Do you experience happiness at work? What, exactly, makes your workplace experience happy? A good manager and like-able, competent co-workers are important, of course. Yet, a new study shows that the physical workplace itself can make or break your happiness on the job.
Happiness, rather than technology, is the key ingredient in a unique workplace experience, say nearly 70 percent of employees in Workplace—Powered by Human Experience, a global study of more than 7,300 employees in 12 countries. Most people are happier and more productive when their office is designed around their needs, rather than around rigid lines of “cube farms” or private offices. And, CEOs are noticing.
Savvy C-suite executives today recognize a direct correlation between a productive workplace and healthy balance sheet. In industries where talent is scarce—which are many these days—employees are beginning to have the upper hand in how workplaces are designed.
In addition to designing around the needs of the employee, offering positive, experiential work environments can help alleviate stress on the job. That’s meaningful, in light of American Psychological Association research finding that 65 percent of people say work is a top source of stress, while only 36 percent say that their workplace provides adequate support. Stress can lead to an array of adverse health effects, which in turn can trigger absence.