New CareerBuilder Study Explores the Perks and Pitfalls of Working in a Desk Job Vs. a Non-Desk Job

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May 22, 2014, 05:00 ET

CHICAGO, May 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- What are the advantages and disadvantages of working in a desk job vs. a non-desk job? Which workers are happier, are less stressed or earn more? Which are more likely to gain weight? A new nationwide study has the answers. The survey was conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder from February 10 to March 4, 2014, and included a representative sample across industries and company sizes of 2,095 people who typically work behind a desk and 1,102 people who don't typically work behind a desk.

Key Findings

Workers in desk jobs and non-desk jobs were equally likely to report being happy in their current roles (76 percent), but workers in desk jobs were more likely to report complaints about their work environment. Many workers in desk jobs said their positions enable them to stay in the loop and build closer relationships with company leaders and peers while workers in non-desk jobs said their positions give them greater variety and flexibility in their work day. Thirty-eight percent of workers in non-desk jobs said they had no complaints about their work environment compared to 14 percent of workers in desk jobs.
Workers in desk jobs were more likely to report being overweight. Fifty-eight percent of workers in desk jobs categorize themselves as overweight compared to 51 percent of workers in non-desk jobs. Forty-six percent of workers in desk jobs have gained weight in their current position compared to 30 percent of workers in non-desk jobs.
People who work in desk jobs reported earning higher salaries and felt more content with their paychecks. Those working in desk jobs were twice as likely to earn six figures annually, while those working in non-desk jobs were twice as likely to earn less than $35,000. Half of workers in desk jobs earn $50,000 or more compared to one-third of workers in non-desk jobs. Seventy-one percent of workers in desk jobs said that they currently earn or are close to earning their desired salary compared to 61 percent of workers in non-desk jobs.

Earn less than $35,000
Workers in desk jobs – 20 percent
Workers in non-desk jobs – 40 percent

Earn $50,000 or more
Workers in desk jobs – 50 percent
Workers in non-desk jobs – 32 percent

Earn $100,000 or more
Workers in desk jobs – 13 percent
Workers in non-desk jobs – 7 percent
Workers in desk jobs and non-desk jobs were equally likely to experience high stress levels at work (30 percent and 29 percent, respectively), but workers in non-desk jobs had a somewhat higher tendency toward burnout. Sixty-one percent of workers in non-desk jobs said they have felt burned out at work compared to 57 percent of workers in desk jobs.

"Everyone has a different definition of the ideal work experience," said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder. "For some, it's being in the thick of the action in the office. For others, it's the flexibility of not working behind a desk. There are advantages and disadvantages to both scenarios. With any job, it's important to find a work environment that is suited to your work style and interests and where you can thrive."

Advantages and Disadvantages of Working in a Desk Job
When asked to identify some of the perks of their work environment, workers in desk jobs pointed to:

Access to technology/Internet – 72 percent
Having a job that is not physically demanding – 60 percent
Having a routine – 59 percent
Ability to communicate with company leaders and peers more easily – 33 percent
Opportunity to build closer relationships with company leaders and peers – 25 percent
Ability to stay in the loop on new developments in the company – 22 percent

When asked to identify shortcomings of their work environment, workers in desk jobs cited the following:

Not enough physical activity – 56 percent
Staring at a computer screen most of the day – 56 percent
Stuck inside most of the day – 51 percent
Doing the same work every day, not enough variety – 24 percent
More distractions/disruptions from co-workers – 23 percent

Advantages and Disadvantages of Working in a Non-Desk Job
When asked to identify some of the perks of their work environment, workers in non-desk jobs pointed to:

Ability to stay more physically active – 68 percent
Variety in their workday – 54 percent
Not being stuck in front of a computer all day – 51 percent
Having more flexibility – 41 percent
Not having to get dressed up to go to work – 39 percent
Not having to deal with office politics – 33 percent

When asked to identify shortcomings of their work environment, workers in non-desk jobs cited the following:

Exhausted from working on my feet all day – 35 percent
More prone to injury or illness – 24 percent
Less recognition for my efforts – 17 percent
Not as informed about new company developments – 15 percent
Less chance for upward mobility – 11 percent
Less face-to-face interaction with leaders and peers – 9 percent

Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder among 3,197 workers ages 18 and over (employed full-time, not self-employed, non-government) of which 2,095 typically work behind a desk and 1,102 don't typically work behind a desk between February 10 and March 4, 2014 (percentages for some questions are based on a subset, based on their responses to certain questions). With pure probability samples of 2,095 and 1,102, one could say with a 95 percent probability that the overall results have sampling errors of +/-2.14 and +/-2.95 percentage points, respectively. Sampling error for data from sub-samples is higher and varies.

About CareerBuilder®
CareerBuilder is the global leader in human capital solutions, helping companies target and attract great talent. Its online career site, CareerBuilder.com®, is the largest in the United States with more than 24 million unique visitors and 1 million jobs. CareerBuilder works with the world's top employers, providing everything from labor market intelligence to talent management software and other recruitment solutions. Owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI), Tribune Company and The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI), CareerBuilder and its subsidiaries operate in the United States, Europe, South America, Canada and Asia. For more information, visit www.careerbuilder.com.

Media Contact
Jennifer Grasz
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SOURCE CareerBuilder