Essential workers are the lifeblood of our communities, from the sanitation workers who keep our streets clean to the teachers who educate our children. Although these positions play vital roles in our daily lives, we often take them for granted. A recent Preply survey highlights the everyday heroes Americans often overlook.
The Most Under-Appreciated Professions
It’s a harsh reality, but many essential workers are overlooked and underappreciated. According to Preply, sanitation workers bear the brunt of the neglect, ranking as the most under-recognized profession in America. A staggering 20 percent of Americans admit to never thanking their garbage collector, and another 12 percent regret it.
Of course, with lives that keep us away from home, it may be challenging to catch sanitation workers before they’re on to the next street, but they aren’t alone. Childcare workers, lawn care workers, and park rangers are also undervalued. While many of these roles might be pretty elusive in your daily life, childcare workers are probably people you see often throughout the week when picking up your child.
While janitors are often identified as the most underappreciated profession (44 percent of Americans think so), they do get some love — 2 in 5 Americans have thanked a janitor in their lifetime, double the rate of trash collectors. For an even more dramatic contrast, nearly 80 percent of Americans have never thanked a childcare worker.
While the gratitude may be lacking, Americans aren’t oblivious. Some of us have serious regrets over leaving certain people unthanked. What profession do we regret not thanking the most? Teachers. Over 1 in 5 Americans wish they’d thanked a teacher who positively impacted their lives when they had the chance. (FYI: It’s never too late!)
The Least Appreciative Americans
Some states are falling short when it comes to expressing gratitude. Arizona, in particular, earns the unfortunate title of the least appreciative state in America. Residents there only say “thank you” an average of 98 times per person per year. To put that into perspective, that means nearly 70 percent of Arizonans go an entire day without thanking someone.
Mississippi isn’t far behind, ranking as the second least appreciative state. Only 31 percent of Mississippi residents report saying “thank you” to someone on any given day. North Carolina comes in third, with only 33 percent of residents regularly expressing gratitude. So much for that Southern hospitality, huh? Maryland and New Mexico round out the top five least appreciative states.
Gratitude Done Right
Expressing gratitude is a simple yet powerful way to show your appreciation. Whether it’s an employee, neighbor, friend, or family member, a heartfelt “thank you” goes a long way.
Just saying “thank you” can make someone’s day — 40 percent of Americans say they’ve heard that in response to showing appreciation. And for the people on the receiving end, 45 percent say the most memorable “thank you” they’ve gotten was being told how they made a positive impact. For 1 in 4 Americans, a tangible token of appreciation, like a gift or note, made the experience even more special.
A Call for Gratitude
Remember, even though it’s someone’s job to collect your trash, teach your kids, or mow your lawn, their work is valuable. A little recognition can make a big difference. Doing so can be an excellent way for your kids to practice their English or for you to reach out and test your foreign language skills as well. Whether you need to polish your English or get some help with speaking Spanish, giving thanks in the correct language can go a long way in showing gratitude and modeling it for your kids.
To close out their survey, Preply asked, “If you could thank one person right now, who would it be?” One woman wrote, “My mailman who comes every day in triple-digit heat here in Phoenix, Arizona.” A respondent from Kentucky said, “My high school teacher encouraged me to keep writing.” An Idaho resident answered, “The utility workers work through fire season to ensure our power is on and that the transmitters don’t start a fire.”
Responses like these show that, if we stop to think about it, many people make up the fabric of our lives and work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our communities going.
The same applies to our workplaces. The best leaders recognize the efforts their team members put in and then go the extra mile to express their gratitude. Spreading kindness and showing appreciation help create positive and supportive environments for everyone, which usually translates to more collaboration, productivity, and higher job satisfaction.
Let’s make a conscious effort to show appreciation for the people in our lives. A simple “thank you” might be what someone needs to hear to know their hard work is worth it.
