Why employers must prioritise workers' happiness
Ideally, a satisfied, happy and engaged workforce tends to produce higher quality work, fosters creativity and is more likely to contribute positively to the overall environment of the workplace.
As the world marked this year’s International Day of Happiness on March 20, focus has been raised on the scope of workers' happiness levels in today's workplaces.
This is largely on the back of the rapidly changing nature of work and its growing impact on individuals' lives, as the importance of employee well-being remains a less relevant matter to a majority of employers.
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According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), there seems to be a trend unfolding, where society is moving away from a very material or economic view of life quality towards a wider perspective, more oriented towards happiness, including when it comes to assessing worklife.
“This trend was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which made us rethink our priorities and what constitutes our wellbeing,” the lobby said.
It is thus calling on employers to continuously assess the happiness of their workers, despite the challenges in measuring such an intangible metric.
“Measuring items such as job satisfaction, workplace experience, having a sense of purpose, positive or negative feelings, expectations, life satisfaction and happiness is no easy task given the inherent subjectivity attached to them.”
However, it notes that attempting to do so as consistently and reliably as possible is still crucial, given the utmost importance for workers' wellbeing.
Firstly, it says evaluating workers’ happiness levels drives in great measure, key decisions affecting the community and the society, including world-of-work decisions.
It also argues that the practice is critical for enhancing workplace productivity.
Ideally, a satisfied, happy and engaged workforce tends to produce higher quality work, fosters creativity and is more likely to contribute positively to the overall environment of the workplace.
Conversely, experts have argued that neglecting to prioritise their wellbeing can lead to disengagement, burnout and a decline in overall productivity.
Additionally, ILO says regular evaluation of workers’ happiness becomes a key determinant of decent work, and is essential for creating environments where both individuals and businesses can thrive.
In countries like Kenya, the conversation around happiness in the workplace is particularly crucial.
A recent study on the country’s state of Employee Experience (EX) for Customer Experience (CX) success conducted by the Institute of Customer Experience (ICX), Kenya, reveals that a majority of employees are not happy in their workplaces.
Carried out between March and April 2024, the survey shows the Employees Net Promoter Score (eNPS), a metric that measures employees loyalty and engagement to an organisation, is at 23 percent.
According to Carolyne Gathuru, ICX Board Director, 23 percent is not good enough, and there is need to move higher.
The respondents in the survey were from various government and private sectors, including finance, Telco, transport, manufacturing, healthcare, energy, agriculture, technology and education sectors.
On the other side of the aisle, the Happiness Society of Kenya is raising the question of what people do in their individual capacities to be happy.
The chief happiness officer and former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi said that despite the economic turmoil Kenyans are experiencing, they have every reason to be happy.
He spoke on Thursday at an event to celebrate World Happiness Day. He insisted that the state in which Kenyans live is far better than it was years ago, especially with freedom of expression.
The former governor noted that happiness is self-made, citing an example of someone who achieves everything in life yet remains unhappy.
“You may be sleeping in State House and still not be happy. You may be living in a simple abode and be the happiest person alive. Happiness is a choice,” Kiraitu said.
Officially launched last year, the Happiness Society of Kenya is part of an international body that promotes the tenets of being content and happy in the c
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