
7 ways to find more meaning at work
Elinor Schmitz-Jansen is studying for an MSc in Management at Imperial College. She is currently working at Happy, researching academic studies of happiness and meaning in work. This is her first report:
Here you can find all of Happy’s blog posts, covering our Excel hints and tips, ideas for creating happy workplaces, and ways to be more productive at work — and more.
Elinor Schmitz-Jansen is studying for an MSc in Management at Imperial College. She is currently working at Happy, researching academic studies of happiness and meaning in work. This is her first report:
Following last week’s article on 7 ways to find more meaning at work, Elinor Schmitz-Jansen has continued her research. This week she covers the benefits of having happy employees.
In February I wrote about the government decision to outsource all its training – in all subjects and for all departments – to one supplier, Capita. I suggested that contracts like this rarely produce better value, as any savings from economies of scale are offset by the extra cost of administration. The recent report by the National Audit Office, on the Capita contract, appears to support my view:
Improved performance has been proven to result from creating a happy workplace where staff are fully engaged and happy at work.
I am quoted this morning in an article in the Independent: “Capita accused of using major government contract to short-change small companies, driving some out of business.”
For the last twelve months Happy Computers has been running a Drupal apprenticeship programme, in partnership with the Drupal community, to enable young people (fresh out of school) to get an exciting start in the world of programming. (Drupal is an open source web development framework.) Three of the youngsters have been working at Dennis Publishing and, after just four months there, have produced a very impressive site for the magazine Digital SLR Photography.
A surprise hit at Happy Workplaces 2014 was the Google-led meditation session in the afternoon. Even Luis Saurez, who was presenting via video link from Belgium, tweeted about the room going quiet, while other delegates said they felt “very chilled” and “we need this at our organisation.” This is the meditation we used at the conference – why not try it at your next meeting?
At the Happy Workplace 2013 conference Yvonne Agyei (Google Head of Benefits) explained Google’s Think Big philosophy. Or as she put it, “have a healthy disregard for the impossible”.
At the Happy Workplace 2013 conference Yvonne Agyei (Google Head of Benefits) explained how Google creates happy and healthy Googlers.
Happy is moving. A month ago, just before the deadline for the landlord’s break clause approached, a law clerk arrived at our office and served a notice to quit. The landlord plans to redevelop the building and we have to be out of our office by 30th October.