Status: 12.10.2023, 17:30 PM
By: Franziska Kaindl
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A Reddit user wants to know more about other people's attitudes towards their job: Is it just to make money, or is it also to socialize?
If you look around among your colleagues or employees, you will quickly notice that there are different motivations for the job: Some see it as a means to an end in order to receive a paycheck at the end of the month for rent, groceries or vacations. Christmas parties or after-work events are not important to them, or even a nuisance. Others, on the other hand, want their work to be fulfilling or at least to have a good working atmosphere – for which they sometimes give up a euro or two. A user recently wanted to find out what German employees think about their job on the discussion platform Reddit. The reactions were sometimes very different.
Attitude to work: Motivation only by salary or more?
Working from home, little contact with colleagues, calling it a day as soon as all tasks are done – that's how user ItemSure feels about his own job, according to a Reddit post – and he wouldn't want it any other way. Nevertheless, he is interested to find out whether others feel the same way: "Does someone here only work for the salary and has no other connection to work?" he wants to know. It turns out that he is not completely alone. Here are a few of the comments from users who share his opinion:
- "Yes, of course, but I'm also in the public sector. I enjoy my work, but other than that, I don't care. As soon as my work laptop is off, I don't waste a thought on work. I don't work overtime, I don't participate in summer parties or Christmas parties. I just want to have as much free time as possible."
- "Well, that's how everyone feels here – including the boss. Even during the interview, he told me that we were all here just to earn money. Finally no bullshit."
- "Yes, sure. I'm just there to make money. I don't feel like any events, meeting on weekends, etc. I don't need any social contact with my work colleagues, especially since I haven't been anywhere for more than 1-2 years anyway."
Building as little attachment as possible – that's what some employees value on the job. (Symbolic image) © Westend61/Imago
Some other users take a more nuanced view of the matter – a good relationship with colleagues seems desirable, but not a must. Others, on the other hand, like to spend time with them, even after work, or take a long commute to talk to them in the office. This is shown by the following user comments, among others:
- "So let's put it this way, work is work for me. If I get along well with colleagues, I don't mind doing something privately from time to time. But I see it as a bonus and not as a prerequisite for my work."
- "I spend so much time there, then I want to feel comfortable."
- "Well, I like to have contact with my colleagues if I get along well with them. I even voluntarily drive to the office once a week just to socialize."
- "I like going to work, I have fun there. Of course, at the end of the day, I go to work to earn money, but if I like to have fun with colleagues in my private life, there's nothing wrong with that."
- "I'm happy to go to work. I find it boring when there is nothing to do. I've already done something privately with several colleagues. I often reflect after work on what went well and what went badly, I often talk about it and also define myself as a person through it."
Recent surveys show what employees value on the job
What is really important to employees on the job has already been the subject of various surveys in the past. Here, a somewhat clearer picture emerges than on the discussion platform – apparently more people tend to get along well with their colleagues than simply pay attention to their salary. A recent job study by the consulting firm EY, for example, showed that a good relationship with colleagues is an important motivating factor for 58 percent of respondents. A good working atmosphere is important to 58 percent. Astonishingly, a high salary leads to more motivation for only 33 percent of the participants, and for success bonuses it is only one in ten.
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A survey of thousands of employees in Europe by HubSpot on hybrid working shows a similar picture. 52 percent of employees would prefer a good relationship with their colleagues to a 63 percent raise. In Germany, this phenomenon is even more present: almost two-thirds of employees (37 percent) attach more importance to a good relationship with colleagues than to receiving a higher salary (48 percent). In addition, <> percent of German employees who work hybrid like to go to the office to meet team members.