cover story in job satisfaction, food goes bland · 2018. 11. 12. · s alaries are edging...

Salaries are edging downward, so is job satisfaction, and people are evenly divided on Presi-

dent Trump.Those are some of the key takeaways

from Food Processing’s 12th annual Sal-ary & Job Satisfaction Survey. The online poll probed nearly 400 employees in the food & beverage sector on both salaries and attitudes.

Salaries averaged out to $97,259, a drop of 3.2 percent from our 2017 survey. The median salary did go up a level, reaching $87,500, compared with $85,000 in 2016 – perhaps a reflection of higher salaries clustering slightly at the top.

Job satisfaction also seems to be down slightly, or at least leveling off, depending on how you look at it. Only 16 percent of respondents report being “very satisfied”

with their jobs, a drop of more than half from 2017. Dissatisfaction was up: 19 percent reported being “somewhat dis-satisfied,” compared with 15 percent last year; 9 percent said they were “very dis-satisfied,” versus 6.3 percent last year.

On the other hand, 42 percent reported being “somewhat satisfied” with their jobs, up considerably from the 26 percent of 2017. Add those to the “very satisfied” group and the combined 58 percent is within three points of last year’s combined “satisfied” number.

This trend roughly parallels the U.S workplace as a whole: Over the past cou-ple of years, employees have gone from happy with their jobs to just OK with them, with a strong undercurrent of re-sentment, according to other national surveys. The Conference Board (www.

conference-board.org) reported in 2016 that almost 51 percent of American work-ers were satisfied. But last year, Gallup (news.gallup.com/reports/199961/7.aspx) found 51 percent of employees considered themselves “not engaged” at work, and another 16 percent said they were “actively disengaged.”

Employment experts say that, even though wages have been stagnant for more than a decade, compensation isn’t the leading cause of job dissatisfaction. While it’s certainly a contributing factor, employees are more likely to resent what they perceive as bad management and lack of respect. The Peter Principle is to blame: Many bosses tend to get promoted due to long service to the company and success in previous roles, where they had little or no supervisory duties.

Salaries and satisfaction among food & beverage employees are sliding a little, according to our annual survey.By Pan Demetrakakes, Senior Editor

IN JOB SATISFACTION,FOOD GOES BLAND

28 • FOOD PROCESSING NOvEmBER 2018 FOODPROCESSING.COm

C Ov E R S tO Ry

2017

2018

2016

2015

2014$

93

,88

3

$8

5,0

00

$87

,50

0

$9

7,30

3

$8

5,0

00

$10

1,6

98

$8

5,0

00

$87

,50

0

Average salary median salary

$10

0,5

08

$9

7,25

9

AVERAGE SALARIES OVER THE YEARS

“When companies promote a worker to management on the basis of prior performance, they lose a job expert and obtain a manager who oftentimes has no talent for people management,” Fa-bian Schumann, a business development managing consultant at Gallup, wrote in an article in Business Journal.

On our survey’s list of what might of-fer job satisfaction (with multiple choices allowed), the most popular choice, at 49 percent, was “salary and benefits.” But close behind were “challenging work” (46 percent) and “appreciation” (40 percent). Respondents who provided written comments about their jobs often emphasized appreciation – or the lack thereof – nearly as much as compensation.

“Bad management, low job security, horrible benefits, extreme demands by

upper management, no appreciation,” said one dissatisfied employee. Oth-ers cited similar factors: “microman-aging CEO, very volatile”; “my boss is very discouraging and challeng-ing to work with”; “management is a very bad at communication”; “upper

administration cares little about how well we do our work.”

Conversely, those who explained why they liked their jobs often cite what they see as positive, supportive management: “The new owners have this a great place to work at”; “good work environment,

WHO ANSWERED THE SURVEY

the 11th annual Food Processing Salary & Job Satisfaction Survey drew 394 online responses from food & beverage industry professionals. they broke down as:• Gender: 65 percent male, 35 percent female.• Education: 37 percent bachelor’s degree, 26 percent more education, 17 percent less.• Job classification: 19 percent quality assur-ance, 17 percent R&D/product development, 12 percent corporate management (the three largest categories represented).

• Industry experience: 17 percent with 36 years or more, 18 percent with 26 to 35 years, 24 percent with 15 to 25 years, 24 percent with six to 14, and 17 percent with five or less.• Company size: the most frequent responses were 49 or fewer employees (24 percent); be-tween 100 and 249 employees (20 percent); and 5,000 or more (15 percent).• Company type: the most frequent responses were further-processed/packaged foods (14 percent); meat, poultry and seafood (12 per-cent), and fruits and vegetables (10 percent).

very Satisfied $134,684

Somewhat Satisfied $89,040

Neither Satisfied or Dissatisfied $86,535

Somewhat Dissatisfied $93,998

very Dissatisfied $85,656

HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU? (Ly = Last year)

Salaries by job title

Average Salaries Over the Years

By gender By age

Education level & average income

Years at current companyWhat is the most important factor in job satisfaction?

