How MBAs Can Tackle Unhappiness At At Work

If you are like the majority of Indians, you are not happy with what you are earning. But have you ever told this to your boss? Ever asked for a raise? As a recent CareerBuilder survey reveals, more than two-thirds of employees who have asked for a raise have always got them. Interestingly though, more than half of us have never asked for one in the first place.

Unhappiness in your career could be due to several reasons. Low pay is definitely one of major reasons. Apart from that, people are also unhappy because of the monotonousness of the job, absence of career growth, long work hours and a general lack of direction about what they are doing. While not everyone can get into their dream career with amazing pay (there are only so many jobs out there!), we can definitely ensure that the job we do does not suck as much as it does now. Here are some ways to do it.

Ask For A Raise : If you have been on the job for a considerable period of time without a raise, it's time you ask for one. According to the CareerBuilder survey, 56% of people never feel comfortable approaching their boss to ask for a raise. Well, you should. Because, 66% of people who do ask for one, get it.

Talk To Your Manager About Career Path : No matter which industry you are in, most low-level staff inevitably believe that their job lacks a career path. According to Glain Roberts-McCabe of The Executive Roundtable, “lack of a career path” is one of the major reasons why employees leave their organization. Why this happens is that employees seldom have an one-on-one conversation with their managers about the scope of growth in their career. Conversations never have to be about a promotion in your workplace. But a general conversation with them about where people with your career profile head to in the future will give you a better perspective of how your job will help you towards a meaningful career. This is a vital first step in feeling happy about your job.

Long Work Hours : Long work hours is definitely a growing pain for a lot of workers. A study published by OEM showed that employees working long hours had a 61% higher injury hazard rate compared to people without overtime. Another study showed that working for more than 11 hours in a day raised heart disease risks by over 67%. There are no real solutions to this if your job mandates long work hours. While looking out for a job that offers shorter working hours is definitely the best solution available, it is not always possible. Depending on your industry, telecommuting may be an option. Modern workplaces commonly offer such facilities to their employees. For instance, ERPGuru, a partner company for NetSuite, offers flexible work hours and telecommuting as a corporate benefit to all their employees.

Strive For Work-Life Balance : There are several other reasons why people do not like their jobs – probably you are stuck in this job but quitting is not an option. You believe that you have given up on your dreams in pursuit of money. Or you simply hate the culture of the company and your co-workers. There is no magic pill that can solve any of this without actually quitting the job. But the next best solution is to strive for a work-life balance. A healthy life outside of work would give you the time and energy to pursue things the way you want to be. Have a passion for music or sports? Always make sure you follow that religiously even during the work days. By striving for a balance between the two, you can ensure that work is merely the bitter pill that pays the bills – your real life is outside where you can do things that you have always wanted to do.

 

[Priyani Gupta]

Your article offers a refreshingly candid and actionable take on a very real problem many Indian professionals face—job dissatisfaction stemming from low pay, long hours, and lack of clarity about career progression. I appreciate the logical flow and practical tone you’ve adopted throughout, but I’d like to engage with some of your points more critically, while acknowledging their merit.


To begin with, the statistic that over half of employees have never asked for a raise is both alarming and telling. It sheds light on the deeply rooted cultural discomfort around discussing money in Indian workplaces. However, I’d argue this discomfort isn’t solely due to personal hesitation but also a result of hierarchical workplace norms that discourage open dialogue. Many companies in India still foster top-down management structures where negotiations—especially around compensation—are viewed as insubordination rather than self-advocacy. Your suggestion to ask for a raise is spot-on, but perhaps more awareness needs to be created about how to strategically do so—backed by data, performance metrics, and timing—rather than merely encouraging the act.


Your second point about talking to one’s manager about career progression is also vital, yet potentially controversial. While managers should ideally guide employees, the reality in many Indian workplaces is that not all managers are equipped or inclined to mentor. This gap in leadership and HR management often leaves employees disillusioned. It might be more empowering to encourage individuals to seek mentorship beyond their immediate reporting lines or even outside their organization, through professional networks or industry forums. Relying solely on one's manager for career clarity can be limiting, especially in rigid corporate setups.


When you touch on long working hours, you rightly highlight the health and safety concerns. However, the reality is harsher. In industries like IT, hospitality, and media, long hours have been normalized to a dangerous extent, often glorified as dedication. While companies like ERPGuru, offering flexible hours, are commendable exceptions, they're still the minority. The challenge lies in pushing for systemic change. Perhaps the conversation needs to shift from "how to cope" to "how to reform"—through better labor laws, stronger employee unions, or enforcing compliance with the Shops and Establishments Act. Normalizing burnout shouldn’t be the trade-off for economic growth.


Lastly, your point about work-life balance being a buffer for dissatisfaction is both comforting and controversial. It acknowledges that we can’t always escape undesirable jobs, and that building a meaningful life outside of work is a good coping mechanism. Yet, I’d caution against over-romanticizing this idea. It risks perpetuating the myth that fulfillment is always outside work, when in fact, meaningful work is a legitimate aspiration. People shouldn’t be made to feel guilty for wanting joy and purpose within their 9-to-5.


In summary, your article is an important conversation starter. It holds a mirror to the Indian workplace and proposes practical solutions, if sometimes idealistic. A more holistic approach that combines individual assertiveness with structural reforms could help address the roots of job dissatisfaction more effectively. You’ve set the stage—now let’s keep the discussion going.