Seven out of ten (70%) eye care professional say they are happy with their work life right now, according to a WO Poll. However, the challenges of the profession are not lost on everyone— more than one-in four (26%) indicated that they are not loving their work right now, with some “really struggling.”
JOB SATISFACTION
Some factors that respondents say contribute to their work satisfaction are:
- Skills and experience being put to good use (86%)
- Working with good people (76%)
- Personal satisfaction (76%)
- People express their gratitude (72%)
- Work brings them recognition (62%)
- The expectations of me are reasonable (62%)
The two areas scoring lower were compensation satisfaction (58%) and a good work/life balance (54%). These two categories had the highest negative rating— 28% said the money is not satisfactory, and 14% said they are not sure or it is “sometimes” satisfactory. Almost one-quarter (22%) of respondents said they are unable to balance life outside of work, and 24% said they only achieve that balance sometimes.
One respondent said, “I have an amazing team that keeps me busy and helps me triage ocular emergencies. I feel needed and appreciated daily.”
One respondent shared, “I work in clinical education and working with students is the most satisfying part of my work. The most unsatisfying part of my work is dealing with administrative demands in the educational setting and working with colleagues that I don’t respect.” Another said, ““I like providing eye care, I HATE the day to day mess that goes with it. The paperwork and ‘extras’ really wear on me.”
One respondent said, “I love my job as an optician because it allows me to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives every day. Helping someone see clearly for the first time, especially children, is incredibly rewarding and heartwarming. The joy and gratitude I see on their faces make all the effort worthwhile. I also cherish the daily interactions with my amazing colleagues and the continuous learning opportunities that come with working with lenses and frames. My job isn’t just a profession; it’s a passion that brings fulfillment and happiness.”
Another respondent said they are “continuing to learn and stretch myself to help others and also balancing my learning, practicing and leisure/family time.” Another said that they take planned time off each quarter.
The majority of respondents (78%) identified themselves as female ODs. Another 12% reported that they are male ODs. Another 10% of respondents said they were non-ODs.
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