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What鈥檚 work got to do with it? U of T sociologists on finding meaning and well-being at work

Scott Schieman on the left, Melissa Milkie on the right

Sociologists Scott Schieman, left, and Melissa Milkie, right, research work, stress and health in Canada.

We spend most of our time at work. Let that sobering thought sink in. So how do we make that time more meaningful and improve our well-being while at the office? Can work even become a buffer against life stressors?

, chair of the department of sociology at the downtown Toronto campus, and , chair of the tri-campus graduate department of sociology, research work, stress and health in Canada. Their work explores the challenges people experience in balancing work with their roles in their families and communities 鈥 and the effects of those demands on health. 

They spoke on that theme in a presentation to U of T staff at a recent ODLC Academy of Well-being.  

While there isn鈥檛 one solution to finding happiness at work, there are a few key factors that impact daily fulfilment and an overall sense of satisfaction.

鈥淲hat really stood out in my research is the importance of having agency and autonomy and feeling in control to achieve well-being in the workplace,鈥 says Schieman. But having worthwhile challenges that allow workers to develop their skills are as important to well-being as having agency, he says.

It helps to have a clear sense of expectations about your work, he says, and to be able to communicate specific needs with a supportive supervisor or manager.

He says those interested in increasing well-being in their jobs should look to develop skills, even if advancement isn鈥檛 possible in their current role.

鈥淭alk to supervisors or managers who can help you take advantage of opportunities, or pursue available professional development initiatives,鈥 he says.

 鈥淩egardless of industry, people see their jobs as meaningful and fulfilling when they get to develop their skill sets, be creative and collaborative,鈥 Milkie adds. 鈥淪atisfaction at work often means connecting with other people, making a difference in the work that you鈥檙e doing, and seeing how that work fits within the larger picture."

She shares a recent example in her own career. 鈥淚 just finished teaching the graduate sociology practicum course, which was fantastic: We saw second-year PhD students develop their own projects and the work was really meaningful.

鈥淢y colleagues and I were so grateful to be part of their work and learn how the course made a difference for the students. If you love certain aspects of your work, you鈥檙e not counting hours.鈥

Schieman points out that other benefits of collaborating and working with new people include breaking out of a routine and invigorating your own skills. 鈥淲e learn so much more in collaborative efforts,鈥 he says. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e confronted with different ways of thinking and solving problems.

鈥淧eople are looking for challenges, growth and development in the workplace. One of the most powerful predictors of well-being in the workplace is to be able to learn skills and use them in new ways,鈥 he says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the biggest source of satisfaction. It鈥檚 actually really stressful to be in a dull routine kind of job.鈥

Another way to achieve well-being at work? Pay attention to organizational culture.

鈥淥ne of the key takeaways was paying attention to organizational culture and being mindful of the kinds of unspoken norms and expectations,鈥 says Schieman. Organizations with a culture of higher levels of competition, he says, can present complications to achieving a sustained sense of well-being.

Spending enough time with loved ones is another key concern for Canadian workers: Almost half surveyed in the study by Schieman and Milkie felt they spend too little time with their children.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 a problem for Canadian employees. Most people need to find a balance outside of work life, whether that鈥檚 through community work, friendships, hobbies or their families,鈥 says Milkie. 鈥淔inding meaning outside of work is so important鈥.

Work can be a source of stress, but it can also be a buffer from stress. A healthy workplace can protect our mental health from external assaults, says Milkie, whether stress originates from parenting, relationships or elsewhere.

鈥淪ome workplace characteristics are important buffers  like having more flexibility or control of one鈥檚 schedule.  Also the reduced worktime or greater number of vacation days more common in European cultures are important for parents,鈥 Milkie says. 鈥淭hose policies matter.鈥

Read about Schieman's and Milkie's research on how sharing parental duties could be the key to marital bliss

Interested in attending future discussions on work life? . 

Learn about all the resources, services and sessions on balancing family and careers available to staff and faculty at the . 

 

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