What makes a job good (or bad) (was RE: #5 on the list of Low Stress Jobs)

["Boudreaux, Madelyn (GE Healthcare, consultant)" <MadelynBoudreaux -at- ge -dot- com>]

Keith Hood fired a volley across our bow with:
>The thing was, I could *do something* about the dangers in the other
jobs.

When I was much younger, not at all interested in business, and assuming
I was going to labor in VERY low-wage artsy jobs all my life (instead of
merely semi-low-wage tech jobs), I heard/read about a concept that there
are X factors (where X was probably 5, but I don't remember) to making a
job enjoyable, and that we basically can be happy as long as X-1 are
present, might be happy at X-2, and will me miserable and stressed at
X-3 or more.

The factors I remember were:
Tools -- having the right tools to do the job
Pay -- being paid well for the job

I do not remember the rest. Autonomy, work hour flexibility, co-workers
you like, etc. all could fit, as could others. (I am pretty sure I
remember those 2 because they are the ones usually missing in my
jobs...)

The idea was that if you had a job were everything was good, you had the
tools to do your job, etc., but the pay is cruddy, you may still be
happy. Likewise, if you have a great job, great pay, etc., but you're
expected to muck out stalls with a teaspoon (or the equivalent), you may
still be happy. But once you take away 2 or more factors, happiness
starts to wane. 

I don't know whose theory this was, but I'd love to know if this rings
any bells. 

Sincerely,
Madelyn 
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