According to Indeed, a third of workers in the UK are unhappy.
With happy employees being 13% more productive, having a happy team is good for everyone at work. Happiness and health go hand in hand because happiness tends to lead to healthier behaviours. But how can you make work a happier place for your team? And what are the health benefits of being happy?
The health benefits of being happy
Help reduce stress levels
The hormones produced when we’re happy combat the hormones produced when we’re stressed, helping reduce our stress levels and the impact that stress may have on our health. A happier team is a less stressed team – and vice versa so reducing stress levels at work can help.
Boost the immune system
Along with a healthy diet and exercise, happiness can have a big impact on your immune system. Studies have shown that happier people are less likely to catch a cold compared to their less happy counterparts in the study.
Promote a healthy lifestyle
When you’re happy and feeling good about life, you’re more likely to engage in a healthy lifestyle. Exercising more, eating a healthy diet and reducing alcohol consumption are often linked to when we’re feeling in a happier place. These healthy habits will also release endorphins, keeping that happiness going.
Reduce the risk of heart issues
Happier individuals are more likely to have lower blood pressure, reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease. Happiness can also reduce your resting heart rate, improving overall health and fitness.
Improve the quality of sleep
Getting good sleep is essential for good health as our body rests and recovers while we sleep. Studies show that happier people have a better quality of sleep and are less likely to experience insomnia, boosting health and reducing the risk of certain diseases.
How to create a happier workplace
Praise your team
Everyone likes to hear when they’re doing a good job. Nearly 3 in 4 UK employees feel they don’t get enough recognition for the work they do and the value they contribute.
Giving positive feedback to your team when they’ve finished a task or project can make a big difference in how they feel about their job. Doing this on a regular basis can boost morale and help boost employee self-esteem.
Encourage honest, open communication
Being able to communicate openly and honestly with your team is important for building trust and boosting happiness at work. Communication should always be two-way so keeping your team in the loop about important updates and news in the company will help them feel more involved in the business.
When your team feels like they can’t talk to you, it can impact morale and motivation. Be there to listen and support your staff and make sure your team feel heard.
Organise team-building activities
A great way to strengthen your team bond and boost happiness is to organise a team-building activity to take part in. This can be something outdoorsy, a virtual escape room or just a team meal – as long as the team is connecting and talking, it doesn’t matter.
If you’re in a remote workplace, virtual team building is just as important as team building in the office. Many employee wellbeing companies like Tonic Wellbeing offer virtual services to help companies across the UK. Nurturing a remote team is just as important as nurturing an in-office team.
Make work fulfilling for your team
Did you know only two-thirds of people find their job fulfilling? People are increasingly looking at job satisfaction and fulfilment as a more important factor than the salary the job pays.
Creating clear career development pathways at work can help people feel like they’re working towards something and achieving their goals. Everyone will have different goals so it’s important to look at people individually as well as part of a team. An unfulfilled team is an unhappy team.
Get to know your team
Building strong relationships with your team members is so important to creating a happy, strong team. A connected team will help support each other and build a sense of camaraderie that can be difficult to achieve.
Take the time to get to know everyone individually and how they work, their goals and more about them personally. Not only will you understand your team better and be able to do your job easier but your team will also feel like they know and trust you.
Offer meaningful employee perks
Along with offering mentally stimulating perks at work, it’s important to also offer tangible employee benefits to your staff. Employees who feel supported by their workplace are likely to be happier at work, more motivated and have fewer sick days.
Flexible working policies, employee reward days and employee benefit schemes can have a massive impact on your staff’s wellbeing. Giving back to your team can lead to a happier workforce and reduced stress levels, improving productivity.
Smile more!
A really simple way to spread happiness at work is just to smile more! Studies have shown that smiling even when you’re not feeling positive can release endorphins and improve your mental health. Sometimes, you just have to fake it until you make it.
Smiling also improves the mood of people around you. Scientists have proven that smiling is contagious so when you smile at others, they’re more likely to smile back.
Taking the next steps for a happier workplace
It takes time to build happiness at work and it’s important to find the best strategy for you and your team. It’s important to also look after your own happiness – it’s hard to build a happy environment if you aren’t feeling happy with yourself.
If you’re looking for more support with employee rewards or health and wellbeing services, we can help. Tonic Wellbeing offers a range of employee support services including wellbeing workshops, massage reward days and health checks. Contact our team for specialised help with building a healthier and happier workplace.
