• Did you know that 44% of Americans do their job only well enough to not get fired?
• 25% of Americans say their job is the single greatest cause of stress in their life.
• 30% of us like or love our work. That leaves a whopping 70% that range from indifferent to absolute loathing of their work.

As a whole, we don’t seem to be very happy in our work. There are hundreds of studies and surveys detailing the effects in our lives and pocketbooks.

For over 20 years, Rockport Institute has compiled research showing that “changing from an ill-fitting career to one that is fulfilling and that produces a lower stress level reduces colds, flu and other immune system disorders.. . .Other studies confirm that an ill-fitting career causes stress that increases the risk of early death. In addition, depression, even chronic mild depression, can compromise your immune system.” Below are listed a few of the studies.

• A major Finnish study found that those with stressful jobs had twice the risk of dying from coronary artery disease as did satisfied employees. Between 1981-1995, 44 studies were published, most of which found a significant positive relationship between job strain and cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as hypertension.
• Published in Health Psychology, a study of 774 men found that pessimism and hostility were actually worse on the male's heart than drinking, smoking, or obesity.
• Another study shows that immune function is weaker when people are in a bad mood (published in the April 2001 issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology).
• The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports job stress-related disorders are fast becoming the most prevalent reason for worker disability.
• Researcher Sheldon Cohen says, "We found...As positive emotions increase, the probability that they would develop a cold decreased."

• Small firm employees feel far more engaged in their work than their corporate counterparts
• Only 20 percent feel very passionate about their jobs; less than 15 percent agree that they feel strongly energized by their work
• more than half of American workers question the basic morality of their organizations' top leaders and say that their managers do not treat them fairly
• only 36 percent of workers said they believed top managers acted with honesty and integrity
• one-third of all workers feel they have reached a dead end at their jobs and are seeking changes at work or new jobs altogether
• Job security, health care coverage and professional development are valued above additional compensation with more paid vacation time as their single biggest desire
• Nearly all workers were seeking more time off -- and a better balance between work and leisure
• more than one-third of managers do not care about the fate of their organization

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