Increasing Happiness at Work

Researchers have known for years that high levels of happiness in the workplace are the result of high-performance standards, positive employee reinforcement and flexibility concerning schedules and family needs. Workplace happiness also involves various social, economic and psychological factors and is the very foundation of quality of life at home or at work. Recently, happiness in the workplace has gained more attention as turnover in some industries is very high as is the cost of unhappy employees.

Why Happiness is Important at Work

Happiness among employees matters a great deal at work, especially during tough social or economic times. Most experts agree that happiness facilitates the development and maintenance of meaningful relationships, helps to achieve company goals, and increases innovation and creativity, productivity and job satisfaction. Happiness in the workplace isn’t the sole responsibility of the human resources director. Everyone can make the workplace happier.

What is Happiness?

Researchers in positive psychology define happiness in a number of ways. Some say it’s a positive internal experience that entails positive emotions, absence of negative emotions and overall satisfaction with life. Happiness also involves self-fulfillment and personal growth. Others believe happiness is an emotional state of being, associated with a cognitive review of general satisfaction with life. Happiness can be viewed as something that occurs with a certain frequency and levels of intensity.

Money Leads to Workplace Happiness, Right?

While it was believed that people from the richest nations were happier than anyone else in the world, this doesn’t seem to be the case. There isn’t a distinct association between economic growth and social harmony and some researchers have discovered that an increase in material improvement had no relationship to levels of happiness.

So, what makes people happy at work?

Some experts believe that the basis of happiness within an organization are emotions and workplace behaviors. Organizational happiness may be the result of strategic thinking, positive attitudes towards work, and high motivation to work. Other research points out that positive and healthy interpersonal relationships are important for the well-being of employees.

Some Benefits of Happy Employees

Promoting happiness at work is essential because unhappy employees are very expensive and cost hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions to the organization. Happy employees are less stressed and tend to be more creative and productive. They want to be engaged with others and are satisfied with their work and relationships. Happy employees significantly reduce negativity in the work environment and can actually promote fun at work. They are also more resilient which is important in many stressful occupations like health care, law enforcement and even the military.

Final Thoughts on Increasing Happiness at Work

“It takes one to know one”. Happy leaders can be very successful in promoting happiness throughout the organization and assist in producing great results including quality of work and increasing profits. Many years ago, happiness wasn’t typically connected to the workplace, but recently it is receiving a great deal of attention, primarily because it works. Happy employees lead to positive outcomes.

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