How satis�ed are you?Salaries by Food Category

Years in food industry

More or less concerned about job security

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

42%LY 26%

16%LY 35%

13%LY 18%

19%LY 15%

9%LY 6.3%

FOODPROCESSING.COm NOvEmBER 2018 FOOD PROCESSING • 29

C Ov E R S tO Ry

fun atmosphere, understand leadership”; “good leadership and great working atmo-sphere”; “I have owners that care about employees and the company. They reward a job well done and don’t give up on work-ers that need guidance.”

Help wantedAnother macro trend that seems to be affecting the food industry is a shortage of qualified workers. As the economy maintains its momentum, companies in all employment sectors are having prob-lems finding enough workers.

With the U.S. unemployment rate at a near-record low of 3.9 percent, employers across the country are struggling to fill a record 6.7 million job openings, accord-ing to a report released this summer by ADP and Moody’s Analytics. The prob-lem is of course more intense in certain industries, but it’s a nationwide challenge for companies of all types and sizes.

“Business’ number one problem is finding qualified workers,” Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said in a statement quoted by CNBC. “At the current pace of job growth, if sustained, this problem is set to get much worse.”

The food industry is no exception, according to our survey: More than three-quarters of respondents said the worker shortage is real. This breaks down to 56 percent who see positions going unfilled, and another 21 percent who not only see that but think “unfilled positions are constraining our capacity or preventing us from expanding.”

Several of our respondents mentioned the worker shortage, and its consequent unfilled positions, as contributing to job dissatisfaction by increasing their work-load. “Required to handle more than one person can handle,” one employee wrote; “too much to do with underqualified staff,” said another.

One man said the so-called worker shortage was simply a matter of his com-pany being cheap. “When we do find a very well-qualified person, we are not allowed to hire them because of money restrictions,” he wrote. “The only shortage is the number of qualified people willing

Corporate mgmt. $139,320 Ly $150,586

Engineering $110,076 Ly $128,818

maintenance $74,681 Ly $59,500

Sales & marketing $105,967 Ly $116,114

Plant Operations $91,250 Ly $98,086

Quality Assurance $81,565 Ly $83,100

R&D/Product Dev. $91,999 Ly $96,542

Other $86,582 Ly $78,194

SALARIES BY JOB TITLE (Ly = Last year)



By gender By age






0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

9%

15%

9%19%

17%

16%12%

3%

RESPONDENT BREAKDOWN BY SALARY LEVEL

SALARY RANGES PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS

Less than $35,000 7.6%

$35,000-$49,999 11%

$50,000-$64,999 16%

$65,000-$79,999 12%

$80,000-$94,999 14%

$95,000-$109,999 9%

$110,000-$129,999 12%

$130,000-$159,999 8%

$160,000-$199,999 5.1%

$200,000-$249,999 3%

$250,000-$299,999 0.4%

$300,000-$399,999 0.4%

$400,000-$499,999 0.4%

$500,000 or more 0.8%

Baked Goods $103,226 Ly $96,757

Beverages $80,625 Ly $81,788

Confection $108,586 Ly $101,154

Dairy $99,588 Ly $91,575

Fruits & vegetables $96,835 Ly 87,156

Further Processed $85,115 Ly $119,587

Grain Products/milling $96,257 Ly $93,134

meat, Poultry & Seafood $90,446 Ly $103,039

Packaging $85,667 Ly $112,000

Snacks $113,314 Ly $93,083

value-add Ingredients, etc. $140,638 Ly $92,731

Other $94,193 Ly $100,152

SALARIES BY FOOD CATEGORY (Ly = Last year)



By gender By age






0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

5.9%

14%12%

7%

3.9%

8%

21%

3.7%

5.3%

10%

3.4%

5.3%


C Ov E R S tO Ry

to work for entry-level pay, after spend-ing a career working and perfecting their skills, only to be told they are not worth it. It has become ridiculous!”

Paradoxically, a couple of people found advantages in the worker shortage. One listed “I do many jobs besides my current title” as something she likes. Another cred-its the worker crunch with inspiring better treatment: “Company has lost people, and the competition for new employees has made them take a new approach to the way we are treated.”

Another contemporary issue that has an impact on the food industry is the administration of President Donald Trump. Businesses of all sorts have the potential to be affected by his aggres-sive approach to global trade. The food industry has special reason for concern, since much of the retaliation from U.S. trading partners has taken the form of tariffs on food, both farm commodities and processed products.

