We hit the streets to discover if 6 out of 10 Hongkongers really are unhappy with their jobs

Do you have a job that you hate? If so, congratulations! You’re among 60 percent of Hong Kong employees, according to a recent report by JobsDB.com.

After surveying about 2,400 people, the website found more than 6 out of 10 Hongkongers are unsatisfied with their jobs.

Out of seven factors – salary and benefits, roles and responsibilities, growth and development, working culture and environment, business relations, location and company processes – financial dissatisfaction, workplace environment, and boss or co-worker relationships were cited as the most common reasons for unhappiness.

We took to the streets to put this to the test.

After asking 10 people (we don’t have all day, you know), our findings revealed five satisfied and five unsatisfied professionals. Not too bad, JobsDB.

Recent graduate Sydney from the United States, who works for an e-commerce wine and liqueur company, said she is choosing to extend a three-month contract to stay with the trading company.

Local nurse Regina also told us she loves her job and enjoys “providing a service for the elderly”.

Hilda, from Hong Kong, is a new and very enthusiastic real estate assistant. “So far so good. I like my coworkers and I have a really good boss. There is nothing I don’t like,” she told us.

A European by the name of Nicholas said his profession as a lawyer is entirely satisfying because he’s interested in what he does. In fact, he laughed at the thought of being unhappy by his job – probably because he’s rolling in dough.  

But the real world is not all fairy tales like these, as the JobsDB survey shows.

Andrea, a local accounts clerk, glumly responded to our question: “The job is suitable for me and the money is only okay, but the job is boring. I’m a bit unsatisfied.”  

Andrea resolutely added that she will not quit her job, however, in contrast to two people in the finance field who told Coconuts HK that they plan to resign soon. “The money, the experience and the connections have kept me here. But I plan to quit after I work here for two years”, Curtis, who works for a prominent bank, said.

Hong Kong-raised, Israeli-born headhunter Amit told us that work satisfaction in Hong Kong often requires a balancing of workload and wages. “Bankers and surgeons, for example, work a lot harder and for longer hours than the rest of the world, but they make a far more money than average,” he said. “Morgan Stanley recently came out with a ‘recommendation’ for employees to take their Saturdays off because they were taking it upon themselves to come into work seven days per week.”

Happiness in the workplace seems to be more important than ever, he added. “Companies are looking for young dynamic people with Western social attitudes that will bring up the spirit in the office and promote healthy work ethics that create a prosperous result in the long run.”  

After months of severe unhappiness and job frustration, Claire, a mainland Chinese woman who worked for the Royal Bank of Scotland for two and a half years, finally decided to send in a letter of resignation last week. “The job was too consuming. I felt so emotionless, and lost all of my passion. I made good money but I no longer feel like me,” she shared.

Clearly not wasting any time, a few days ago she posted on Facebook from her temporary office (a beach chair) in Phuket, Thailand. “It is time to restore happiness, purpose and love. Glad to find those values have been and will always be there… I am the person who I have been waiting for.”

If you also fit into the 6 out 10 category, feel free to use this as a sign. You too could be on the beach with the only worry being what cocktail to order next… and how the hell you’re going to pay for it now you’ve quit your job.

Photo: Myriam Tsen/Coconuts Media 
   
 


Got a tip? Send it to us at hongkong@coconuts.co.




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