Why you should be happy at work
Whether you work full or part-time, the workplace is likely to be an intrinsic part of your life. It gives us all a feeling of normality and accomplishment. Work can become a big part of our lives, therefore, being happy at work should be as big a priority as being happy at home. Suppressing emotions such as sadness, anger, and frustration can lead to stress on the body, which has the potential to lead to physical and mental symptoms of ill health.
Benefits for being happier at work
Being happy is the key to everything we do because if we are not happy, the output will not be good.
Research suggests that happier workers perform better, have more job satisfaction and have closer bonds with their colleagues. Being happier at work means you’ll be more creative and effective in problem-solving, as well as making more effective decisions, which leads to more productivity and potentially faster career advancement. More importantly, if you are happy, you are less likely to suffer symptoms of stress.
Tips for being happier at work:
Find a career you enjoy
Finding the right job is essential. It is more likely that you will be passionate about a role that you enjoy or uses skills that you are proud of.
Take charge of professional and personal development
If you get ongoing feedback you can feel in control of your career and can see yourself improving and growing which is more likely to lead to a feeling of satisfaction in your role.
Know what is happening at work
Feeling out of the loop of current developments can lead to feelings of disconnection and feeling undervalued. Ensuring good communication will help to ensure involvement.
Avoid negativity
Participating in a toxic work environment will increase unhappiness, no matter how much you may enjoy your job. Avoid any negative conversations, gossip, and unhealthy work relationships as much as possible.
Have a comfortable working environment
Ensuring that you are physically comfortable in all your workplace settings, this will help to avoid any suffering from back/neck pain. Additionally, take regular breaks to avoid any symptoms of repetitive strain injury.
Tips for Employers on how to encourage happiness at work:
- Ensuring a good workstation setup is essential. Make sure employees make use of available equipment such as a fully adjustable chair, height-adjustable desk, and a vertical mouse. If you need help with Workplace or DSE assessments, please get in touch.
- There are free on-line thank you cards that you could share with your teams so that they can send to peers. Why not link these to your values and celebrate gratitude
- Hold a ‘happiness day’ or ‘happiness week’ – encourage your teams to think of covid secure ways in which you could encourage happiness
- Encourage your teams to say thank you, small gestures can sometimes brighten up someone’s day
- Make sure you are carrying out regular wellbeing reviews and documenting the outcome.
- Consider an engagement survey to check how employees are feeling. If you would like to know more about this speak to our team.
- Make employees aware of the support available to them. Do you have an Employee Assistance Programme for example? You can access more about an EAP here if it helps.
- Offer the regular option of Occupational Health or Counselling when its needed. Ensure the employee knows that you are there to support them.
If we can help with engagement surveys, wellbeing surveys, wellbeing reviews, absence management, Employee Assistance Programme, or any other wellbeing services, please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of the team, contact us or call 01924 827869.
