It’s time to put happiness to work
PAY, job security and hours of work may be important factors for workers but it is the job itself that matters most.
Research conducted by Curtin University and think tank Making Work Absolutely Human (mwah.) finds what contributes to satisfaction in the workplace.
Curtin Business School Associate Professor Rebecca Cassells says working conditions are likely to bring Australians the most job satisfaction.
“It’s unlikely that any job will deliver everything that is needed to be happy at work, but certain things can help,” she says.
The report, happy workers: How satisfied are Australians at work?, finds pay is associated with higher job satisfaction, but only to a point.
Those who say they are very satisfied with their job earn a lower average amount each week than those reporting as being satisfied, at $1182 compared with $1267.
People who work for themselves or in small businesses, in the not-for-profit or government sector, and workers who can do some of their work from home each week, are more likely to be satisfied in their jobs.
Mwah. chief executive Rhonda Brighton-Hall says what workers do, how they are able to go about their work, and who is alongside them matters the most when it comes to job satisfaction.
“A happy workplace where people feel valued can increase productivity and innovation and reduce unwanted outcomes,” she says
Happy workers are at the heart of DesignInc’s new workspace, which features an outdoor workspace that aims to get people back to nature.
Despite being located in the heart of a CBD, and in a heritage building, the company was able to include a garden on its terrace so workers could reap the rewards from greenery.
Graduate architect Clare Barclay says it’s a luxury to have an outdoor terrace. “It breaks down the formality of office life — giving us an opportunity to step out for some fresh air or to relax in the sunshine,” she says.