Happiness is serious business. Studies by Gallup tell us that US companies lose $600 billion worth of productivity ever year due to employee disengagement. And, I’d venture to say employee unhappiness.
While engagement and happiness are two different things, one of the paths to happiness is engagement. Engaged employees are more likely to be happy on the job as they get the opportunity to bring their best selves to work.
Happy people are more productive, make better leaders and better negotiators, have more friends and more social support, have larger social networks, are more resilient, cope better with change, stress and trauma. They have stronger immune systems and live longer, which is great because they are more philanthropic, generous and kind to others and give more.
Happy companies have happier customers, more productivity, have better bottom lines (in part because they have fewer accidents and fewer quality defects, lower health care costs, less absenteeism and turnover and they are more creative.)
March 20th is International Happiness Day– it’s a day that was begun by United Nations which states that the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal. It was begun in 2012 to recognize the relevance of happiness and well-being around the world.
What will you do to recognize it in your organization?
Suggestions abound on the internet and we’ll be posting frequently on our Return On Happiness Facebook page – between now and March 20th we will be writing more frequently to encourage to do your part in making this a happier world.
It starts with YOU.
