Happy employees are more productive at work, according to a new study by health and performance experts Global Corporate Challenge (GCC). The GCC Insights report found the link after surveying employees from 500 organizations in 70 countries.
The findings confirm the role emotions play in business, and that happiness is critical for productivity and talent retention and not a job perk or something that is just “nice to have.”
“The connection is clear: happy employees are high performing employees,” said Dr. Olivia Sackett, GCC Insight’s data scientist. “Leaders who understand this and initiate happy habits – like reflection, gratitude and mindfulness – can reap the rewards from a more productive workforce.”
Despite this, the modern workplace appears to be stifling happiness, not promoting it. A joint study by the University of Sussex and the London School of Economics found that being at work reduced employee happiness by up to 8 percent – second only to being sick. And more than half of U.S. employees (68 percent) are disengaged, according to Gallup.
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