August | Mindfulness and Work-Life Balance
Is Happiness at Work Related to Mindfulness Practices?
How often is an employee’s day interrupted or sidelined by his or her external environment? It would be difficult to answer that with a simple explanation, but it begs the question of how employees and employers can mitigate the negative impact that things such as office politics, colleagues’ emotions, difficult/demanding leadership, ever-changing technology, workload, or any one of a litany of other situations that can affect happiness in the workplace.
Regardless of one’s physical work environment, there are other challenges to be navigated and managed daily. Most workers are dependent on the regular income, so it would be difficult to just walk away from circumstances that may be causing stress or anxiety, given the current uncertain economy and an unstable job market. Additionally, regardless of any workplace stressors, employees may also feel a sense of responsibility to contribute to the greater good and will continue to “report for duty” to fulfill that intrinsic need.
That is not to say that all workers feel dissatisfied or unhappy; there are individuals who possess a significant level of resilience to external pressures and function quite well despite the challenges that beset colleagues. But what sets those “happy workers” apart from those who may struggle with the daily grind and find it challenging to maintain positivity day in and day out? Are there inherent traits from an individual’s genetic makeup that provide an advantage? Is the ability to navigate anxiety a result of emotional intelligence which demotes common stressors to a manageable, even a near nonexistent, level?
One growing school of thought regarding workplace happiness is the utilization of mindfulness-based interventions, referred to as MBIs, and their efficacy in improvement of work-related stress and anxiety (Zhang, et.al., 2021). Simply put, how can one use a moment-to-moment consciousness to improve workplace stress, burnout, and even disengagement? While the number of current studies is low, controlled testing indicates that there appears to be a correlation between the mindfulness practice and well-being and job satisfaction (Zhang, et.al., 2021).
The connection between mindfulness and well-being is one that would behoove employers to give great consideration. In the bigger picture, the five elements that make up total rewards are compensation, well-being, benefits, recognition, and development. The term “well-being” has now replaced “work-life” and is “the state of a workforce that is productive, comfortable, happy, and healthy, considering physical, emotional/mental, financial, and environmental factors. Total Rewards professionals influence this state through organizational strategic influence and building programs that support workforce success inside and outside of work. (World at Work, 2024)
So, employers, what are you doing to promote well-being, i.e., happiness? With the increasing number of remote positions available, the labor market is as competitive as it has ever been. The constant evolution of globalization, digitization, and social transformations has drastically changed workplace environments, adding complexity to work procedures, which in turn requires more responsiveness and flexibility from the employee (Vonderlin, et.al., 2020). With these reasons in mind, it becomes obvious how vitally important it is to build effective programs that incorporate well-being to attract and keep the superstars in your organization. When a company implements all the critical elements into their organizational culture, the fruits of that labor in the forms of improved employee value proposition AND positive business outcomes will grow! It’s a win-win situation!
“Workplace Well-Being Deserves a Fresh Look.” WorldatWork, worldatwork.org/resources/publications/journal/workplace-well-being-deserves-a-fresh-look. Accessed 16 July 2024.
Vonderlin, R., Biermann, M., Bohus, M. et al. Mindfulness-Based Programs in the Workplace: a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Mindfulness 11, 1579–1598 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01328-3
Zhang D, Lee EKP, Mak ECW, Ho CY, Wong SYS. Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review. Br Med Bull. 2021 Jun 10;138(1):41-57. doi: 10.1093/bmb/ldab005. PMID: 33884400; PMCID: PMC8083197.
