Happiness Awareness Month is all about celebrating wellbeing and happiness. Initiated by the Secret Society of Happy People, its aim is to encourage individuals to cultivate positive mindsets and spread joy. Mental health and wellbeing is an increasing concern within the workplace, with workplace stress being a particular concern. Happiness and stress have a complex relationship, often view as opposites, where stress can impact happiness and vice versa.
Statistics show that less than half of employees would feel able to speak to their manager if they were suffering from stress, and a quarter of people would even consider resigning due to stress. Stress is not only an individual problem but an organisational one. Increased stress can lead to reduced productivity, increased costs and turnover, increased absenteeism and low morale. While 70% of workers in the UK express satisfaction with their jobs, a notable 90% experience some sort of workplace stress. Additionally, only 12% of employees are truly happy with the level of benefits and communication they receive from employers, with 25% if UK employees feeling voiceless within their companies.
Under the Workplace Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 employers have a legal responsibility to manage the risks associated with work-related stress, to view it as a potential hazard and conduct risk assessments to identify and evaluate its causes. Additionally, happiness, it is found in the Welsh Government’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2035, is directly linked to employees feeling supported.
To improve happiness and reduce stress in the workplace employers should:
- Offer regular praise and recognition: managers should actively acknowledge and celebrate employees
- Reward programs: Employers should implement programs that reward employees for their contributions
- Foster a culture of peer recognition: Encourage employees to recognise and celebrate each other’s accomplishments, building a community of shared success
- Feedback: Provide regular and constructive feedback, focusing on strengths and areas for improvement.
- Flexible working arrangements: Offer flexible hours, remote work options or hybrid models to help employees with work-life balance
- Wellness programs: Provide access to wellness initiatives, such as fitness classes, mental health resources and employee assistance programs
- Listen: Be open to listening and adapting to employee concerns
- Invest in professional development
- Regular meetings: To encourage communication
By embedding happiness into workplace culture, employers can create environments where employees feel valued, supported and engaged. A positive work atmosphere not only enhances individual wellbeing but drives productivity, collaboration and job satisfaction. Happiness Happens Month serves as a powerful reminder that the small, intentional actions, such as recognition, flexibility and open communication, can have a lasting impact.