The average worker winds up bored after three years at a job, new research shows.
A British study of over 2,000 people, all of them employed, found that 51 percent felt anxious, 32 percent didn’t get along with their boss, while 31 percent complained of a lack of sleep due to stress — with the trouble starting around the three year anniversary of their hire date.
The phenomenon has been referred to as the “three-year itch.”
Three in 10, at the time of the poll, said they were thinking about switching occupations. That group averaged about four and a half years in their current position.
“After a while, it’s understandable professionals will crave new opportunities and look elsewhere for something to fulfill their employment needs,” Carrie Westwell, human resources director at Bensons for Beds, a U.K.-based furniture company, told SNWS.
“It’s been interesting to find out the most common signs that someone needs to start the job search again,” she said.
“The new year is a great time to think about your career, but everyone else will probably be thinking about the same thing — so competition will be fierce.”
Out of the group that was ready for change, 38 percent said they wanted a higher salary as part of the move, while 24 percent complained that they had most likely run out of opportunities for career progression.
A whopping 25 percent will start looking for work this month — 34 percent said they believed that January was the best time to seek new opportunities, specifically during the second week of the month.
Asked about their “dream job,” 50 percent of respondents would settle for flexible hours in any role, while 39 percent said they wanted to be part of a team they enjoyed working with.
A full 30 percent said they’d be thrilled to be able to work from bed.
OnePoll conducted the research for Bensons. Other fascinating numbers included the 28 percent that said they had fallen asleep on the job at least once, blaming their naps on boredom (33 percent), illness (30 percent) or the heater being on too high in the workspace (24 percent).
Eleven percent — more than one in 10 — confessed to having a “side hustle” they were working within the last twelve months, as a way to supplement their salaries. Selling secondhand clothing on specially targeted apps and websites was the most popular side gig, with an average earnings of approximately $300/month.
“Changing jobs isn’t just a shift in location, it’s a recalibration of your professional trajectory and an opportunity to align your passion with your profession,” Westwell said.
Bensons conducted the study as part of their own search for staff, in order to promote an opening and better understand the labor market.