UQ Wellness Magazine - MAY 26 - Flipbook - Page 27
Based on insights
from more than 2,000
Australian and New
Zealand workers,
this report paints a
clear picture of where
workplace happiness is
thriving and where there
is room to lift the bar.
The current state of
workplace happiness
The headline 昀椀nding is
both encouraging and
Purpose beats pay
One of the most
interesting 昀椀ndings is
that salary is not the
main driver of workplace
happiness. In fact, it
ranked ninth overall.
Instead, the top three
drivers of happiness were:
• Purpose at work
• Your manager
• Your day to day
responsibilities
Together, these make up
what SEEK describes as
the why, who and what
of work. Why you come
confronting. Just 55
percent of Australians
say they are somewhat or
extremely happy at work.
That means almost half of
the workforce is feeling
neutral at best or unhappy
at worst in their jobs.
For employers,
this presents a real
opportunity. Improving
workplace happiness
is not just about
feel good initiatives.
Happier employees are
more engaged, more
productive, more loyal and
more likely to go above
and beyond in their roles.
to work, who you work
with and report to, and
what you actually do
each day matter more
than pay alone.
This helps explain why
higher income earners
are not dramatically
happier overall, despite
being more satis昀椀ed
with certain aspects
like salary and career
progression.
What people enjoy most
at work
When workers were asked
what they are happiest
with in their working
lives, the answers were
surprisingly practical. The
top positives included:
• Location of work
• Day to day
responsibilities
• Work life balance
These are aspects people
often consider before
accepting a role, which may
explain why satisfaction
is higher. On the 昀氀ip side,
areas such as stress levels,
career progression and
organisational commitment
to environmental, social
and governance initiatives
ranked lowest for
happiness. These are areas
where employees have
little control and where
employers can make a
meaningful difference.
