A sociologist based in Massachusetts conducted a nationwide study of 4,000 full-time working adults last year, which revealed higher levels of satisfaction among individuals working at a “less-than-ideal” job for a “dream company” than the other way around.
Employees of dream companies were more likely to be healthier, happier and more inspired in their jobs. The sociologist, Dr. Lucy English, found that qualities strongly associated with working for a dream company include job satisfaction, productivity, lower stress, and the potential for longevity with the company. Those are all obviously characteristics of workers that employers value.
Dr. English’s research describes a dream company as one that values employees as total, rounded individuals, in all aspects of their lives. He includes family, friends, neighborhood, community life, possibly the importance of a religious community as being as important as commitment to being a good employee.
Dr. English was somewhat surprised by her findings that a dream company may be more important to people than a dream job, but the Forbes author claims treating employees as having complex lives and personal aspirations is hardly a new idea; just one that is getting a well-deserved second look.