Chief Happiness Officer Sounds Like A Bad Sitcom Title But It’s What Your Workers Want

The Japanese and the French have the least engaged workforces in the world. India and the U.S. the most. But across the world, workers think their employers should have someone dedicated to their happiness in the workplace.

JLL asked more than 7,000 mainly office workers in 12 countries how they felt about work and how their working environment affected them.

Gone are the days when workers just looked for money, security and benefits from a job. JLL said what people want today can be broken down into three key categories: engagement, empowerment and fulfillment.

On a global basis, 87% of those surveyed felt that their companies should create a role dedicated full time to employees’ well-being and work experience, a Chief Happiness Officer. When asked what a work environment should facilitate, nearly 70% said happiness at work, more than any other aspect.

The report drew a link between how engaged employees are and the nature of their workplaces.

Japan has the most disengaged workforce, with 21% saying they are not engaged at all. France was close behind, with 19% claiming they do not feel engaged. They are also the countries that feel their workspace makes it hardest for them to work effectively.

The report found that the shorthand of the laid-back tech workplace, the ping pong table, is already something of a cliche — only 12% of respondents thought  a work environment should facilitate games.

Instead, spaces dedicated to collaboration and teamwork have the strongest impact on productivity, particularly in the U.S. and Asia, the report found. Companies foster feelings of empowerment and engagement by getting the balance right between public and private spaces, JLL found. 

Communal spaces have the strongest impact on quality of life and engagement. This is especially true for those under the age of 35 and for sites with 500 to 1,000 employees.

In spite of the focus on startup culture prevalent in business today, the report points out that 60% of those surveyed still want to work for a large employer. But employees also crave an entrepreneurial culture, as 46% of those that want to work for a big company still desire a startup environment.

Further reading: Is Your Building Making You Sick and Stupid?