Employee Satisfied

Despite being distanced three years from the academic world; despite popping the bubble of a controlled business environment; and despite time and time again, throwing theory out the window after realizing, given the politics, it can't be put into practice, I am still learning that many dimensions of corporate America cannot be taught in a classroom.

One of those dimensions - improving employee satisfaction. In school, we learned the theory. This week, I learned something else.

After I learned about accounting and statistics, micro and macro, finance, management and marketing in MBA school, I took a course on happiness - the how to of it. That is, how to develop a culture of happiness at work, and how to find your own, personal happiness on the job.

Generally speaking, I learned that the formula for happiness wasn't tied to compensation. Surprise, surprise. Instead, the kind of corporate cultures that produce satisfied employees, provide challenging and meaningful work, more opportunities for recognition and empowerment, and inspiring, supportive management. In theory, my company is doing everything right. However, this week I revealed room for improvement as my employee satisfaction went from good to great. 


Despite movement to and from the bathroom, I sit at work. Everyone sits. In fact, when describing your job, you say, 'this is what I do, and this is where I sit.'
'I do digital marketing and communications and I sit near on the third floor, north side of the building'
'Oh I sit right below you then'

While I know the value of a good sit, especially after a long Saturday run, eight hours in cube confinement is tough. So this week, I decided that if I had to sit at work, I was going to sit and peddle on the way to and from it.

For the past four days, I've been biking to work. I had marked National Bike to Work Week on my calendar, so on Monday, I had Peter check my tire pressure, I slapped on my helmet, threw my purse in my basket, and in my dress, tights, and work shoes, I peddled through the western suburbs to work. Four days, 52 miles. And one very satisfied employee.

Why? Because I got rid of commuting, and road rage, and more sitting still. I traveled outside of my daily routine and into a week that felt like my childhood. To summer vacations, trips to Ruggeri's, proudly making it to the top of Bartlett street, flying down the driveway to the Pittsburgh Golf Club, and safely parking my trusty Schwinn back in the garage after another great day wheeling around the Burgh. This week was SO fun, and I owe it to my bike. 

Now, I realize that some people have farther distances to travel, more hills to climb, more prolific sweat glands, or not enough time; so I wasn't completely surprised when I was one of three or four bikers out of thousands of employees. And for that reason I'm not going to assert that biking is the catch all to employee satisfaction. But I do believe, that happiness on the job comes from making work, commuting to and from it, and life in between, only as grown up and rule ridden as it has to be.

If you live a couple miles from work, try biking. I guarantee it will make your day.  

Lo.