People are less likely to feel or express gratitude at work than anyplace else, according to a John Templeton Foundation survey. The survey reports that "Americans actively suppress gratitude on the job, even to the point of robbing themselves of happiness." Why? An article published in UC Berkeley's Greater Good Magazine says that some employees think that expressing gratitude "could lead to coworkers taking advantage of them.… The result is a vicious, culturally ingrained circle of ingratitude, which can have a terrible effect on workplace morale and cohesion." Yikes.
So how can you create a culture of gratitude? The article offers five research-tested tips for fostering gratitude on the job:
Gratitude, the article concludes, is something anyone can learn — from which everyone will benefit.