Expert says ‘happy companies make more money’

When it comes to the business of happiness, Alexander Kjerulf is an international authority.

He is the founder of Woohoo Inc, a Denmark-based company that advises leading multinational companies on happiness at work, has written a series of books on the topic and given keynote speeches across the world.

He said he is aware of the “huge focus” on workplace happiness across the Middle East and particularly in Dubai, which he credited for its bid to become the happiest city on Earth, a goal high on the government agenda, alongside the Emirate’s drive to attract top talent.

Vijay Gandhi, a director for the Korn Ferry Products Group, which specialises in talent management and human resources, said there had been a rise in the number of companies in the UAE turning to happiness officers to bolster morale and drive up productivity.

Mr Kjerulf said he was not surprised to see an increase in happiness officers being appointed.

“There has never been a stronger interest in happiness at work in Dubai and all over the world,” he said.

“It’s incredibly positive to see that so many leaders and organisations are taking happiness seriously and making it a strategic priority.”

But he warned that a continued culture of long working hours in the UAE remained a threat to happiness and efficiency. While some countries are debating four-day weeks, many UAE workers get only one day off every seven days, while some get none at all.

“Excessive hours is a huge risk to happiness and productivity at work. Overwork can kill you.

“One study found that those working a 55-hour week face a 33 per cent increased risk of stroke than those working a 35-to-40-hour week.

“All those extra hours don’t even mean you get more work done. One study from Harvard Business Review concluded that overwork doesn’t seem to result in more output.”

He said that the best happiness officers are “inspirational and practical” who “genuinely care” about the welfare of workers.

“Happy companies make more money. Happy employees are not simply in a better mood, they also do a much better job.”