International Happiness at Work Week: How HR can get involved

International Happiness at Work Week: How HR can get involved in summary:

• International Happiness at Work Week is the perfect time for HR teams to step up engagement activities.
• HR teams can create happier workforces by encouraging positive work-life balances, and listening & acting upon feedback from employees.
• In addition, supporting social activities, recognising workplace performances and nurturing a positive culture can all contribute towards happier businesses.

---

Did you know we spend on average 3,507 days at work during our lifetime? That equals 84,168 hours, 501 weeks, and 9.6 years… No wonder our jobs and careers become a substantial part of our identity.

If we’re spending so much of our time at work, it’s normal to have good days and bad: but, on average 27% of us have one or more bad workdays per week, highlighting the ongoing challenge of ensuring workplace happiness.

As the way we work evolves, the focus on mental health in the workplace has become increasingly important: with mental health awareness training, Employee Assistance Programmes and flexible working arrangements being just some of the wellbeing initiatives that have become commonplace over the past decade.

But, despite these hugely positive changes, there’s still a noticeable divide between an employee’s happiness at and outside of work. This has led to an increase in workplace happiness initiatives.

One that’s achieved global recognition is International Happiness at Work Week, celebrated during the last week of September (23^rd – 27^th 2024). It’s an initiative founded by Happy Office to support organisations in creating and promoting happier and more positive workplaces.

Globally recognised events like International Happiness at Work Week are the perfect opportunity for people professionals to build engagement with their workforces and encourage happiness in the workplace.

So, if you want to get on board with spreading some happiness and positivity in your organisation, here’s everything you need to know…

The lowdown on International Week of Happiness at Work

What is International Week of Happiness at Work? International Week of Happiness at Work connects people and organisations that consider work happiness important. It’s mission is simple: to initiate conversations on how we can make being happy at work the norm.

How does it work? Organisations can sign the manifesto and join a community group of like-minded organisations. The group encourages events to recognise happiness at work providing helpful material to help you do so. This community is spread across the world with 50 participating countries including here in the UK, Germany, Australia and the Netherlands (the home of the International Week of Happiness at Work).

Why happiness at work is vital to any business

The fact of the matter is this: happiness equals more success for a business! When employees are happier and more satisfied with their jobs, performance tends to increase. Employees become more motivated, creative and committed within their roles. The stats suggest that happy workers are 13% more productive, highlighting an obvious connection between happiness and productivity.

When employee are happy and satisfied within their roles, they are naturally more productive and engaged, and this energy translates to better performance. This can be reflected in areas such as customer service, output, productivity… and much more besides. It makes sense then, that organisations invest in their employees and their happiness.

What can you do as an HR professional do to support a happier more engaged workforce?

Now, just telling people to be happy is certainly not the way forward to support and maintain a happier workforce. However, there are some relatively simple things HR professionals can support happier workplaces.

Initiatives like International Happiness at Work Week are there to support you promote these ideas within your organisation. You could even use these events as a great excuse to get people talking about what they want to see from you and the wider business. And let’s be honest, we all enjoy a good event!

Promote a positive work-life balance

We may have seen a change in our working habits over the past few years, but some of them are not healthy. For example, Microsoft Teams users have seen an increase of 252% in weekly meeting times since 2020. Many of these meetings are back-to-back allowing for no personal beaks- causing stress and fatigue. It’s this type of working environment that can lead to working out of hours and unhealthy work patterns.

It comes as no surprise then, that in the last few years, we’ve seen a massive shift towards the prioritisation of a healthy work-life balance. Employees now expect more flexibility in their jobs to fit around their personal lives and as a result, this now plays a huge part in supporting happier workplaces. So, what are some simple things can you do to help encourage a healthier work-life balance?

Highlighting the importance of break taking throughout the day will support a more positive working environment and can help reduce burnout. You could also establish clear work boundaries that encourage a culture where employees are not expected to check emails or work after hours. And, ensure your company’s leadership team also sets an example by taking breaks and respecting your employee’s work-life boundaries.

Nurture a more positive workplace culture

As an HR professional, you’ll be at the heart of creating a positive work environment which reflects on your company’s culture. And, as we all know, having a positive culture will support employees to excel in the role. Most importantly it can help reduce the day-to-day pressures a negative culture may create.

Now, culture develops naturally in a business through its working environment, people and experiences of employees. But, things can be done to nurture a more positive culture – and this is where HR come into play.

If your business doesn’t have them already, work with your leadership team to establish core values that are unique to your business and reflect its mission, culture, and goals. This could be values that promote teamwork, inclusivity or recognition… the list goes on. Remember to make them authentic and relevant to your company’s needs for success, not just a fancy slogan painted on a wall!

In addition, regularly celebrating the achievements of your employees, encouraging team-building activities and promoting kindness in the workplace all contribute to positivity and happiness.

Listen to your employees

The best way to gain valuable insights into what people want from a business is by actively listening to its employees. Listening to feedback can give a great overview of what’s doing well and what maybe isn’t working, and allow you to make more informed decision making.

You can actively listen to your own employees by conducting regular pulse surveys (remember, doing anonymous surveys you will get the real juicy details!), and the best part about them? You could ask whatever you feel necessary to help improve the culture of your business.

HR professionals should then consider how to act on the feedback from employees. We know that some feedback is not always achievable, but it could provide you some great ideas. It will also make employees feel valued and heard especially when they’re seeing active changes.

Encourage social activities

Encouraging social activities is a great way to create community in your business and encourage fun. Of course, everyone can get involved – it’s not just something for HR to mastermind!

Maybe it’s theme days, cake Tuesday, lunch club, book club, or even a football 5 a side. Encouraging social activities is a great way for people to get to know each other better. As well as being a great distraction from the normal work chatter.

Praise and recognition

Lastly, everyone likes to know when they’re doing well! Little things can make employees feel appreciated restore purpose and keep them motivated.

Regularly acknowledging employee achievements through shout-outs in team meetings or internal communications is one such thing that can nurture a happier, supportive culture. Plus, celebrating work anniversaries and milestones will help make employees feel valued by your organisation – not just a cog in the machine.

A more formal peer-to-peer recognition scheme – where colleagues can highlight each other’s contributions – is also a brilliant way to praise those who go above and beyond the call of duty. Finally, ensure that managers consistently give feedback and express appreciation for their team members’ hard work, creating an ongoing atmosphere of recognition.

Ultimately, investing in your employees and their happiness should be a year round thing. By creating an environment where people feel valued, supported and motivated, your business will find it much easier to grow and thrive.