Is it possible to achieve happiness at work? Or is it just a myth? For many people, work can be associated with an unpleasant obligation that must be performed every day. Fortunately, it is possible to be satisfied with the job. And it’s not just a question of how much you earn. For sure, the salary is important, but there are other aspects that affect job satisfaction. I will tell you about them in this article.

First, let’s focus on why it is worth taking care of employee satisfaction at all?

A satisfied employee is more engaged in his/her work, which in turn translates into the efficiency and effectiveness of his/her activities. The employer also benefits from this because the tasks are performed better, while the employee has a sense of fulfillment. Another advantage is that if people like their job, they will certainly want to stay longer. Thanks to this, it will not be necessary to look for and train a new person, and the employee will be able to develop even more and can be promoted to a higher position.

Before I get into details, I would like to emphasize that happiness for everyone can mean something different. However, there are some factors that, I think, are quite universal and without them it is hard to achieve happiness.

What factors shape employee satisfaction?

Video games, football, or maybe a rest area? Currently, companies are competing in offering more and more attractive benefits that are designed to attract and make employees happy. Small privileges can also determine the choice of a company, but what really affects the long-term satisfaction of an employee?

• Good relations with colleagues

A friendly atmosphere in the team is something necessary to feel good in the workplace. It helps you relax and has a positive effect on your well-being. Certainly, each of us knows a person who does not necessarily like his job, but stays in it mainly because of people. Great friendships are made at work more than once. Because interpersonal relationships are the key to building happiness. Of course, it also depends on what kind of people we meet and whether their personality will suit us.

• Good relations with the supervisor

Co-workers are one thing. The second issue is the attitude of our supervisor. If we get along well with our boss, half of the success is behind us. Since how many people do we know who complain about their boss so intensely that even thinking about work makes them dizzy? Recognition from management motivates the employee and encourages into action. Knowing his/her problems and trying to find solutions together can work wonders. Especially for people who are beginners in a given position.

• Trust

What gives you confidence at work? A sense of security, better quality of relationships between people, openness and honesty towards team members. If we feel good at work, we are more willing to be engaged in our duties and the cooperation is therefore more effective. All this will make our work much better. As you can see, there are many benefits, so it is even more worth building this trust.

• Empathy

For many, this feature is of crucial importance. Some may ask why? Is it important in the workplace? Work is usually a community of people with various characters and worldviews. Without empathy, we are unable to establish a good relationship with someone. Thanks to it, we are able to understand the other person and try to help them if, for example, they cannot cope with a task.

Empathy is also extremely necessary in working with the client as it can help to solve many problems. For example, at Evertop, while creating a project, we place great emphasis on requirements analysis, in which we must understand well the client’s needs. What’s the best way to do that? The answer is simple: feel empathy with his needs and put yourself in his shoes. Thanks to this, we will find the right solution and achieve better results of our work.

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• Work environment

People are the most crucial, but the environment is just as important. Some people feel better in open space because they have people around them, while others prefer to work in a more intimate environment, which allows them to focus better on their tasks. You have to remember that everyone is different and everyone has their own preferences and sense of comfort. Working environment also affects the well-being and performance of an employee. At Evertop, we have such a comfortable situation that both of these issues are available to employees, thanks to last year’s move to a new office. A modern climate, larger space and a new place certainly affect the quality of work.

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• Benefits

Now let’s move on to more mundane matters. Benefits in the form of football or weekly fruits may seem trivial. These are not the most important things, but they certainly made the day more pleasant for many. And additional rewards for work undoubtedly affect the employee’s motivation. What’s more, a medical care package or a sports card is practically a standard in medium and larger companies.

Other aspects are trips or integration meetings. Such initiatives are very valuable in the context of getting to know each other and deepening relations between employees.

At Evertop, we meet at the pizza office every Friday and eat delicious fruits on Tuesdays. Such small things will let you get away from daily struggles.

• Remote work and flexibility

These factors are just an individual matter because it really depends on the lifestyle of the person. However, in the era of a pandemic, the ability to work remotely will certainly be a huge plus. Of course, not every company can work like this. On the other hand, flexible working hours are especially useful for students or new parents who are available, for example, later in the day. Our company also offers such opportunities, thanks to which you can reconcile work with a family life.

• Maintaining a work-life balance

Man does not live by work alone, and sometimes you need to take a break from the multitude of tasks and thoughts about work. Therefore, maintaining a balance between work and private life is essential for mental health. Overworking and the lack of rest can negatively affect our well-being. Procrastinating and sitting idle all day also doesn’t lead to anything good either, which is why it is so important to have the right balance.

• Salary and bonuses

Of course, money is not everything, but let’s face it – it does matter. The amount of earnings may be the main reason for changing a job. Employee wants to be fairly paid for the work he does, according to the typical wages for the job position and location. Another work involvement boosting factor are bonuses, for example paid by above average results.

How to create a happy workplace?

Last but not least, a few tips on what to do to achieve this happiness at work?

• Develop.
• Be honest in relationships with other employees and supervisors.
• Admit your mistakes and not be afraid to ask for help if you need to.
• Have a sincere smile and a positive attitude.

Summary

Happy employees mean better and more productive employees. That is why it is worth having a positive impact on the employee and striving to make him feel as good as possible at work. Even small, inconspicuous issues can make a difference. Of course, it is also worth remembering that amenities in the form of benefits such as fruit Tuesdays or breakfast Mondays are not everything. There are many companies that offer great bonuses or facilities, but the surroundings and people may not necessarily suit us. The atmosphere in the office has a significant impact on the company’s success. In addition, all the items mentioned in this article are related to each other. Good relationships are associated with empathy, and this, in turn, goes hand in hand with trust.

Of course, everyone has a different value system and what affects employee satisfaction depends on the personality, but also on the priorities. For some, the most important thing will be earnings, regardless of the atmosphere in the company, and for others, on the contrary – others may put well-being above the salary. This is an individual matter.

So is it worth building happiness at work? We spend half of our lives at work, so I think it is important to take care of this self-satisfaction and psychological comfort.