The link between happiness at work and productivity
There is more and more research to suggest that we work more effectively, creatively, and collaboratively when we’re happy at work. Forward-thinking businesses have already connected the dots. They understand that investments made to improve employee happiness directly impact on productivity.
A study conducted by economic researchers at the University of Warwick discovered happiness resulted in a 12% increase in productivity. On the other hand, unhappy workers were 10% less productive. Professor Andrew Oswald, Dr Eugenio Proto and Dr Daniel Sgroi from the Department of Economics at the University of Warwick led the research. Dr Sgroi commented: “The driving force seems to be that happier workers use the time they have more effectively, increasing the pace at which they can work without sacrificing quality.” Happiness should no longer be viewed as a personal matter; rather, it needs to be acknowledged as a workplace issue. Mark Price of engaging.works has been measuring workplace happiness for the past three years, asking thousands of employees how they feel about a range of issues, from pay and recognition to career development and managerial relationships. His research shows the UK below Austria, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Poland, France, Australia, Spain and the US in terms of overall workplace satisfaction (at only 64.3%). It is no surprise that all of these companies, excluding Spain, are also ahead of the UK for productivity. Mark Price notes that “in a post-Brexit world, engaged and happy workers will be vital if we are to become competitive on a global stage.” So how happy are your employees? These are the key areas that you can adopt as a company to improve your employees’ level of happiness: 1. Reward and Recognition Make it a habit to reward your employees on a regular basis. Always congratulate employees on a job well done and really show that you mean it. Be vocal. Make the rewards public. Recognition of the value that an employee brings impacts substantially on their level of happiness at work. 2. Build an awesome office (we can help with this one) Large, open workspaces with lots of natural light can go a long way towards improving employee morale. As can providing a range of spaces for different types of work such as collaboration booths, quiet working booths and soft seating for informal meetings. Involve your employees in decisions about the workspace; after all they spend a significant amount of their valuable time there. You could also consider incorporating a company games room (many of our clients do and they are a huge success). 3. Offer the best perks The old mindset is that the level of salary dictates the happiness level. This is not the full story, although it does have an impact. Offer a multi layered package, or better still tailor make a package for the individual employee. Allowing your employees to work in a more agile way – with flexibility on where and when and how they work –has a huge impact on morale and happiness. 4. Listen to your employees One of the easiest ways to make your employees feel valued — and therefore happier — is to regularly ask for their feedback – and more importantly, to listen and act on their suggestions and ideas. Keeping them well informed of changes, and involving them in some way, will also show them that they are a valued part of the organisation. 5. Invest in professional development If you invest in your employees’ futures, they are more likely to invest in the company and be happy at work. Show that you care about their careers – whether it be allowing them to attend relevant conferences or paying for additional training. If you’d like to improve your productivity this year, call us for a free consultation. We love creating great places to work that offer the many benefits of agile working. That’s two of the five ways to improve employee happiness sorted. We’ll leave you to implement the other three ways… |
Happiness should no longer be viewed as a personal matter; rather, it needs to be acknowledged as a workplace issue. |