When it comes to designing and managing the workplace, the happiness of staff is too often treated as an add-on, an indulgence that shouldn’t distract from the serious work.
Many business owners fail to realise that when we get serious about employee happiness – and when we’re willing to invest in it – there can be significant benefits, not least to the bottom line. Happiness is good business.
Happiness increases loyalty
Everybody prefers to work in an environment where they feel good. The hiring and firing process is expensive, and having experienced employees makes everything go more smoothly, so investing in approaches that improve worker retention makes obvious sense. Happiness not only makes employees more likely to stay in their jobs, but it also means that they voice positive opinions about the organisation, improving its reputation. They are also more internally engaged, increasing the chance that they will make helpful suggestions for further improvements and will let you know if something threatens to spoil the positive atmosphere.
Happiness increases productivity
In some workplace cultures, it used to be common for managers to argue that people shouldn’t be enjoying themselves; they should be working. In fact, the two can be very effectively combined. A recent study by Oxford University’s Saïd Business School found that happiness in the workplace can increase productivity by as much as 13%. We know that feeling relaxed and comfortable improves the ability to concentrate and also that people cooperate more effectively in a positive environment which cultivates trust. Happy people pay attention for longer and care more about the work they’re doing, so they’re less likely to cut corners or do less than their best.
Happiness increases confidence
People are much more confident when they feel happy, and this benefits business in several ways. Firstly, they’re more willing to take risks – sensible, calculated ones, not impulsive ones. In comparison, people who are feeling down tend to be risk-averse to an irrational degree, making progress difficult. Secondly, they’re less self-conscious about making mistakes, which means that they have more opportunity to learn from them, and they won’t create problems by trying to cover them up. Thirdly, they make better decisions and are less likely to suffer from decision fatigue. That phenomenon causes decisions to become poorer and more stressful over the course of the day.
Happiness decreases stress
Although stress and happiness are not mutually exclusive – it is possible to feel worried and exhausted while doing something one loves – happiness tends to lower stress levels. This has immediate mental health benefits and may reduce the risk of physical health problems over the long term. It also makes addiction less likely to occur, though regular drugs and alcohol workplace testing still has a role to play, not least because it means that if there is a problem, an employer can spot it and offer appropriate support. That keeps the workplace safer for everyone – an essential contributor to what makes people happy – and helps employees feel confident that their employer cares about their well-being.
Happiness inspires customers
It’s always more appealing to engage with an enthusiastic person than one who is merely doing what’s required. Clients and customers coming into contact with happy employees are more likely to start feeling positive themselves, making them more open to persuasion and more likely to take away a good impression of the organisation when they leave. If your staff feel good about what they’re doing, they will come across as more trustworthy, and customers will feel at ease, making them likely to spend longer on your premises and more likely to return for future visits.
What makes a happy workplace?
To keep employees happy, you’ll need to pay them a decent wage, but money alone won’t be enough. That’s because, once basic needs are met, the most important thing about that wage is that it shows respect, and you’ll need to show that in other ways as well. One of the best things you can do is simply to let employees know that you’re listening to them and taking their ideas on board. You can also improve the general mood with simple things like providing more access to natural light, making fresh water and healthy snacks available, and providing a comfortable rest area. All these things let workers know that you care about their well-being.
Investing in the creation of a happy workplace is something that will benefit your company in multiple ways. It will mean a lot to your employees and, ultimately, it will also improve your working life.
