What is employee happiness?

Glossary/E/Employee Happiness

What is Employee Happiness?

Employee happiness enables employees to deliver optimal performance and maximize their potential at the workplace. The emotional commitment that employees develop towards an organisation and its mission is an important component of employee happiness. It is subjective, conditional, and highly dependent on individual circumstances.

Employee happiness can be triggered by positive experiences in the workplace. It ensures that employees are invested in the success of the employer and enthusiastic about their work. However, it is a temporal factor that can dissipate as soon as the external work environment becomes stagnant or even negative and isn’t necessarily a factor that promotes business success.

Not to be confused with:

Employee Satisfaction

Employee satisfaction is the level of contentment that an employee feels within their job. It is als...

Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is widely described as the extent to which employees feel attached and committed...

Not to be confused with:

Employee Satisfaction

Employee satisfaction is the level of contentment that an employee feels within their job. It is als...

Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is widely described as the extent to which employees feel attached and committed...

Employee Satisfaction

Employee satisfaction is the level of contentment that an employee feels within their job. It is als...

Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is widely described as the extent to which employees feel attached and committed...

Employee Satisfaction

Employee satisfaction is the level of contentment that an employee feels within their job. It is als...

Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is widely described as the extent to which employees feel attached and committed...

Employee satisfaction is a comfortable state of being for employees to be in, but a satisfied employee often lacks enthusiasm towards their work. In comparison, employee happiness is a feeling of joy at work. Employee happiness motivates employees to perform well, while employee satisfaction might not always serve this purpose.

Employee engagement is when an employee is fully committed to their employer and works relentlessly towards their goals, regardless of external factors. They will always go out of their way to accomplish an organization's mission, in contrast to a happy employee who is only motivated to perform well when the external factors and environment are positive.

What Factors Contribute to Employee Happiness?

1. Recognition

Employees thrive when their accomplishments are acknowledged. Recognition of an employee’s efforts, especially when they go out of their way, keeps an employee happy.

2. Rewards

Being rewarded makes an employee feel worthy and adds to their happiness quotient. Organisations can ensure employee happiness by finding different ways to reward an employee’s efforts.

3. Work-life balance

Employees who can devote as much time to their loved ones as they spare for their work are generally happier than others who don't. A balanced approach towards work and personal life motivates employees to give their best shot in both areas of their life.

4. Understanding co-workers

Employees who experience empathy at the workplace feel heard and understood and are happier. Emotional intelligence at the workplace makes it a happy place to be.