Happiness at work: what makes employees happy, productive and smart?

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HP is committed to happiness at work and to creating more happiness -- and more success -- for HP’s customers.

HP is working with consultant Alexander Kjerulf – ‘Chief Happiness Officer’ – to provide free guidance and advice to UK businesses on how to improve happiness within the office. “We’re all ultimately responsible for our own happiness,” comments Kjerulf, “and this includes our happiness at work.”

To find out what would make workers happy, HP commissioned a survey of 800 workers from companies with up to 100 employees. Around 13 million people work in small and medium-sized (SME) companies – that’s over half the UK workforce. The employees surveyed might be shy about talking to their bosses, but they didn’t pull any punches with us. Secondly, we subjected volunteers to an experiment testing their responses to different working environments. The independent survey (1) found that a third of the employees believe ‘happiness’ within their offices could be improved. Over half of workers said the freedom to work more flexibly using mobile technology (such as HP laptops and mobile phones) could contribute to improved happiness at work.

Now, HP has also launched a nationwide competition, offering small to medium businesses the chance to win an office makeover – including HP products, 'happiness' workshops from Kjerulf and free consultancy from HP's team of experts.

Workers everywhere are screaming “Give me back my time”! Here’s how.

It should come as no surprise. Most employees are happier when they have more choice over when and where to work. Kjerulf considers flexibility the hallmark of a happy company.

Kjerulf and HP found that some of these changes can be supported through the use of HP mobility products. For example, by giving employees more flexibility about where and when they work; staying in contact with teams even when out of the office; and sharing thoughts and information with colleagues through collaboration solutions and instant messaging.

Simple changes to office routine can also make a big difference, Kjerulf explains. His suggested changes to create a happier office culture: praise and recognise people; celebrate success – amongst teams and with individuals; say “good morning” to colleagues; start meetings on a positive note rather than with a problem; and take stock of what you have achieved rather than what you have not achieved.

Last but not least, he strongly recommends taking five minutes of “me time” each day to reflect on how you’re feeling. 

Sign up and win!

If you’re working in a small UK business and you would like a little more happiness at work, go to the website and sign up your coming. Right now!

If flexibility is a potential source of happiness, the pain of administration and bureaucracy is an all-too frequent source of misery. Almost half of the workers surveyed said they would be happier in their job if they could avoid having to fill out forms and do unnecessary paperwork and a third believe there is too much bureaucracy in the workplace.

And, what happens when people can’t find the information they need? If you spend three hours a week looking for information, this equals ten working days a year. Given the real cost, it makes sense to invest a little time and money in upgrading your information technology. Imagine what you could do with an extra two weeks every year?

“Over the coming months, HP will be addressing the areas where technology can help make some offices throughout the UK happier places to work,” said David Wright, vice president and general manager of HP Personal Systems Group, UK & Ireland. “For example, we’ll be advising companies on better ways to streamline routine administration, to find information faster and to access information whenever and wherever they are.”