Employee Happiness: Why Does It Matter for Business Profitabilty?

I'm Debbie Carew, CEO of Inspired HR. My company supports employee relations for over 50,000 of our clients employees and one of our goals is to make sure those employees are happy. With a shaky economy, high unemployment and global unrest, the issue of employee happiness may seem trivial, but it's vital for business performance. Employee happiness is directly related to business results and the bottom line. According to Harvard Business Review, Happ, happy employees are more productive than unhappy ones. They show up for work, they're less likely to resign, and they go above and beyond. They also attract like minded people to your organization. In an environment where nearly nine out of 10 workers actively looking for a new job, having a stable and productive environment provides significant competitive advantage. Happy employees are 31% more productive, their sales are almost 40% higher, and their creativity is 300 times greater. So how do you create an environment where employees say great things about your organization? Organization stay working with you and strive to do their best every day? First, share information openly. In order for employees to contribute to the organization in a meaningful way, it's critical they understand the broader organizational goals and the role they play in achieving those goals. Not only does sharing instill a sense of purpose, but it encourages teamwork and innovation through collaboration. Second, empower decision making. Employees who have the authority to make decisions, are more creative, face fewer roadblocks, and are more engaged knowing they can contribute in a meaningful way. Third, create a culture of respect. Almost three quarters of workers have been exposed to workplace incivility. Bullying and harassment is a major issue that negatively affects workplaces and reduces productivity. Respect is contagious. Hire it, expect it, and reward it. Finally, provide frequent, consistent feedback to your teams. By nature, we're all competitive and we all care about what others think of us. So provide goals, metrics, and constant feedback to keep your workers energized. In a knowledge economy, we cannot afford to lose even one talented worker. Implementing these four imperatives into your organization in a meaningful way does not cost a lot, but requires ongoing discipline and focus. I challenge you to commit to creating workplaces that are truly inspired. That's how you're going to get the most out of your employees. That's how you're going to get the most out of your business. And that's how your business sector is going to thrive over the next decade and beyond.