4 facts about happy employees

We’re all familiar with the saying, “A happy employee means more productivity,” but what else do we know about a happy employee? Are these people motivators for other co-workers? Are they naturally happy people who just continue to exude happiness in the workplace or do they really enjoy their jobs that much? These are valid questions that we will seek to answer by uncovering insightful information about people who are happy at work.

4 facts about happy employees

Some of these facts may seem simple, but after reading this, you may find more reasons than you imagined to cultivate a work environment that supports happy employees.

1. Hard work: We all saw this coming, but do we really understand the impact this has on a business? Hard-working and happy employees provide more productivity than you thought possible! With disgruntled American workers costing $300 billion per year in lost productivity, your boss may think twice about how he treats his workers. Happy employees generally work harder than unhappy and discouraged ones; this was evident in a 2011 study by the Harvard Business Review. This research found that the level of happiness has a direct effect on a worker’s creativity, productivity, engagement, and relationships in the office.
2. Health worker: Workplace stress has become a common influence on the health and well-being of employed people. This disease leaves employees disabled and distracted at work, increasing lack of productivity once again. The American Psychological Association found that chronic stress triggers fatigue, irritability, and even physical illness. Letting this stress become a constant problem in a work environment can become a vicious cycle.
3. More creative: Having a positive outlook and interest in one’s work leaves room for creativity and improvement. Most happy employees spend time completing tasks and working to find other solutions. Teresa Amabile, co-author of The principle of progress, found that “people are more productive and creative when they have more positive emotions.” Her research has also found that those who have used their happiness to form new ideas or complete difficult tasks will also use this creativity the next day. A little happiness goes a long way.
4. Greater sense of community: Happy employees always seem to be the ones who spread joy throughout the year to everyone in the office. Although it’s not in their job description to remember co-workers’ birthdays or send flowers, they tend to be the ones to fulfill this important obligation. Happy employees have this natural inclination to spread their happiness and productivity to others. Due to their reach in the office, these people tend to have a stronger sense of community which translates into better relationships with co-workers. These people are perfect for boosting office morale and keeping the workplace community together. Every office depends on happy employees!

A happy employee can affect much more than productivity in the workplace. We have seen how a positive spirit can boost community, health, creativity and organization within the office. People who enjoy their work are also more likely to say positive things about their workplace in private conversations and in more public settings through online company rating services like Glassdoor.

Happy employees tend to work hard day in and day out, while spreading their positive energy to others as well. Every office depends on these positive employees to increase loyalty and productivity at work. These influential workers have shown why companies benefit from paying a little more attention to the morale of their employees.