(Newswire.net — March 25, 2019) — When it comes to business, happiness isn’t typically something business owners give much thought. Productivity, efficiency, output, and profitability – these are the priorities. Happiness is a nice bonus. If employees are satisfied, great. If they aren’t…well, maybe something will change.
But what if employee happiness is actually one of the most important factors – both for employees and employers? What if it’s the linchpin that holds companies together? There’s evidence to suggest that this may be the case.
Happiness and Profitability
According to a study conducted by the Department of Economics at the University of Warwick, happy workers are 12 percent more productive than the average employee. Unhappy employees are 10 percent less productive. Thus, the data reveals a 22 percent discrepancy in productivity between happy and unhappy employees.
Productivity is almost always directly related to profitability, which ultimately means happiness and profitability are closely connected. For business owners and managers, this is a keen insight that shouldn’t be neglected.
5 Keys to Employee Happiness
The question is, what sets happy employees apart from the rest of their coworkers? Once again, the answers may surprise you.
1. Commitment to Goals
There’s ample evidence to suggest that employees who are wholeheartedly dedicated to a specific cause are more likely to be happy.
“Magical things start happening when we commit ourselves to doing whatever it takes to get somewhere,” entrepreneur Laura Garnett explains. “When you’re fully committed to doing something, you have no choice but to do that thing. Counter-intuitively, having no option – where you can’t change your mind – subconsciously makes humans happier because they know part of their purpose.”
If you can find a way to rally your employees around goals – and get them to buy into the goals – you’ll find happiness far more obtainable.
2. Healthy Habits
When employees are able to maintain healthy habits, they’re more likely to be happy in their jobs. This includes both diet and exercise.
According to one study, 67 percent of full-time workers with access to free food at work are “extremely” or “very” happy with their jobs (compared to just 56 percent of those who don’t have employer-provided food options). Try incorporating healthy office snacks into your break room to take advantage of this phenomenon.
A separate study shows that regular exercise at work increases employee happiness and productivity. Larger businesses can benefit from having fitness facilities onsite. Smaller businesses may partner with nearby gyms to give employees convenient fitness options.
3. Avoidance of Negativity
It’s easy to get caught up in office politics, coworker drama, and constant complaining. However, the happiest employees are often the ones who stay away from negative conversations, gossip, and unhappy coworkers.
Not only do happy coworkers avoid negativity, but they surround themselves with positive people who embrace optimism. This creates a cycle of positivity that feeds itself.
4. Coworkers Are Friends
Some people adopt the mentality that it’s best to keep their head down at work and create a clean line between work life and social life. But when happy employees are interviewed, they often emphasize the importance of having friends in the office.
“Liking and enjoying your coworkers are hallmarks of a positive and happy work experience,” human resources consultant Susan M. Heathfield explains. “Take time to get to know them. You might like and enjoy them. Your network provides support, resources, sharing, and caring.”
5. Work-Life Balance
Millennials talk incessantly about work-life balance, but it really is important. The happiest employees tend to have a healthy balance between the two. This means they work hard and play hard.
Work-life balance is about making time for both aspects of life in order that one complements the others. Employees work so hard that they’re ready for a break. Then they spend their time away from work relaxing so that they return to work refreshed. The two go hand in hand.
Prioritizing Happiness
Employers and employees both need to commit to making happiness a bigger priority. Because when you dig down to the root of the issue, it’s evident that there’s a strong correlation between happiness and profitability. Without the former, you don’t get the latter. The sooner this is understood, the more productive everyone will be.