Our survey shows respondents as evenly split on President Trump as it’s possible to get. Exactly as many people say “he’s im-proved the business climate” as “he’s made things worse”: 23 percent. The remaining 53 percent chose “no change/no opinion/I can’t really tell.”

Several respondents mentioned tariffs: “They are hurting us and have already led to lower margins and may have influenced recent layoffs,” one said. However, the poll was taken before finalization of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on trade, a replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement. If rati-fied by the legislatures of all three nations, USMCA would mostly preserve, and in some cases expand, America’s access to its neighbors’ food markets.

Trump came in for praise from one respondent: “President Trump has done a lot of great things for our country, includ-ing pushing Congress to lower our taxes.”

No time for time offOf course, some concerns are eternal. One of them is getting enough time off – or, more accurately, getting to take the time off that you’re ostensibly entitled to.

Challenging Work 46% Ly 23%

Salary & Benefits 49% Ly 20%

Appreciation 40% Ly 23%

Job Security 30% Ly 11%

Advancement Opportunity 25% Ly 15%

Low Stress 13% Ly 5.2%

Safe Work Environment 13% Ly 1.4%

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN JOB SATISFACTION? (Ly = Last year)

High School/GED $70,426 Ly $77,145

Jr. College/voc. School $84,225 Ly $82,428

Some college $75,805 Ly $85,803

B.S or B.A. $107,742 Ly $98,906

masters degree $101,484 Ly $92,466

mBA $114,333 Ly $152,680

Post-graduate studies $88,735 Ly $791,557

Doctorate $115,577 Ly $133,769

EDUCATION LEVEL & AVERAGE INCOME (Ly = Last year)



By gender By age






0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

16.3%

39%

13%

8%

5%6%

8.4% 4.3%

the shortage is real; I see positions that are unfilled

the shortage is real; unfilled positions are constraining

our capacity or preventing us from expanding

I don’t see it

DO YOU SEE EFFECTS OF A SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED WORKERS?

Changes in Health Insurance

Baby Boomers Hours per week Perform Review

Vacation time

Do you see e�ects of a shortage of quali�ed workers?

What were e�ects of last December’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act?

Has President Trump had an impact on your business?

People to supervise Work at company

Job Satisfaction by Category

21%56%

23%

1-49 24%

50-99 9%

100-249 20%

250-499 13%

500-999 8%

1000-4999 11%

5,000+ 15%

HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK AT YOUR COMPANY?



Vacation time




13%

24%15%

9%

20%

8%

11%


C Ov E R S tO Ry

Less than half of our respondents could. Asked if they took all the vacation days they were allotted, only 44 percent said yes. Another 29 percent said “most of my allotment”; 15 percent said about half; 7.0 percent said less than half; and an un-fortunate 5.4 percent said they took none.

Perceptions of job security have been consistent for the past few years and, in fact, were nearly unchanged in 2018 vs. 2017. Asked about their level of concern over job security compared with last year at this time, 31 percent said they were more concerned, 21 percent said less concerned, and 48 percent said it was about the same.

For some commenters, job security concerns were bound up with age issues. “The one thing everyone in my age group fears the most is being laid off,” said a man identifying himself as between 58 and 65. “From 45 and up it is extremely difficult to find a job. From 60 and up it is nearly impossible.” Another saw two “big hurdles” as age-based: “The young are starting to enter the workforce later in life, and the older generation will have to work longer in life without pensions and health care.”

On the other hand, experienced, long-tenured workers can be especially grateful – if they experience security.

Said one man, who has been with his company between 26 and 35 years: “I have been here for a long time. My job is challenging and secure. It pays well and it beats working for a living.”

No change on pay or staffing levels

merit raises of 1-5% were given to some

merit raise budgets were increased more than 5%

One-time bonuses were given to all or most employees

more people were hired

Across-the-board raises

WHAT WERE EFFECTS OF LAST DECEMBER’S TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT?



Vacation time






9.7%73%

8.5%5.2%

4.5%

He’s improved the business climate

He’s made things worse

No change/I can’t tell

HAS PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD AN IMPACT ON YOUR BUSINESS?



Vacation time






53%

23%

23%

BY GENDER Women $75,944 Ly $75,925

men $109,973 Ly $116,874

WHO ANSWERED THE SURVEY? (Ly = Last year)Salaries by job title


By gender By age






0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

65%

35%

BY AGE 29 & under $57,342 Ly $58,513

30-39 $76,964 Ly $81,707

40-49 $84,900 Ly $94,932

50-57 $107,331 Ly $123,231

58-65 $109,505 Ly $113,093

66+ $125,104 Ly $111,594



By gender By age






0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

17%

18%

21%

28%

9%7%

3.0%

more concerned 31%

Less concerned 21%

About the same 48%

MORE OR LESS CONCERNED ABOUT JOB SECURITY THAN YOU WERE LAST YEAR

Which best describes your position? How many years in Food/Beverage

processing �eld

How many years have youbeen at your current company?

