And recognition needs to come in a form that speaks directly to the worker's needs. For other people, money by itself isn't sufficient. There has to be a jibing of the values. For a significant number of people, particularly those doing creative, emotionally challenging work, the other aspects need to be addressed for them to want to stick with it. Like a good captain, a good boss makes sure everyone stays on course, even over the rough patches.
Many people thrive on the stress of doing challenging work.
Colleagues who are excited about getting an Internet startup off the ground often find they have the energy for schedules that would seem impossible in a less inspiring environment. But put those same people in a startup where the mission is unclear and the goals keep shifting, and watch the seeds of burnout start to sprout. But often, especially in settings that are rapidly changing and evolving, there's the sense that the managers don't even know what the expectations and priorities are. If you are highly critical without offering constructive advice or praise, you can do just as much damage as those who aren't clear about their expectations. And although no one should count on a supervisor to be a surrogate parent or counselor, it is not unreasonable to expect civil treatment in the workplace.