Being happy at work might seem like an impossible goal for employees, but the secret is as simple as a change in perspective.
Unhappiness at work is rampant: 70% of U.S. workers feel disengaged with their job, according to a poll by Gallup. Three out of ten workers describe what they do as “just a job to get by,” and less than half say they are satisfied with their careers, Pew research found.
The COVID pandemic has given employees an opportunity to rethink what they want out of life, says Scott Shute, head of LinkedIn's mindfulness and compassion programs. Employees are eager to find meaning in their work and are willing to switch jobs to find it.
“During COVID, our life situation has been a crisis situation, which makes job fulfillment even harder,” Shute says. “People are realizing what’s really important and looking at their career and asking, ‘Is this all there is?’ We’re going to see a lot of change as people have the flexibility to switch jobs.”
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But workers don’t have to seek new employment to feel better about their current situation, Shute says.
“Making a simple shift in how we interpret our internal attitude can make us happier and drastically improve our performance,” he says. “We’ve built this construct that work is bad but we can reframe it as something we get to do and make it more of a choice.”
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Shute shares his tips for feeling more positive about work and the role employers play in building a more enjoyable workplace.
Why do workers have such a hard time feeling happy and fulfilled at work?
Making a simple shift in how we interpret our internal attitude can make us happier and drastically improve our performance. Nobody has to do anything. I could choose to tell my boss, “I feel burned out today, I’m not coming to the staff meeting.” That may or may not have a consequence, but it’s still a choice and that changes our psychology. If we say, “I’m choosing to be here,” versus, “I have to be here,” then it’s your choice of how you’re spending your time. Which means since I'm here, I might as well make the best of it.
What can employers be doing to encourage a more positive work experience for employees?
It's [not] the employer's job to provide happiness, but it's in the employee's best interest to provide an environment where we can all do our best work. The most successful companies are the ones that take care of all of their stakeholders, not just their shareholders. They're actively trying to create a great environment for their employees and that flows through every HR policy.
That starts with the top. A lot of companies are now seeing the C-suite in their homes, with their dog walking by or their kid photo-bombing them. There’s a feeling of, we’re in this together. When people in the C-suite can talk about their struggles or how they’re staying positive, that makes it a normal conversation and more accessible.
What benefits should employers offer so employees feel better in and out of the office?
It's of great interest to an employer to do the things that will help employees be their best. Providing more resources around mental well-being is important. The standard things like EAP or a suicide hotline are like the medicine, but companies should be offering more vitamins. Meditation apps, coaching and mindfulness tools help people keep their mental health and their mental well-being really strong.
