish Public Opinion Research Centre (CBOS) carried out a survey, Satisfaction With Work and its Evaluation’. The survey was based on a representative random sample of 1,227 adult Polish workers, and aimed to examine their views about how happy they were with their work.
According to the survey, the majority (78%) of economically active respondents were ‘satisfied’ or ‘rather satisfied’ with their jobs.
General satisfaction with work has been increasing gradually over the last nine years, from 61% of respondents in 1994, to 64% in 1998, 77% in 2006 and to 78% in 2009 and 2012.
Those most satisfied with their work were also the highest earners, with 88% of this group describing themselves as satisfied and 9% not satisfied. The survey showed that among middle-rank personnel or technicians, 87% were satisfied with work while 6% were not satisfied. Overall, 85% were satisfied with the overall financial situation in their households, while 7% were not satisfied.
Lower levels of satisfaction (taken in this survey to also mean particularly high dissatisfaction with work) were more likely to be expressed by people who were not happy with their financial situation (60% satisfied, 24% not satisfied), by employees between 18 and 24 years of age (67% satisfied, 22% not satisfied) and by those employed in administrative posts or as office workers (75% satisfied, 16% not satisfied).
Figure 1: General satisfaction with work
Source: Public Opinion Research Centre 2013.
Workers had positive opinions about several different aspects of work, but respondents gave more positive assessments of issues linked to the performance of fulfilling tasks than they did to those linked with financial reward.
The vast majority of workers (81%) believed that they performed important and significant tasks, that their job required learning new things and developing skills (75%), and that the work they did was interesting (73%). Slightly fewer respondents said their job gave them a sense of stability and certainty of employment (64%), that it allowed them to use all their qualifications and skills (57%), and that the job was a good match for their level of education (55%).
Respondents were least satisfied with their earnings. Only 45% agreed that they were well paid and, again, 45% of workers were happy with the social benefits offered in their workplaces. This included such things as financial support for holidays, private medical care, help towards sport activities, and the creation of childcare facilities.
Figure 2: Assessment of different aspects of work
Notes: ‘yes’ and ‘yes, somewhat’ answers were combined; ‘no’ and ‘on the whole, no’ answers were also combined.
Source: Public Opinion Research Centre 2013.
The number of workers giving a positive opinion about various aspects of work was shown to have increased markedly over the past 20 years. Although Polish employees were generally more pleased with the self-realisation aspects of their work rather than the material aspects, it should be emphasised that the most radical increase in satisfaction is linked to earnings and social benefits.
| 1994 | 1997 | 1998 | 2006 | 2009 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings are satisfactory | 11% | 13% | 18% | 36% | 40% | 45% |
| Social benefits are satisfactory | 22% | 19% | 19% | 30% | 41% | 45% |
| Job is in line with my with education | - | - | - | 59% | 56% | 55% |
| Job allows me to use my skills/ qualifications | 61% | 59% | 58% | 61% | 60% | 57% |
| Job gives me a sense of stability/ certainty of employment | 52% | 51% | 44% | 61% | 62% | 64% |
| Job is interesting | 60% | 59% | 66% | 76% | 72% | 73% |
| Job requires me to learn new things/ develop skills | - | - | - | - | 72% | 75% |
| I perform important and significant tasks | 55% | 52% | 53% | 78% | 76% | 81% |
Notes: Answers ‘yes’ and ‘yes, somewhat’ were combined
Source: Public Opinion Research Centre 2013
The average level of satisfaction for self-realisation in the workplace is higher than respondents’ average satisfaction with the stability of their job. Self realisation refers to the importance of tasks performed, need for continuous learning, use of qualifications and education, and interest in the job. Stability refers to matters such as earnings, social benefits, and certainty of employment.
The largest discrepancy between those two areas was identified among workers unhappy with their material situation, who had elementary education, were over 54 years of age, had the lowest household income, and lived in rural areas.
The highest work satisfaction was expressed by employees working for state and public institutions and in the private sector regarding the performance of important tasks. Those working in the public sector were most content that they had the chance to develop skills and learn new things. They also found their jobs particularly interesting and significant. However, along with those working on farms, they were least happy with their earnings.
| Public or government institution | State-owned or private company | Private sector (without agriculture) | Agricultural holding/farm | Total | |
| Performance of important and significant tasks | 4.16 | 3.93 | 3.96 | 4.08 | 4.02 |
| Job is interesting | 4.16 | 3.74 | 3.89 | 3.91 | 3.93 |
| Job gives good earnings | 3.01 | 3.25 | 3.28 | 2.73 | 3.13 |
| Job gives sense of stability and certainty of employment | 3.67 | 3.48 | 3.56 | 3.73 | 3.59 |
| Job gives opportunity to use qualifications and skills | 3.78 | 3.27 | 3.23 | 3.42 | 3.38 |
| Guarantees satisfactory social benefits | 3.52 | 3.26 | 2.83 | 2.15 | 2.99 |
| Job in line with education | 3.99 | 3.14 | 2.97 | 3.1 | 3.25 |
| Job requires learning new things and developing skills | 4.22 | 3.76 | 3.87 | 3.89 | 3.9 |
| Total | 4.04 | 3.83 | 4.01 | 3.83 | 3.95 |
Notes: Scale 1-5, 1=not satisfied at all, 5=very satisfied
Source: Public Opinion Research Centre 2013
Although Poles are still only moderately satisfied with the material aspects of their work, the number of people happy with their earnings and satisfied with their social benefits has increased enormously between 1994 and 2013. It should also be stressed that the economic crisis has not halted the rise in the number of positive answers.
Public Opinion Research Centre (2013), Satisfaction with work and its evaluation, Warsaw.
Marianna Zieleńska, Institute of Public Affairs