How A Sense Of Community & Happiness Improves Workplace Culture

Collaboration and personal relationships are fundamental benchmarks for successful workplace culture. According to Deloitte’s 2019 Global Human Capital Trends report, 84% of respondents rated “employee experience” as important with 28% considering it urgent. Let’s examine how and why companies are improving employee experiences and personal relationships.

Why Is Employee Happiness Important?

Happy employees are the key to an organization’s success. A happy employee works harder to meet company goals. They deliver better results in a more efficient way.

Happiness works like a magnet to attract more happy people. When a company cultivates happy workers, they end up with the best workers in the marketplace.

When someone is happy in their work, they will invest more time and attention into the task. As they engage more with others, customers’ needs are better met. Thus overall profitability improves.

A survey conducted by Boston Consulting Group discovered, “The most important single job element for all people is appreciation for their work.” The second highest factor for employee happiness is good relationships with colleagues.

Meeting these factors leads to higher employee retention. A lower turnover rate saves time, money, and productivity from new employee onboarding.

Happiness is also linked to improved mental and physical health. When employees are healthier, they are present at work more. Thereby creating a healthier work environment.

Happy Employees Feel a Sense of Community

The focus of the 2019 World Happiness Report was the link between happiness and community. Findings support personal happiness correlates to how people connect with each other.

Humans are intrinsically prosocial. We want to promote social acceptance and friendship within our shared institutions. In the workplace, prosocial tendencies lead to happier employees and increased job satisfaction.

Companies that foster prosocial behavior note improved employee well-being and performance. In contrast, personal incentives contribute to increased competition and less cooperation among co-workers. Despite this evidence, companies are slow to implement prosocial incentives.

Collaboration, Communication, & Inclusivity Foster Community

When a workplace culture centers around collaboration and inclusivity, employees will thrive. Organizational values set in prosocial behavior are only effective when put into action. Employees need to see that a company actually believes in the values they preach.

Positive feelings will flourish from open and honest communication. Encouraging employees to nurture connections outside of work contributes to a team mindset. As relationships grow so will a positive community.

Inclusivity means valuing differences that make up a company’s community. Employees who get to know the differences in others will be more welcoming and create a culture of belonging.

Workplace Community in a Digital Era

As a whole, the U.S. reports decreased happiness in the last decade. Jean M. Twenge of San Diego State University suggests this correlates to how people use their leisure time.

People spend more time on digital devices than ever before. If that time limits personal interactions, greater unhappiness can result.

It is unreasonable to expect people to use technology less in the workplace. Fortunately, digital devices can be a tool for relationship development.

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”
— Albert Schweitzer

For an organization to thrive in the new decade, they must put a priority on employee experiences and personal relationships. Developing a workplace culture of inclusion and belonging will lead to happier employees and increased productivity.