Summary

Summary of “More Than Job Satisfaction”

Kirsten Weir, the author of “More Than Job Satisfaction,” begins the article with a fact that the adults spend most of their time to work, and that the works are considered to be their identity. However, according to a 2013 report of Gallup Inc. the author points out that two-third of American workers are not devoted to their jobs, and she calls it “disengagement” which costs U.S. companies hundreds of billions every year. She implies that one of the causes to the problem is how great the meaning that the American workers find in their jobs.

The author claims that there are ways to increase meaning and improve the life quality through work. She mentions about Michael G. Pratt, Boston College’s professor who uses a story of the bricklayers to strengthen his ideas that every job has its own meaning, and that there are various ways to create or seek for the meaning in work. Additionally, she brings up the study of Douglas Lepisto and Camille Pradies in their book “Purpose and Meaning in the workplace,” that employees can find the meaning of work through their prides, responsibilities to family, duties to fulfill, and even the relationship among the colleagues. Weir says that those who believe in what they are doing is good to humankind, are the most content people. And she gives example of the work of the zookeepers who, even though, earns not so much, they still love their job. The author explains that because the bond between the job and the zookeepers, which encourages them to do their best. Next, she mentions about “job crafting,” which is the term used by Jane E. Dutton, PhD, a professor at the University of Michigan indicating the way to create meaning through work. The author, then, lists out several ways to create meaning which are prioritizing to the tasks that ones are interested in, concentrating on positive relationships, and actively thinking about one’s work from different angles. At the end, Weir warns that the enterprises might use job crafting to exploit their employees. She concludes that the enterprises and companies should help their workers to find meaning in works which is good for both sides.