Happiness at work
More than 30% of people in Belgium and the Netherlands (and in other European countries) say they don’t feel ‘happy’ in their job. We will have to spend more time on well-being in our jobs. People who feel happy are more creative and productive, they have less sick-leave, make less mistakes and have better contacts with clients. They are loyal to their job and are not interested in job-hopping. So, why don’t we take the call for a ‘happier workplace’ more serious? It’s not about balloons and a happy hour. It’s about these four basic questions:
1. Can I be who I am? (Respect for diversity). 2. Can I become whom I want to become? (Growth, development). 3. Can I cooperate with other people? (Or is there only some kind of permanent competition?). 4. Do I recognize myself and my values in the mission and the vision? Is my work meaningful in a broader context?
When you can answer 4 times ‘yes’, you might consider your job as a happy one. Only two or one or no ‘yes’? Seriously consider to have a talk with the responsible or with someone who can give professional advice. Why would we spend such an amount of time in a job we don’t like? Human Resources Management might be changed into Human Being Management. We are no Human Doings. We are Human Beings.
Wish you a nice job.