news feature
Job Satisfaction: How Happy Are You?
Over 130 people from all across the 12-volt industry were surveyed about various aspects of their workplace happiness. Several of those surveyed were asked to weigh in on the outcome, giving opinions with some surprising results. WORDS BY TED GOSLIN
In 1987, the Conference Board, a New York-based nonprofit research group conducted a job satisfaction survey. Since then, the survey has become a regular occurrence, the most recent conducted in 2014. In its first year, 61 percent of workers said they liked their jobs. That number fell over the years, reaching an all-time low in 2010 after the Great Recession with only 42.6 percent satisfied with their jobs. The survey went on to cover various elements of a person’s job including job security, wages, vacation policies, health and retirement plans and sick leave, among others. All elements pointed to a downward trend, showing that workers were happier in 1987 than they are today.
12 Mobile Electronics June 2016
Mobile Electronics recently sent out a similar survey to try to identify how the industry feels about many such elements. 41 questions were asked with topics that included professional development, career advancement, enthusiasm for work, overall shop attitude, compensation, relationship between management and employees, various benefits and job security, among others. The majority of those surveyed are owners (40 percent) with lead installation technicians coming in second (15 percent) and regular installers (10 percent) coming in third. 131 people were surveyed in total. The survey reflected opinions from some of the top retailers and installers in the industry, including Top 12 list-makers
Jeff Cantrell of 660 Audio, Josh Mojica of GNC Customs and Matt Cropper of Stereo King. As an industry, finding quality employees has been one of the most talked-about struggles of the modern age. To solve it, various industry participants were interviewed to gather their take on what the information represents and how best to use it to improve the industry’s practices related to job satisfaction.
Work Hard, Play Harder Out of 113 people surveyed on being satisfied with opportunities for professional growth, 42 (about 37 percent) are satisfied. At the same time, while 30 percent agree they are pleased with the career advancement opportunities