How many people do you supervise?


Are you salaried or hourly?

Raise last year?

Job concern

How much annual paid vacation do you receive?

Did you get to take all your vacation last year?

Working more or fewer hours than you did last year at this time?

food/beverage industry category in which you work the majority of the time?

31%

21%

48%


C Ov E R S tO Ry

Corporate mgmt. 11.8%

Plant Operations 9.3%

Engineering 9%

R&D/Product Development 16.9%

Purchasing 2.2%

marketing/Sales 14.6%

maintenance 3.4%

Quality Assurance 19.1%

Other 13.8%

SALARIES BY JOB TITLE Which best describes your position? How many years in Food/Beverage

processing �eld





Raise last year?

Job concern





9.3%

9%

16.9%14.6%

19.1%

13.8% 11.8%

3.4%

Baked Goods 7.9%

Beverages (non-dairy) 5.3%

Confectionery Products 5.3%

Dairy Products 5.9%

Fruits and vegetables 10.4%

Further-processed/packaged foods & specialties 14%

Grain Products/milling 3.4%

meat/Poultry/Seafood 11.8%

Packaging 3.7%

Snacks 3.9%

value-added ingredients/Powder mixes 7%

Other 21.3%

SALARIES BY JOB TITLE


processing �eld





Raise last year?

Job concern





9.3%

3.7%3.9%

11.8%

10.4%

14%

3.4%

7%

21.3%

7.9%5.3%

5.3%

0-5 16.9%

6-14 23.6%

15-25 24.4%

26-35 18.5%

36+ 16.6%

HOW MANY YEARS IN FOOD/BEVERAGE PROCESSING FIELD


processing �eld





Raise last year?

Job concern





23.6%

24.4%

18.5%

16.6% 16.9%

2.2%

0-5 42.1%

6-14 26.7%

15-25 18.5%

26-35 8.7%

36+ 3.9%

YEARS AT CURRENT COMPANYWhich best describes your position? How many years in Food/Beverage

processing �eld





Raise last year?

Job concern





26.7%

18.5%

8.7%

42.1%

3.9%

yes 56.3%

No 43.7%

DID YOU RECEIVE A BONUS LAST YEAR?


processing �eld





Raise last year?

Job concern





56.3%

43.7%


C Ov E R S tO Ry

more hours (per week?) 23.2%

Fewer hours (per week?) 5.6%

About the same 71.2%

SALARIES BY JOB TITLE


processing �eld





Raise last year?

Job concern





23.2%

5.6%

71.2%

Salaried 87.1%

Hourly 12.9%

SALARIED OR HOURLY?


processing �eld





Raise last year?

Job concern





12.9%

87.1%

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU SUPERVISE

None 37.4%

1-10 42.7%

11-20 10.7%

21-40 3.7%

41-100 3.1%

101+ 2.5%


processing �eld





Raise last year?

Job concern





37.4%10.7%

71.2%

3.7%

3.1% 2.5%

50.3%

None 3.6%

1-2 weeks 28.70%

3-4 weeks 50.30%

5-6 weeks 15.3%

more than 6 weeks 2.1%

HOW MUCH ANNUAL PAID VACATION DO YOU RECEIVE?


processing �eld





Raise last year?

Job concern





28.7%

15.3%

3.6%2.1%

yes, all allotted days 43.5%

1-2 weeks 29.1%

3-4 weeks 15%

5-6 weeks 6.9%

more than 6 weeks 5.4%

DID YOU GET TO TAKE ALL YOUR VACATION LAST YEAR?

29.1%


processing �eld





Raise last year?

Job concern





43.5%15%

6.9%5.4%

medical 91.7%

Dental 81.8%

Life Insurance 68.9%

Disability 56%

Pension 25.2%

401K match 68.9%

tuition Reimbursement 26.2%

Stock Options 6%

Profit Sharing 15.2%

Company Car 9.9%

vision plan 56%

Fitness membership 10.6%

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS DO YOU RECEIVE

Challenging work 46.4%

Job Security 30.1%

Salary and Benefits 49.2%

Opportunity for Advancement 24.5%

Appreciation 40.1%

Low-stress Environment 12.9%

Safe Work Environment 12.9%

MOST IMPORTANT IN PROVIDING YOU WITH A STRONG SENSE OF JOB SATISFACTION

FOODPROCESSING.COm NOvEmBER 2018 FOOD PROCESSING • 36

C Ov E R S tO Ry

cover story in job satisfaction, food goes bland · 2018. 11. 12. · s alaries are edging...

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