SHRM All Things Work The Anatomy of a Great Job
Aug 12, 2025
Jenny Perez, a key member of the SHRM thought leadership team, led groundbreaking research on what makes a job great, surveying 16,000 workers across 16 countries. She and host Anne Sparaco unpack the essential qualities that define job satisfaction, emphasizing pay, flexibility, and communication. Discover how mental health and inclusive policies influence employee experiences. They tackle the overlooked needs of part-time and temporary workers while advocating for appreciation and upskilling as powerful tools to enhance happiness and retention in the workforce.
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Pay Plus Respect Top Global Priorities
- Global workers rank good pay and benefits plus a fair, respectful environment as the top job features.
- Yet only about 40–60% are very or extremely satisfied with these features in their jobs.
Universal Job Features Across Worker Types
- Four universal job features emerged across worker types: pay/benefits, fair respect, job security, and flexibility.
- Specific worker groups add priorities like skill use or manageable workload on top of these universals.
Skill Use Vs. Manageable Workloads
- Full-time salaried, temporary, and independent workers prize opportunities to use skills and abilities more than others.
- Full-time hourly and part-time workers prioritize manageable workloads, often tied to on-site work demands.