Thoughtful Friday; What matters to you at work?

So often, when we ask people “What matters to you at work?” we hear mutterings of money, hours, rota pressure or pay.

Whispered quietly, or said with a bit of bravado.

And they absolutely matter.

These are the conditions people work within; they shape everything.

They should never be dismissed.

Hear them.

And when it’s our place, act on them.

But underneath those conditions, people are usually telling us something deeper.

Money → I want to feel valued.

Pay → Recognise me.

This is my dignity.

Hours → I want balance and fairness.

Rota pressure → I want to do a good job without burning out or missing out.

What most people really mean is:

I want respect.

I want recognition.

I want to walk out of here at the end of the day with my head held high,

knowing I was valued,

trusted,

treated as an integral part of the team.

Not just through pay and respect for my time, though they matter.

But through listening.

Through responding.

Through trusting me to do my work well.

Through seeing that I might have knowledge and ideas that could make everything better… if only you would listen.