2019
Chapter
Global Happiness and Wellbeing Policy Report

Employee Well-being, Productivity, and Firm Performance: Evidence and Case Studies

By: Christian Krekel, George Ward, Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, and Council Members: J. Harter, A. Blankson, A. Clark, C. Cooper, J. Lim, P. Litchfield, J. Moss, M. I. Norton, A.V. Whillans and D. Cooperrider, and D. Mendelwicz

Format:Print

Abstract

The well-being of employees is a good in itself. But an important question frequently arises as to whether there are any objective benefits to making the subjective well-being of workers a priority. Clearly, implementing policies that promote worker well-being can be resource-intensive. And in times of limited budgets and competing priorities, the issue often boils down to the question: is it worth it? Ultimately, businesses and policy-makers alike want to know: are there any objective returns to – or, more generally, is there a compelling business case for – spending scarce resources to ensure and enhance well-being in the workplace?

Keywords

Wellbeing; Employees; Welfare; Happiness; Policy; Performance Productivity

Citation

Krekel, Christian, George Ward, Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, and Council Members: J. Harter, A. Blankson, A. Clark, C. Cooper, J. Lim, P. Litchfield, J. Moss, M. I. Norton, A.V. Whillans, and D. Cooperrider, and D. Mendelwicz. "Employee Well-being, Productivity, and Firm Performance: Evidence and Case Studies." Chap. 5 in Global Happiness and Wellbeing Policy Report, by Global Council for Happiness and Wellbeing, 72–94. New York: Sustainable Development Solutions Network, 2019.