Maybe we're becoming more gruntled

Or maybe our bosses aren't as bad as they used to be. This according to a scientific completely unscientific internet poll conducted by Monster.com. The job-board website surveyed 2,150 visitors to its site and asked questions about their feelings toward their supervisors. According to a press release, 41 percent reported that they would never quit a job because of their boss. Monster took this as reflecting "an increasing tolerance among Americans for 'nightmare' bosses." It then concluded that this change in attitudes — lo and behold — was because of the economy:

In sum, according to Monster’s August poll findings, current economic conditions and an uncertain job market have changed Americans’ perceptions of their supervisors. The perceptions of American workers will be interesting to monitor going forward, as the economy begins to turn around – particularly if workers adopt a more critical view of their bosses and the decisions they make.

Whatever. I'm not going to put any stock in an internet poll, especially one where the self-selected respondents are people looking for jobs. And the too-obvious blame-the-economy-for-everything deal is getting kind of old now. More importantly, managers should not let internet polls make them think for a second that they need to work at keeping their employees gruntled.

What do you think? Are you happier with your boss than you were two years ago? Why? Or why not? Did the economy cause the Patriots to lose to the Jets? I'm thinking so. Sound off in the comments below.

Hat tip to The Boston Globe for the story.

Comments

[Ian Mondrow]

Bogus! If I had to guess a random number, I would 60-70% of employees would leave their job due to their supervisor. Unfortunately, Monster.com does not implement ideal study methodology and therefore their studies are not very reliable. Mainly because they are asking individuals actively seeking jobs. This is not representative of the population.

However, it is a good idea for future research! Monster should consider hiring some industrial psychologists (wink wink nudge nudge)

[CommDiscussion]

I think that b/c of the economy and recent layoffs, more people are likely to leave b/c of workload. People are fearful that they can't leave b/c of the economy--even if they have a bad boss.