By Kirstie McDermott
That paycheck you receive every two weeks is the main reason you go to work, right? Well, for many American workers, it is only one part of their wider compensation.
Gaining traction is the idea of the "emotional wage". This is a concept developed in a 2019 study from researchers at
"The emotional wage pertains to all those non-monetary reasons for which people work and thus a key element for people to feel at ease, committed, and well-aligned in their respective jobs," the research explains.
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Defining the term, researchers say that it involves "interpersonal relationships between peers, positive organizational climate, and satisfaction with the activity developed".
These are all the elements of work that aren't about monetary compensation. Think of the friendships you build with colleagues, the positive interactions you have with leadership, or the quality of the feedback you get from your manager. Essentially, the culture of your workplace.
Culture can be hard to define, but when it's missing, work just doesn't feel so great. The good news is that many American workers appear to already be receiving an emotional wage at work.
That's according to a 2023 report from
When it comes to how workers perceive their treatment, that's tracking positively too. Seventy eight percent say they're treated with respect, and 72% say they can be themselves at work all or most of the time.
More than two-thirds say they have at least one close friend at work (65%), and that they feel their contributions at work are valued a great deal or a fair amount (62%).
Boosting your emotional salary
But what if you're one of the third or so of U.S. employees who is having a different experience? Before you throw your hands up at your job and quit, there are some things you can do.
Work-life balance can form a huge part of worker happiness and flexible working is one big element for worker satisfaction. Asking for the ability to work from home on some days a week, or to start or finish early in order to accommodate child care responsibilities, is often a huge help and can solve stress around work-life balance.
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If you feel undervalued and as though your contributions don't matter, then you can and should take this up with your manager. Asking for regular feedback or a weekly one-to-one can create an environment of feedback that will help you to feel valued, motivated, and give your work meaning.
Talking to your boss about putting in place a career development plan will give you a clear path to promotion. Ideally, it'll be supported by training or learning and development opportunities, which can further boost your sense of contentment with your job.
As the Pew study shows, friends matter at work. As does a welcoming, positive corporate culture. Friendly teams and approachable leadership can enrich the working environment, making it a nice place to be.
However, if you'd still like to improve your emotional wage at work, then it could be the right time to make a move to a role or company where worker happiness is priority..
