25 September 2024

International Week of Happiness at Work

The last week of September marks “The International Week of Happiness at Work,” which focusses on making this a priority for both individuals and organisations. The World Happiness Foundation states that happiness at work “encompasses a sense of purpose, recognition and wellbeing” (2024). As more research into this topic emerges, we are seeing an increase in focus on workplace health and occupational psychology.

Given that many of us spend a large number of our waking hours working, this has a profound impact on our overall wellbeing and the rest of our lives. Between May and July 2024, the average number of hours worked by full-time workers in the UK was 36.6 hours (Office of National Statistics).

To find out more information about International Week of Happiness at Work and to sign the Happy at Work manifesto, follow the link below:

https://internationalweekofhappinessatwork.com/manifesto/

Why Is Happiness at Work Important?

Happiness at work may sometimes been seen as something that is pleasant but not necessary or even a bit frivolous but the impact is significant.

1. Individual health and wellbeing:

Prolonged exposure to stress at work can have a substantial impact on both the mental and physical health of employees which not only impacts on the individual but may also result in increased sick leave. Bhattacharya et al. (2021) identified that stress at work and precarious work were associated with an increased number of days impacted by physical or mental health concerns. Kivimaki and Kawachi (2015) highlighted, specifically, the association between work stressors and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes whereas Siegrist (2008) outlined the body of evidence behind the positive correlation between workplace stress and depression.

2. Overall productivity:

There is a substantial body of research that supports the notion that there is a positive correlation between happiness and productivity, making this a worthwhile focus for employers. Oswald et al. (2015) identified that happiness is associated with 12% greater productivity.

3. Turnover Intention:

Happiness at work also impacts on staff retention. Huang et al. (2023) identified a negative correlation between the professional happiness of healthcare workers and turnover intention with 13.4% of the turnover intention being explained by professional happiness.

4. Economic Impact:

Employee happiness at work has a significant financial impact on not only an organisation but also upon the wider society. Shaholli et al. (2023) explored the financial impact that stress at work has upon societies worldwide, stating that this is up to € 280billion dependent upon the area. This is based on the impact of medical costs, absenteeism and presenteeism.

What does happiness at work mean to us?

We wanted to mark this year’s International Week of Happiness at Work by taking the opportunity to ask some of our team members what happiness at work means to them:

“My happiness at work is completely linked to the happiness of the people around me. If my colleagues are happy, I am happy. When the team is happy, morale is high and stress is reduced, which creates a true connection; making work more fulfilling for everyone.”

Carrie

“I love feeling challenged and productive, so for me I feel happiest at work when I can get stuck into an exciting new project or challenge. I also really love to laugh and have fun so a healthy balance of feeling challenged and working hard whilst having fun with the rest of the team is really motivating for me.”

Kirsten

“I enjoy working as part of a team focused on achieving a common goal which provides challenge, fun, new opportunities and overall job satisfaction. Combined these elements with a good work life balance and I feel my most happiness at work.”

Nichola

“Feeling like I am making a difference is important to me. I feel happiness at work when I am working as part of a team, encouraged and motivated to share thoughts and ideas that contribute to the task or project in hand. I love that laughter, and fun is valued as part of the creative process and that no two days are the same.”

Caroline

“A happy workplace where everyone gets on and knows each other is the best kind. Everyone brings their own specific expertise and life experience to the table, and a room where that is valued is crucial to a healthy work environment. Simulation training can sometimes be very serious, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t have a nice time putting it together.”

Byron

References

Bhattacharya, A., & Ray, T. (2021). Precarious work, job stress, and health-related quality of life. American journal of industrial medicine, 64(4), 310–319. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23223

Gallardo, L. (2024, January 20). 2024 Global Workplace Happiness Survey: Unveiling the Importance of Happiness and Well-being at Work. World Happiness Foundation. 2024 Global Workplace Happiness Survey: Unveiling the Importance of Happiness and Well-being at Work – World Happiness Foundation

Happy Office. Happiness at Work. The norm, not the exception. Happy Office. https://internationalweekofhappinessatwork.com/manifesto/ Accessed on 17/9/2024.

Huang, Y., Zhang, H., Qin, Z., Zou, Y., Feng, Z., & Cheng, J. (2023). The impact of meaning in life and professional happiness on the turnover intention of health care workers: a cross-sectional study from China. Human resources for health, 21(1), 92. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-023-00878-6

Kivimäki, M., & Kawachi, I. (2015). Work Stress as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease. Current cardiology reports, 17(9), 630. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-015-0630-8

Office of National Statistics. Average actual weekly hours of work for full-time workers (seasonally adjusted). Office of National Statistics. https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/timeseries/ybuy/lms Accessed on 17/9/2014.

Oswald, A. J., Proto, E., Sgroi, D. (2015). Happiness and Productivity. Journal of Labor Economics, 33(4), 789–822. https://doi.org/10.1086/681096

Shaholli, D., Mantione, G., & La Torre, G. (2023). Work-related stress costs assessment: a narrative review. La Clinica terapeutica, 174(5), 456–460. https://doi.org/10.7417/CT.2023.2464

Siegrist J. (2008). Chronic psychosocial stress at work and risk of depression: evidence from prospective studies. European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience, 258 Suppl 5, 115–119. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-008-5024-0