The Relationship Between a Happy Worker and a Productive Worker

The Relationship Between a Happy Worker and a Productive Worker

This is a synopsis and review of the latest research to investigate

the if a happy worker is indeed a productive worker.

Introduction:

It is a common belief that happy workers are always productive. But is

it always true? How do we define happiness? How do we define

productivity? How are they co-related? These are some of the

frequently asked questions in this context. Let us first answer these

questions and analyze the results with in the frame work of supporting

theories.

Happiness:

Happiness is an ambiguously defined term and here is the

interpretation which we would be using.

Happiness is derived from two major sources

* Professional (Job related) : "A pleasurable emotional state

resulting from the appraisal of one's job or job experiences"

(Locke 1976, p. 1303)

For our purpose, it is synonymous with Job Satisfaction in

organizational context.

* Personal: A general feeling of well-being resulting from personal

causes like family, friends. This is not within the control of an

organization. Hence it is not taken into consideration in

experiments and research done in this field.

Productivity:

Productivity can be defined as

· Achievement of pre-defined targets in a defined time and quality

frame work.

· Taking initiative apart from achieving pre-defined targets.

Productivity has a one-to-one co-relation with performance and we use

them synonymously. In the research carried in the field of

psychological climate perceptions, it has been directly substituted by

performance.

Co-relation betw...

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...es around the office,

said Michael Mercer, author of the book "Spontaneous Optimism: Proven

Strategies for Health, Prosperity and Happiness." This is a widely

accepted hypothesis though research does not support the idea. But,

many examples prove it to be flawed. The reason being sad employees

devote more energy to work to distract themselves from their present

state. Sad employees are more attentive. They can only be swayed by

strong arguments

References:

1. Journal of Organizational Behavior 24, 389-416(2003)

-Relationships between psychological climate perceptions and work

outcomes: a meta-analytic review-Parker, Baltes, Young, Huff et al

2. Task performance: Are happy workers productive workers? Pg 158-

Greenberg, Baron (8 Edition)

3. FAA(Federal Aviation Agency) Surveys(1986-1994)