For a company to succeed, it needs to take care of its employees and their happiness in the workplace. However, when it comes to work, most Portuguese people do not think of joy, but rather of tiredness and exhaustion. These tips can help improve the relationship between work and employees.
Everyone wants to be happy. This is one of the great common goals of human beings and, in pursuit of it, we tend to make decisions that support this need. These decisions can be major ones that shape the course of our lives, or smaller ones that we make every day in pursuit of the same objective. The workplace is no exception.
Many Portuguese people make a direct association between work and tiredness, exhaustion and even wasted time. These feelings may be related to the role itself, particularly when it is not something the person enjoys, or to the level of happiness they experience in that job, whether because of relationships with colleagues or a poor relationship with management.
Today, there are several ways in which companies can promote and ensure the happiness of their employees. Marketividade has gathered a few examples.
You may be wondering what companies gain from keeping their employees happy. The answer is simple: it has been scientifically demonstrated that happiness in the workplace contributes to better performance, greater productivity and a healthier working environment and workforce, while reducing costs to the company associated with physical or psychological illness. At the same time, happy employees tend to enjoy teamwork more, which can also increase their loyalty to the organisation.
All of this naturally results in more satisfied customers and greater returns for the company.
Good Practices for Promoting Happiness in the Workplace
There are already several recognised practices for promoting happiness in the workplace that tend to benefit companies, including:
- Ensure a positive working environment – It is essential for employees to feel comfortable in the workplace, to have good relationships with their colleagues and to feel included. Creating social spaces and opportunities to relax, such as team-building activities, can be an effective way to strengthen relationships between people.
- Personalised feedback – Show each person that they are valuable to the company and provide personalised feedback so that they can grow and develop. Being willing to receive feedback is equally important, helping employees feel heard and building trust within the organisation.
- Flexibility – An employee is, above all, a person. There should be flexibility in the management of working hours so that employees can achieve a healthy balance between their personal and professional lives.
- Continuous training – Encourage personal and professional growth through participation in workshops, for example, as a way of recognising and improving employees’ capabilities and skills.
These are some of the measures that companies can easily put into practice. However, employees must also show a willingness to learn and seek opportunities to develop. As with everything, effort and commitment are required on both sides of the equation in order to achieve a positive outcome.
