Research into workplace happiness by Happiness Works on behalf of Robert Half UK reveals that employees in Yorkshire and the Humber are the happiest employees in Britain. Overall, 77 per cent of those questioned said they are happy at work, well above the national average of 63 per cent.
The research reveals that people from Yorkshire and the Humber find their work more interesting (74 per cent), get on with their team (88 per cent), have good friends in the office (72 per cent) and suffer less stress (38 per cent).
Britain’s most unsatisfied employees are those working in Scotland and the South of England, 17 per cent of employees say they are unhappy at work and one in six express their work is not interesting.
More than a quarter of those in South (27 per cent) don’t have good friends in the office or don’t get on with their teams and one in seven (14 per cent) in Scotland feel the same. However, employees in Scotland (63 per cent) and the South (65 per cent) do believe they have a good work-life balance.
Key findings
• Londoners have the most influence but are the most stressed – half of employees in the capital claim they influence decision making and 71 per cent get a sense of accomplishment from their work compared to a national average of 63 per cent. However, 35 per cent of Londoners claim their job is stressful, higher than the national average of 31 per cent.
• Northerners are most appreciated – more than half of those in Manchester, Liverpool and Lancaster are valued by their employers but those in the East of England feel under-appreciated with 28 per cent of employees in cities like Peterborough, Cambridge and Norwich not feeling recognised for their efforts.
• Yorkshire and the Humber does the most worthwhile work – Nearly three quarters (73 per cent) of those in Yorkshire and the Humber believe they do meaningful work compared to one in seven (14 per cent) Southerners who claim they do not do anything significant.
• East of England comes bottom for fairness and respect – only 59 per cent of employees in the East feel they are treated fairly, below the national average of 67 per cent.
‘While employee happiness levels may vary across the UK, the bottom line remains the same. Happiness is an individual experience and one solution may not work for everybody. However in our report, The secrets of the happiest companies and employees we have uncovered there are six universal factors that directly affect employee happiness,’ comments Phil Sheridan, senior managing director, Robert Half UK.
Six factors that drive employee happiness
Right fit for the job and company
When you hire people who mesh well with your workplace culture, they assimilate with greater ease and begin making substantive contributions quickly. Conversely, a poor fit can dampen the morale of the entire team.
A sense of empowerment
Empowering staff to make their own decisions improves happiness at work in several ways. It can build their confidence, make them feel more invested in their job, and help them develop critical skills that they can use to advance their careers, while making more meaningful contributions to the company.
Feeling appreciated
When you show your staff that you appreciate their hard work and dedication, you instil loyalty and create a positive working environment.
Interesting and meaningful work
Employees who see their work as worthwhile are nearly 2.5 times happier than others. An important part of this is being able to provide employees with a shared vision that helps them stay focused on their goals during both the good times and the challenging times.
A sense of fairness
Always strive for fairness and transparency in your decision making. Make sure employees feel heard, and have a chance to speak out when they feel a sense of inequity.
Positive workplace relationships
A sense of camaraderie at work improves employee communication, cooperation and collaboration, and feeds innovation.
‘Happy employees are more engaged, interested and committed. All organisations that want to be successful must make it a priority to introduce policies and initiatives that improve team rapport, make employees feel fulfilled and improve how happy workers feel in their job on a day-to-day basis,’ concludes Sheridan.
Further reading on the happiest employees
