Have you ever wondered whether your employees are really happy in the office? Or, have you thought about what factors affect their happiness levels. Wonder no more because a new research report has provided the answers and they are quite shocking. The biggest surprise? Money doesn’t matter, at least not as much as you think.

Money Really Can’t Make You Happy

The new Curtin University study has revealed that money isn’t the be all and end all for Australian workers. In fact, those who said they were very satisfied with their job earned a lower amount compared to those who were satisfied. It is possible that this is due to stress. People in higher positions are probably going to have to deal with more stress through the day. As such, they might be less happy at work. Then again, you would think those on lower incomes would be stressed due to money issues, but apparently not.

Still, workers do take pay into consideration. They just think about it based on what they’re doing rather than how much they want. So, if they see their job has meaning, they may be willing to work for less pay compared to an office job where they are just crunching numbers.

Little Things Count

Forget converting your office into a Google playhouse because most employees just aren’t interested. Instead, they want little comforts and luxuries to make their work environment better for them. The possible reason for this is that most offices just don’t have the basic amenities like water coolers on each floor. It’s weird to think of this as being something that some offices just don’t have when really it’s a necessity. Particularly in Australia where temperatures inside and out can reach blistering levels. It’s important to keep workers hydrated if you want them to be happy.

Working Long Hours Isn’t A Big Deal

Shockingly, the report showed that many workers will accept a seventy-eight hour week. To put that in perspective the recommend hourly week is no more than forty-five. That means that many workers will ‘happily’ work more nearly double the recommended amount. Why is this? Well, it’s a way to increase their level of pay, and it’s also been normalised by business owners pushing employees to the limit. However, allowing workers to stay at the office longer might not be beneficial for business owners. There is evidence to suggest that efficiency levels drop when employees are working overtime and quality might also be affected.

Who Are You Working With?

We spend more than thirty percent of our lives at work so it should come as no surprise that employee interactions do affect happiness levels. As such, business owners should work to encourage positive relationships in the office. By doing this, they can keep employee happiness levels high, leading to better levels of output. Right now, there is the fear that employers aren’t looking after their worker’s interests as well as they should and that needs to change.

One thing is certain. This report should be essential reading for any business owner who wants their company to thrive.