This week we celebrate the international Week of Happiness at Work. It was started in 2015 by two Dutch women, Fennande van der Meulen and Maartje Wolff. The purpose of the week is to include happiness in the work environment and in this way improve the well-being of employees.
We found out which things in particular make people feel comfortable and happy at work, and we also wanted to put together tips so that everyone could influence it themselves. It has been studied that well-being and happy employees are more loyal, more cooperative, more productive and more creative.
What things help employees to be happy at work?
Many things can be directly linked to the supervisor’s behavior and way of leading, but every employee also has a big responsibility for their own behavior and for creating the work atmosphere. It must be remembered that each employee values the things that affect his or her comfort at work. For example, for some, a good salary and a permanent employment are more important than other things besides that.
- Treating every employee equally, regardless of their skills or backgrounds. Here is a good example where both supervisor and employees can influence.
- Advancement opportunities give employees more motivation to perform their work. Motivation is one of the biggest ways to keep employees interested.
- A sufficient amount of resources, so that employees feel that they can focus on the work itself, and no energy is spent on sorting through the chaos. By taking this into account, work burnout is also avoided.
- The versatility of the work increases meaningfulness and gives opportunities to do different tasks. In this way, employees are also able to develop themselves, and do not become passive.
- Flexibility in the workplace and among employees gives a feeling of appreciation. It can be seen even in small things, such as giving the employee the opportunity to express free wishes, or even the freedom to plan their own working days and weeks.
- Appreciation of employees and an open conversational atmosphere enables freer discussion, which also makes it easier to resolve conflicts. The mutual appreciation of employees develops slowly, sometimes to progress you may need help from the management.
- Organizing social events is an excellent way to help employees build friendships with each other. Even if the employees would’t be close friends, good relationships help the open atmosphere mentioned earlier.
- Good employment benefits, such as sport and culture vouchers, are an excellent way to support the employee’s free time, and give the employee the opportunity to choose the preferred destination for using the vouchers.
- Being recognized and rewarded for one’s work gives the employee the feeling that the work they do is important.
- A positive way of communicating increases the reception of information. The supervisor can increase the positive working atmosphere at the workplace, e.g. by walking with a smile and talking constructively.
We wanted to share tips that would help everyone at work improve their well-being and in this way increase their happiness at the workplace.
In addition to good social relationships, nutritious food and enough sleep help you cope at work. Outdoor activities, fresh air and exercise give us more energy than you might think. Many times after a working day you feel tired and the couch is tempting, but we still encourage you to take a little break outside, for example a short walk.
Our own attitude is one of the biggest indicators of the course of our day. The twists and turns in private life and the balance are reflected in everyone’s work self. We can’t influence everything, and not everything always goes the way we want, but we can change our attitude and the way we see things.
The members of Sotekki wish you a happy working week!