Employee happiness is not a luxury – it’s essential

Employee happiness is not merely a luxury but a fundamental component of organisational success. On this International Day of Happiness, Locale’s Director of People & Culture Vanessa Sampson reflects on the significance of happiness in the workplace, the science underpinning it, and actionable steps companies can take to cultivate a joyful and productive environment.

Understanding happiness in the workplace

Happiness at work transcends fleeting positive emotions; it embodies a state of overall well-being that influences an employee's outlook, behaviour, and job performance. A happy workplace is characterised by employees feeling valued, supported, and motivated. It's less about superficial perks and more about fostering a culture of trust, autonomy, and purpose. In such environments, individuals experience a sense of belonging, align with the organisation's values, and maintain a healthy balance between their professional and personal lives.

The science behind employee happiness

Research has increasingly demonstrated that happy employees are more productive, creative, and engaged in their work. A study by the University of Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre found that a one-point increase (of a scale of 0-10) in self-reported happiness led to a 12% increase in productivity among call centre workers. This happiness stems from a combination of factors, including meaningful work, a healthy work-life balance, strong interpersonal relationships, and opportunities for personal growth.

Strategies for fostering workplace happiness

Creating a happy workplace requires deliberate efforts from both leadership and employees. Here are five tactics to cultivate such an environment:

1. Encourage flexibility and work-life balance: Allow flexible work hours, remote options, or hybrid models, and promote a culture that respects boundaries between work and personal time.
2. Foster open and transparent communication: Cultivate an atmosphere where employees feel safe sharing ideas, concerns, and feedback without fear of retribution.
3. Prioritise mental and physical health: Meaningful and relevant work should never come at the expense of someone's health; only happy and healthy individuals will contribute to wider company success.
4. Recognise and reward contributions: Regularly celebrate both big and small successes, whether through public recognition, quarterly and annual cash awards, or simple acts of appreciation like personal thank-you notes.
5. Create opportunities for growth: Provide clear paths for career advancement, continuous learning, and personal development to keep employees motivated and invested in their work.

Locale's commitment to employee wellbeing

These tactics align with Locale's commitment to fostering a positive work environment. We believe that happiness at work isn't a luxury—it's essential. Our team embodies this ethos through positive attitudes, engagement, constructive communication, personal accountability, and active promotion of work-life balance, enabling them to perform at their best; an environment where happiness and productivity coexist benefits both employees and the company as a whole.