In my experience, I tend to feel that there is a definite moderate correlation between workplace recognition and challenging/exciting work. As many have said before me, bb254, jvv6, tn58, ect., expectations if you as an employee tend to change over the course of time spent at a position. In the beginning, recognition and praise comes easily as you are new to the position and the work is challenging to master and stimulating due to it being new. Gradually, the work becomes second nature and the praise turns into managers expecting the same quality of work day in and day out. In the end, these two factors combine to lead to feeling a lack of enthusiasm for the next day’s work.

Specifically, during my time at both pharmaceutical and medical device companies, the new hires tended to have that extra amount of enthusiasm for their jobs compared to individuals who have been at the same position for 2-7 years. This was most clearly able to be seen during the biweekly presentations of what the individuals have accomplished. The newer employees presented with such vigor and enthusiasm for their findings and discoveries and received much praise for making a positive contribution. Meanwhile, individuals in the same position for many more years seemed to just be stepping through the motions and were only given approving nods by the managers and coworkers when their turns were completed. This discrepancy in treatment and motivation for the job definitely go hand in hand and a clear bias of more seasoned workers was always seen moving on to different positions.