A culture of joy in the workplace can lead to increased job satisfaction through improved decision-making, increased productivity, and increased appreciation of one’s work. According to a study from the American Psychological Association, positive emotions can improve the quality of decision-making. This is because when people experience positive emotions, their brains become more open to new ideas and more willing to explore novel solutions. Additionally, a study from the Journal of Applied Psychology found that teams with higher levels of joy reported greater levels of job satisfaction and were more likely to stay with their organization for a longer period. The 2017 study found that employees who experienced joy and had higher job satisfaction reported being 51% more productive than those who did not experience joy. An earlier study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology in 2016 found that employees who experienced joy at work reported being more engaged, productive, and creative. This study also found that when employees experienced joy, job satisfaction increased by 31%, and stress decreased by 39%.
Furthermore, a study from the journal of Personnel Review found that positive emotions can lead to higher levels of productivity. The study found that when people experience positive emotions, their brains become more alert, and this increased alertness can lead to improved concentration and focus, allowing individuals to better complete tasks (Aboramadan & Kundi, 2022).
Finally, a study from the University of California Berkeley found that people who experience positive emotions are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs, even when the job itself is not particularly enjoyable (3). The researchers also found that when people experienced joy or happiness, their dopamine levels increased by 27% (Dutton & Heaphy, 2003).
