While happiness works in the short term and in a very fleeting way, wellbeing is based on enduring principles configured in the medium term.
Happiness in the workplace is part of the characteristics that determine well-being at work; in addition to positive relationships, dedication, purpose and success
Measuring labor well-being, through technologies that allow objective analysis, is key to understanding how the organization should act accordingly, with concrete and personalized actions.
Well-being is not the same as happiness, and while they are often used interchangeably, the differences between the two are significant. When applied in the workplace, happiness (for example, laughing with colleagues or enjoying a party before the holidays) says nothing about how committed employees are to the company, or how they contribute to the achievement of the company’s objectives. Happiness is much more focused on the short term, because it is a very fleeting feeling that can change quickly.
As explained by the founder of the technology consultancy specializing in labor well-being APFtech, Xavi Escales, “an employee may feel very happy temporarily because of a salary increase, but later remember that his job is not fulfilling him and he is feeling unhappy again and again. unmotivated “.
At the same time, wellness analyzes all aspects of an employee’s life, both inside and outside the office, to measure that person’s ability to deal with stress, be productive in their work environment, contribute to society and feel fulfilled and feel satisfied according to its potential. In this sense, one of the main differences with happiness is the time frame, as well-being works more in the medium term and is better correlated with the variables that influence productivity, absenteeism, sick leave, disability, etc.
This does not mean that happiness at work and well-being at work do not go together; On the contrary, happiness is part of well-being and is one of the factors that determine the level of well-being. So these axes are: positive emotions, positive relationships, commitment (in different areas, such as family, work or social goals), purpose (understanding and agreeing to the meaning and motivation of your actions) and success (ambition and the achievement of personal goals and objectives).
Objective measurement of the well-being of work
The benefits of promoting workplace wellness among employees are something more and more companies are realizing. In this sense, it is essential that companies take actions that work based on the particularities of each person. In response to this need, wellbeing at work has evolved with innovative solutions that allow a more precise and efficient analysis of people’s wellbeing through artificial intelligence.
One of the most prominent technologies is wearables, personal devices that monitor various biometric variables such as heart rate, body temperature, respiratory rate, etc., allowing for an objective analysis of wellbeing. “The objective measurement and interpretation of the variables that influence people’s well-being are fundamental to making decisions that are truly useful, both to ensure the well-being of the workforce and to achieve the goals of the companies,” explains Xavi Escales explains.