Those who work in the marketing and creative industries are particularly lucky
The HR services company Robert Half surveyed 23,000 employees and identified six factors that make employees satisfied and happy.
Employees who are treated fairly and respectfully and feel valued are happy in their jobs. This in turn has a positive effect on the company's success. Robert Half surveyed over 23,000 employees in eight countries to find out how happy they are in their job and which factors play a role in this. There is no universal formula for happiness, but six universal factors directly influence employee satisfaction and should therefore receive management attention.
Employees around the world are predominantly happy at work. The majority of employees surveyed in the Robert Half study "The time is ripe. Working happily", the majority of employees surveyed achieved a happiness level of 70 on a happiness scale of 0 to 100. In a comparison of positions, managers are the happiest.
However, not all employees achieve a high level of happiness: a third of the study participants are planning to change jobs in the next six months. What can managers do to ensure that their employees enjoy their work and remain loyal to the company?
"Happiness is of course a deeply personal emotion. Nevertheless, happiness in the workplace can be influenced in concrete ways," explains Yeng Chow, Senior Manager at Robert Half in Zurich. "Happy employees are more productive and creative, they are sick less often and remain loyal to the company for longer. This is reason enough to seriously address the key aspects of happiness and take action."
The majority of the employees surveyed believe that responsibility for satisfaction lies with both the line manager and the employees themselves. Only 6 % expect the employer to be primarily responsible for their well-being at work. One in five (19 %) believe that each employee bears most of the responsibility themselves.
Six factors for happiness in the workplace
Every employee has different needs, goals and preferences. Nevertheless, the results of the study provide clear indications of some universal factors that directly influence employee satisfaction. These six factors not only motivate employees, they also improve teamwork and thus simplify recruitment efforts and employee retention measures:
1) The right job. A well-thought-out recruitment process with detailed job descriptions and thorough interviews ensures that employees are hired who fit in well with the corporate culture and know what to expect. The right incentives and continuous readjustment help to sustainably influence employee satisfaction and thus loyalty to the company.
2) More responsibility. Only just under half of respondents (49 %) say they can exert influence at work or be creative (45 %). However, decision-making authority and creative freedom are key aspects of professional happiness.
3) Honest appreciation. Regular constructive feedback and honest recognition of performance creates long-lasting moments of happiness at work.
4) Feel the meaning. Employees who do meaningful work are happier than those for whom it is "just" work. Employees who are also proud of their company are 2.8 times more likely to be happy at work. This makes pride the strongest driver of happy employees worldwide.
5) Experience fairness and respect. For women, this aspect is the most important happiness factor. Overall, fair and respectful treatment of one another is the second most important driver of happiness in the workplace worldwide. Only 7 % of those who experience a high level of fairness and respect plan to change their job in the coming months.
6) A positive working atmosphere. Good relationships in the workplace make for more fun, innovation and better collaboration - beyond team boundaries. Managers who succeed in establishing a good atmosphere and a climate of mindfulness and friendliness can count on motivated and productive employees.
"What increases the well-being of employees? How can a high level of employee satisfaction be ensured in the long term? These are critical questions that Swiss companies need to find answers to. Employees with a high level of commitment and strong ties to the company and its values are highly engaged in their workplace," summarizes Yeng Chow. "Employees are happy and motivated when they feel that their skills and experience fit the job. Companies need to examine this intensively as early as the recruitment phase and then determine it again and again. After all, career paths are not set in stone. If companies proactively implement these measures, they will see a noticeable improvement in their productivity and profitability."
About the study
The study is based on data collected by an independent market research company in the third quarter of 2016. Over 23,000 employees worldwide from Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA and the UK took part in the online survey: they answered 30 questions about how happy they are in their job and which factors play a role in this. The study focused on specialists and managers. A special statistical method was used downstream in the analysis to weight the data according to age, gender, level of education, position and professional field.
Graphic: CreativeMagic/Pixabay
