What's the top factoring making employees happy?
A new report has found that 55% of Australians feel happy in the workplace, with work location emerging as the top contributor to happiness.
SEEK's Workplace Happiness Index revealed that 65% of Australians cite work location as the top aspect of their job that makes them happy. Other factors include:
- Day-to-day responsibilities (61%)
- Work-life balance (61%)
- Purpose at work (58%)
- Team or colleagues (58%)
What are employees least happy about?
On the other hand, the things that Australians are least happy about in the workplace include:
- Company commitment to ESG (only 35% of Australian workers are happy)
- Career progression opportunities (37%)
- Stress levels (41%)
- Salary (42%)
- Senior leadership (43%)
According to SEEK, the findings indicate that business leaders need to "step up to the plate" when it comes to their commitment to social and environmental responsibility in order to make employees happy.
Aimee Hutton, Head of Customer Insights and Strategy, noted the various benefits of having a happy workforce.
"The research in SEEK's Workplace Happiness Index shows that those who are happy at work are less likely to change jobs and more likely to go above and beyond in their role," Hutton said in a statement.
"This is testament to happiness at work being invaluable for Australian businesses and healthy productivity in the labour market."
Happiness disconnect
Meanwhile, the report further discovered a disconnect between what's making employees happy and what's the most important factor to employee happiness.
According to the report, employees consider purpose at work to be the most important factor to happiness, despite only 58% saying they're currently happy about theirs.
"With only 58% of workers happy with their purpose at work, and it being the top driver of workplace happiness, it suggests there is a need for employees and employers alike to consider ways to drive further fulfilment at work," Hutton said.
Source: SEEK's Workplace Happiness Index
Hutton said employers need to uncover this disconnect in order to "clearly highlight" the areas that employers need to address to improve workplace happiness.
"We hope that this Index helps drive meaningful change to improve happiness at work across Australia," Hutton added.