Unfortunately, the stress created by anticipation of going to work is not uncommon. Are working conditions are keeping Americans out of the labor force?

In July 2017, 62.9% of Americans who are working or looking for work vs. 2000 peak of 67.3%. The unemployment rate is at a 16-year low, and many employers complain they cannot fill jobs.

Employers need to understand that working conditions matter. Employers need to recognize that your ideas to improve the working conditions will benefit you and their bottom line.

An in-depth study of 3,066 U.S. workers by Rand Corp., Harvard Medical School, and UCLA.

“Work is a pretty taxing place for many people. I was surprised by how pressured and hectic the workplace is.” — Nicole Maestas, a Harvard Medical School economist and lead author of the study

Among the findings:

The Bad News

• 20% of workers say they face a hostile or threatening environment at work. It includes sexual harassment and bullying. Workers who must face customers endure a disproportionate share of abuse.
• 55% of workers say they face “unpleasant and potentially hazardous” conditions.
• 75% of workers say they spend at least 25% of their time on the job in “intense or repetitive physical” labor.
• Telecommuting is rare: 78% say they are required to be present in their workplace during working hours.
• 38% say their jobs offer good prospects for advancement. Moreover, the older they get, the less optimistic they become.
• 50% say they work on their own time to meet the demands of their job.

The Good News

Workers enjoy considerable autonomy:

• More than 80% of workers say they get to solve problems and try out their ideas
• 58% of workers say their bosses are supportive
• 56% of workers say they have good friends at work

How to start:

The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat.” — Richard Marcinko

Even if you are not able to make sweeping change, you can take steps to lift this workday dread. It starts with taking small actions each day. Help to create a kind and fulfilling workplace for yourself and your colleagues.

1. Remember why you go to work — Work is a means to an end. You might not feel invested in the role or company (only about a third of people are). Most people feel invested in their own life goals: support your family, pay off debt, save up for retirement, build experience in your field to land a more fulfilling role. On the days you feel genuinely dreadful, remind yourself how your job is helping you reach these kinds of goals.
2. Personal accountability —  You are entirely responsible for their actions and consequences. It is a choice, a mindset and an expression of integrity. Some individuals exhibit it more than others. However, it can and should be learned as it is not only the foundation for your career success and satisfaction.  Many have bought into the concept that engagement and happiness come from a lack of stress at work. As a result, an exorbitant amount of time and resources is spent working to perfect a team’s circumstances. This may create a culture of entitled employees with unrealistic expectations. This approach is not sustainable long-term, nor will it help prepare you to navigate tough times. You need to guide your career journey.
3. Seek out meaning — Set aside time and write down what work makes you feel most satisfied. What tasks fully engage you? Next, think about the work you are doing and how it is helping your team reach its goals. Use your list so far as a conversation starter with your manager. Seek their guidance.
4. Build your brand — Misery loves company. It is Others react with even more misery. So, think about your actions and attitude. Before interacting with someone quickly think of the three words, you would like to person to describe you the future. Make that the objective of your interaction. Would you prefer being remembered a positive, helpful, and a team player or harmful, gossip, and a complainer? Build your brand and have others see you as you want to be seen.
5. Support your colleagues — Team spirit goes a long way. Investing in your colleagues, supporting them, and building them up will make the days more fulfilling. Success is a team effort. Team spirit comes from connecting with your team and working towards something together. Research shows that peer-to-peer recognition is proven to benefit employees and companies. These studies suggest that effective recognition programs: help scale organic praise, have a high ROI, and lead to significantly higher levels of employee performance and engagement. They also increase customer loyalty.
6. Grow your talent stack— Think about how you can proactively grow your talent stack (behavioral traits, knowledge, skill and accomplishment) — look beyond your day-to-day duties. Volunteer to get involved with cross-functional teams to learn more about what they do and how you could contribute. Have a personal development plan. Update it annually. Many companies support learning all you need to do is to build the case why the learning will benefit the company.

You are the master of your career journey

Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

No job is perfect. You should not live in dread of going to work.  I encourage you to have a personal development plan to guide your career journey. Focus on the areas of your day and career that you can control. You can help create more meaning, growth, and happiness at work while building your brand.