Finding happiness at work is our ultimate goal after all. In the end, we all want to feel fulfilled and create value in our lives. Finding your happy place at work can be hard, if not impossible. Employees today settle for roles that not only offer them good remuneration but also take into consideration other factors like work-life balance, amenities, benefits and work culture.
A survey conducted by Harvard Business Publishing states that workplace wellness includes physical, emotional and environmental wellness. For a truly healthy and happy work environment, all three factors must be considered.
Let us take a closer look at why and how organisations and individuals ensure a happy work environment.
Why organisations are prioritizing happiness at work
According to the The Science of Happiness at Work, an extensive research program, happy employees stay with their organisations four times longer than their unhappy counterparts. This proves that maintaining high levels of happiness at work is a significant part of building workplace culture. Happiness is also proportional to productivity, making it an important factor for employers too.
An extensive study on happiness and productivity conducted by Oxford University’s Saïd Business School found that workers are 13% more productive when happy.”
Happy workers work faster, provide better conversion rates and serve the customers satisfactorily. Thus, happiness at work can lead to success in every other domain too, such as, performance, productivity, creativity, energy, longevity and more.
The University of Warwick, UK, in one of their studies also revealed that happy employees are more likely to possess good health with smooth flowing professional and personal relationships. This benefits the organization as a whole.
Globally, organisations are prioritising employee wellbeing and taking steps to ensure the happiness of their associates through aesthetically designed offices, community building events, flexible / remote work, and more. In some organisations, Chief Happiness Officers and Motivational Coaches have been appointed to ensure employee well-being.
The University of Warwick study put it as ‘under scientifically controlled conditions, making workers happier pays off.’ It also revealed how companies like Google have invested more in employee support resulting in increased (37%) employee satisfaction.
How organisations are prioritising happiness at work
Every organisation functions in a different way and thus the steps they take to prioritize happiness at work, are also varied. However, these are the three most common & important steps followed by organisations while prioritizing happiness.
- Maintaining work-life balance: Employees will only stay in a job if they are happy and work-life balance plays a vital role in ensuring happiness. Without this balance, associates burn out faster, thus resulting in high attrition and a workforce that’s mechanical. US-based company, TaskUs goes to great lengths to maintain the perfect work-life balance. According to an article by Comparably.com, TaskUs has established policies such as no meeting Fridays, no chat weekends and paid time offs that have been highly appreciated.
- Flexible work schedules: Having worked efficiently from home for the last two years, employees are now inclined towards the flexible work culture that enables them to work from wherever they want. Many companies are now opening up to this idea and moving to a hybrid work culture that makes this possible. A report by USChamber.com talks about how American Express, one of the largest credit card companies in the world has adopted a flexible work schedule. They offer part-time, full-time, contract and remote opportunities with the flexibility to work from home whenever you need to.
- A positive work culture: As a result of the pandemic, organisation have realised the importance of creating an empathetic work culture. Whether organisation follow work from home or work from office, employee wellbeing has become of utmost importance to every organisation. This in turn builds a sense of belonging and increases job satisfaction which results in higher employee retention.
Adobe was ranked No.1 in the Happiest Employees 2021 (large companies) survey conducted by Comparably.com. Adobe’s rewarding culture and supportive environment are what makes its employees the happiest. The company measured employee sentiment throughout the pandemic and introduced monthly companywide days off, flexible work schedules and hiked wellness reimbursement to support employee wellbeing making them extremely happy, according to a CNBC report.
Design that creates a positive workplace
Having spoken about how an organisation’s culture affects an employees’ productivity, let’s evaluate other aspects such as workspace design and its role in creating a happy, healthy workplace.
Traditional offices designed with monochrome interiors and drab cubical seating are passé. Organisations now want bright and vibrant workspaces that encourage a positive environment that meets their creative needs. According to another Harvard Business Review article, new age offices need to be designed for productivity, safety, flexibility and community. As a result, traditional office design has evolved to prioritise employee safety, comfort and creativity, which in turn leads to higher productivity.
“According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine in 2014, employees working in offices with natural light responded positively as compared to employees working in windowless environments without access to natural light.”
Finding your Happy Space at work
Employees must aim to find that one corner at their workplace where their ideas are free-flowing, creativity is at the max and productivity is enhanced. Look for a space where natural light and fresh air come in effortlessly. A space that’s clean, well-lit and comfortable. That will be the quintessential definition of your happy place.
It’s easier to find your Happy Place at work if your organisation follows a flexible seating arrangement that lets you choose a different space every day. Finding the perfect work spot that works for you, is easier in a co-working space that offer shared and private offices based on a hybrid work model.
At CoWrks, our architectural & design teams ensure stimulating and engaging spaces that inspire fresh thoughts. Our artfully created community lounges and tactfully designed nooks and office spaces can easily serve as your ‘happy place’. When work gets overwhelming, take a break and find yourself surrounded by our unique design elements.
How to ensure a happy workspace
- Declutter your desk: Decluttering your desk space can go a long way in improving clarity of thoughts. It also helps to own less things which need less of your attention and energy in terms of organising, cleaning and maintaining. The best way to declutter is to remove everything and assess each item for its usefulness.
- Find a space with natural light: Natural light can really help elevate your mood and positively impact your productivity. Find a space near a window or door that let’s sunlight in. This will also help keep your desk space naturally bright.
- Take time out to network: Taking regular breaks can be very beneficial as it helps you think better and break through the mental chaos. So take time out to network with colleagues and meet new people.
The community lounge space at Cowrks is perfect to relax and unwind where you may end up making some great connections with other employees, entrepreneurs and freelancers. An excellent networking opportunity, this may help you find a business or even your next dream job.
With employees spending one third of their lives at work, a happy and positive work culture plays a key role in being able to retain talent. Thus, organisations must endeavour to keep their employees pleases by providing them the creative freedom and flexibility they deserve. This will result in employees finding their happy space that’ll double their output and trivialize their grievances, if any.
Does your organisation need a happy workspace too? Your search has ended on a cheerful note with CoWrks which offers all that you need for an enriched experience.
