Workplace Happiness:Is It Achievable?

Workplace Happiness is the buzz word of the new millennium with an explosion of research into the areas of happiness, humour, optimism and positive attitude. Restructuring, deregulation, outsourcing, globalisation and demands to increase workplace productivity affect staff. The greatest cause of workplace unhappiness is bad relations between managers and their subordinates. Depression affects work relationships and team work negatively and causes frequent conflict, irritability and low tolerance which in turn elicit less support from the workplace. Workplace bullying is prevalent worldwide while office politics eats at workplace happiness. Women feel that they earn less and that equality and diversity are paid lip service and would rather leave than accept the status quo. An organisation's success, competitiveness and workforce happiness will depend on its ability to manage workplace diversity effectively. One of the keys to workplace happiness includes matching a job and environment with one's talents, passions, values and lifestyle. Time management, delegation of tasks and taking action assists in building our happiness allowing us time to rest and develop good working relationships with co-workers. We need to cultivate being a positive influence and associate with positive people. Laughter is important in the workplace. Robert Orben said "If you can laugh together, you can work together". Even the happiest of people feel unhappy at times while even the most serious have their moments of joy. Financially strong companies know that their employees are part of their business and are important.