Three ways employee happiness impacts your organization
Key learnings regarding employee happiness and why it matters
The connection between health and happiness is well documented and with the rising rates of obesity and related chronic diseases, employers may want to take steps to boost employee happiness to ultimately better their workplace.
When it comes to navigating happiness and the workforce, employers often wonder how the two are connected. Here are three key ways that employee happiness is impacting your organization:
- Productivity and retention – Happiness and motivation are closely linked. Understanding this connection is key to building a growth-oriented culture
,and a productive environment at your organization. Research from Oxford found that happy employees are 13% more productive, and on the flipside, unhappiness at work costs the world $8.8 trillion in lost productivity. During Dr. Arthur Brooks’ presentation at the World Happiness Summit earlier this year, he referenced three phenomena essential to living a happier life: enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning. When employees experience these feelings at work, they are more likely to be productive and to stay at an organization.
- Connection – Wondr Health conducted a survey, asking employees to share with us what brings them the most happiness, and human connection was the top answer for 30.1% of respondents. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has widely discussed the loneliness epidemic and its significant impact on our society. Creating opportunities for connection within your organization, whether in person or online, is incredibly important, as happiness in the workplace is closely tied to healthy relationships with colleagues. Workplaces that focus on fostering relationships create a cycle where positive employee experiences lead to better business outcomes.
- Overall health – Happiness and physical health are bidirectionally correlated. Multiple studies show that increased happiness lowers the risk for cardiovascular disease, strokes, and other health issues ultimately boosting your bottom line.
This research points to a clear need for systemic interventions to help build and strengthen happiness within our organizations and communities to improve overall health outcomes.
By providing employees with tools to strengthen relationships and improve overall well-being, employers can help cultivate happiness among their population to ultimately engage employees, boost performance, and enhance job satisfaction and retention. If you’re curious to learn more how Wondr Health can improve the health of your employees, and your bottom line, contact us today.
About the author:
Livvie Van Lanen is a B2B Marketing Specialist at Wondr Health. She completed a Master of Arts in the Science of Happiness Studies at Centenary University, with a focus on the impact of happiness on employee well-being and organizations’ bottom line.
