Making work – either in the office or at home – your happy place

September 22, 2021

With Brits spending longer at their desks since the pandemic began, and full timers working an average of 42.5 hours a week – being happy in your job is important, say experts.

Recent research shows that Brits’ average working hours are above the European average of 41.2 hours, and employees who work from home are now spending an average of two hours longer in front of their computers as a result of increased workloads.

Since Covid, UK workers have increased their working week by almost 25 per cent and, along with employees in the Netherlands, are logging off at 8.00pm.

But with International Week of Happiness At Work (20-26 September) just around the corner – Peterborough-based recruitment firm Anne Corder Recruitment – has some advice for employers on how to keep their office-based and remote teams happy in their work.

Bridget Howard from Anne Corder Recruitment said: “Everyone wants to be happy at work, especially as we spend an estimated third of our lives at work. Research shows that we are likely to be happy in other aspects of our lives if we are happy at work – with the World Happiness Report suggesting that happy employees are 12 per cent more productive than their unhappy counterparts.”

Bridget added: “As a result of the pandemic, work patterns and situations have changed for many employees; whether a switch to permanent remote working or a full or part-time return to the office.

“Familiarities and routines have been broken, and it is vital that employers keep their staff’s happiness and wellbeing in mind.

“Happy staff with job satisfaction leads to more productivity and progress, and while regular pay and performance reviews, accommodating flexible working requests and delivering professional praise are important, it is also the small gestures that can make a big impact.”

Employers could consider:

• Giving staff the day off on their birthday or adding a birthday bonus in their wages
• Setting up a break room in the office and / or encouraging working from home staff to take regular breaks without them feeling guilty about not being at their workstation
• Holding a monthly prize draw
• Ditching the dress code on days where staff are not meeting with clients
• Finishing early on Fridays or using the final hour of the day to leave the office or for home workers – to catch up virtually with their favourite tipple
• Ordering lunch into the office – or getting it delivered to home workers
• Investing in a proper coffee machine for the office
• Rewarding staff who go the extra mile for your business with treats or gifts
• Relaxing and reducing the amount of time working from home staff spend in virtual meetings.

To find out more about being happy at work – visit https://internationalweekofhappinessatwork.com/