Happiness research making its mark on the modern workplace

The modern workplace is being reshaped. Open plan offices and 'hot desking' are being brought in to remove the hierarchical structure of large corporations and increase informality in the work place. The aim, among other things, is to make workers feel happier, healthier and more productive.

These companies are acting upon a large and growing body of research which shows that happiness and wellbeing increases productivity. And the results of this research are being borne out in the real world. While Andrew Oswald, Eugenio Proto and Daniel Sgroi at CAGE found in their laboratory experiments that happiness among workers can increase productivity by 12%, Unilever, a consumer goods company, estimates that for every dollar it invests in its wellness programmes, it sees a $2.50 return. Academic research on happiness and productivity is starting to make its mark on the modern workplace.

CAGE happiness research was referenced in 'Redesigning the corporate office' in The Economist, published on 26th September. Read the full article here.

Read the research undertaken by Andrew Oswald, Eugenio Proto and Daniel Sgroi here.

Daniel Sgroi describes CAGE research on Happiness Economics