FERNWOOD FITNESS - PULSE eMagazine - Issue#16 - Flipbook - Page 53
Based on insights from more
than 2,000 Australian and New
Zealand workers, this report
paints a clear picture of where
workplace happiness is thriving
and where there is room to lift the
bar.
The current state of workplace
happiness
The headline 昀椀nding is both
encouraging and confronting. Just
55 percent of Australians say they
are somewhat or extremely happy
at work. That means almost half
of the workforce is feeling neutral
at best or unhappy at worst in
their jobs.
For employers, this presents a real
opportunity. Improving workplace
happiness is not just about
feel good initiatives. Happier
employees are more engaged,
more productive, more loyal
and more likely to go above and
beyond in their roles.
What people enjoy most at work
When workers were asked what
they are happiest with in their
working lives, the answers were
surprisingly practical. The top
positives included:
• Location of work
• Day to day responsibilities
• Work life balance
These are aspects people often
consider before accepting a
role, which may explain why
satisfaction is higher. On the
昀氀ip side, areas such as stress
levels, career progression and
organisational commitment
to environmental, social and
governance initiatives ranked
lowest for happiness. These are
areas where employees have little
control and where employers can
make a meaningful difference.
Purpose beats pay
One of the most interesting
昀椀ndings is that salary is not
the main driver of workplace
happiness. In fact, it ranked ninth
overall. Instead, the top three
drivers of happiness were:
• Purpose at work
• Your manager
• Your day to day responsibilities
Together, these make up what
SEEK describes as the why, who
and what of work. Why you
come to work, who you work
with and report to, and what
you actually do each day matter
more than pay alone.
This helps explain why higher
income earners are not
dramatically happier overall,
despite being more satis昀椀ed with
certain aspects like salary and
career progression.
