Happy workplaces = happy workers

A positive workplace culture is vital for employee happiness and engagement, according to a leading psychologist. “Happy employees are better employees – they look out for each other more,” Dr Timothy Sharp said at Comcare’s national conference in Melbourne on September 12. “Happy and positive workplaces are less likely to experience frequency and intensity of injuries than those that are not.” He founded the Happiness Institute in Sydney eight years ago and conducts corporate coaching sessions to encourage employees and managers to collaborate and improve their work environments. There are no easy answers to find happiness at work, said Sharp, a lecturer at both RMIT and the University of Technology, Sydney. While happier workers are more productive, stressful work conditions can create mental health problems for the workforce. Pleasure, relationships, engagement, meaning and achievement all contribute to satisfaction. Sharp blamed the “hedonistic treadmill” for the deep sense of dissatisfaction so many people experienced. Putting happiness first “creates a sense of energy and inspiration” and “positive emotions lead us to broaden and build our minds”, he said. An optimistic attitude underscored happiness. Sharp warned self-defeating thought patterns such as over-generalising, black-and-white thinking and catastrophising can lead to depression. “We don’t cope well when we experience severe levels of stress,” he said. Facing and dealing with “cold, hard realities”, being grateful and managing risks laid the foundations for a happy workplace. “If we build on our strengths and you get a greater return on your investment,” Sharp said.

Source: Thomson Reuters’ Occupational Health News, 14 September 2011.

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