The Importance of Being Happy at Work
We all know that work can be stressful. But did you know that the average person spends 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime? That’s one third of our lives! So, it’s no surprise that our work has a massive impact on our level of happiness and how we feel about life. This is why companies need to invest the time in making work fun and enjoyable.
Frank Sonnenberg an award-winning author once said, “If work isn’t fun, you’re playing on the wrong team”. Here’s why being happy at work is so important.
The Link Between Happiness and Productivity
There is a direct link between happiness and productivity. Numerous studies have shown that happy employees are more engaged, have higher levels of motivation, and take fewer sick days. On the flip side, unhappy employees are more likely to be less engaged, less productive, and more likely to call in sick.
It’s in a company’s best interest to create an environment where employees are happy and thriving.
How to Create a Happy Workplace Environment
So how can companies create a happy workplace environment? Every workplace is different, caters for different demographics but we can still have fun. It’s a matter of finding out what makes your group tick and how can we find a common ground where everyone can get involved. There are a few things that companies can do to foster happiness at work, such as:
Encourage social interactions: Create opportunities for employees to interact with one another on a personal level. This could be anything from hosting regular social events to simply encouraging people to take breaks together, go out for lunch and share experiences together.
Environment: To create a fun workplace environment where everyone feels welcome, it’s important that you invest money in creating an open-minded space with plenty of outlets for employees’ creativity.
Show appreciation: A little appreciation goes a long way. Whether it’s through verbal praise, written recognition, or small tokens of appreciation, let your employees know when they’re doing a good job.
Promote work/life balance: A healthy work/life balance is essential for happiness both in and out of the workplace. Encourage your employees to take their vacation days, and don’t discourage them from taking time off when they need it.
The good news is that there are many things companies can do to create a happy workplace environment. We’ve shared just a few ideas in this post, but the most important thing is to start with understanding what your employees want and need.
Once you have a good idea of what makes them happy, it’s easier to put into place policies and procedures that will help foster a positive work culture. It’s time for companies to start taking the steps necessary to create a happy workplace environment where their employees can thrive.
