What does it take to spread happiness at work?
Honestly, not too much. But it does make a difference when employers are intentional with the way they spread kindness and joy in the workplace.
Fall and winter keep many people inside and can be the start of the doldrums for many. Even without the changing of seasons, depression is on the rise, showing an obvious need for some uplifting activities for employees. New research from the Boston University School of Public Health reveals that elevated depression levels persisted into 2021, and even worsened, climbing to 32.8 percent. That’s one in every three adults.
To keep your team’s spirit uplifted this fall, get creative with the ways you can make them happy. It doesn’t have to cost a lot to bring others joy.
Here are 13 fun ways employers can spread happiness at work:
1. Bring Your Dog to Work Day
Make your dog lovers super excited by announcing a “Bring Your Dog to Work Day”. Besides spreading happiness, there are perks to allowing pets in the office. Alternatively, you can host a “Bring Your Kids to Work Day” if it’s appropriate for your work setting.
2. Give Compliments to Others
Offering a sincere compliment can mean a lot to someone, especially if they’re feeling down. This can easily be done in person or virtually, and best of all, it is free! Research indicates that those who offer compliments tend to improve the mood of the giver after sharing a compliment, too. Whether it’s praise for a job well done, a presentation gone well, or even a shirt worn, be on the lookout for ways to commend others often.
3. Write Notes of Kindness to Each Other
This idea offers a way for both leadership and your team members to practice spreading happiness around. There are two ways to do this: Keep a handful of index cards next to a box and allow employees to write down praises or thoughtful notes for the group or an individual. Pick one to read aloud at each group meeting and do so until they run out. Or, encourage workers to randomly write notes to put on each other’s desks. It can be a motivational quote, a compliment on a recent project, or praise for a way the person has been kind.
4. Share Good News
Meetings don’t have to be a drag. Start them off with a fun activity like an icebreaker, a coffee chat, or even a dance party. Once everyone is settled in, share a short piece of good news. It can be exciting company news or even news from a site like the Good News Network, which shares positive, inspiring stories each day.
5. Post Printed-Out Funny Memes
Everyone loves a good meme. Spread happiness and make your team laugh by posting printed-out copies of hilarious memes, cartoons, or pictures. Laughing is good for everyone’s health, but it’s even better when people can have a good laugh together.
6. Treat Your Team to a Healthy Lunch
There’s nothing better than a surprise lunch paid for by the boss. Bring in a catered lunch with a variety of healthy options to help your team feel recharged and not sluggish. Be sure to ask about food allergies prior to the luncheon and keep a list on hand for future luncheons. Allowing those with food allergies to participate is an excellent way to spread happiness!
7. Collect Donations for Others
One of the best ways to spread happiness is to do good for others. Research shows that providing for others can elevate mood and increase feelings of overall life satisfaction. Consider doing a monthly kindness challenge to help others in your community or in the city of your company’s headquarters. Whether it’s collecting treats for the local fire station, donating to a children’s charity, or spending time working in a community garden, there are tons of opportunities to help others as a team.
8. Hold Open the Door and Smile
Not only is holding the door open for workers a polite (and humble) move but doing it with a smile can bring a smile to their faces, too. Smiling is one of those actions that have a mirror-like effect in that the other person you smile at is likely to do the same. When you smile, the brain releases tiny molecules known as neuropeptides which help fight off stress. Smiling also encourages the body to release feel-good neurotransmitters like serotonin, endorphins, and dopamine.
9. High Five Everyone
During the pandemic, high fives and handshakes were just about banned in workplaces. Bring them back to the workplace! If you notice employees are still erring on the social distance side of things, consider high fives — and then hand them a mini hand sanitizer — which is guaranteed to get them to laugh.
10. Take a Coffee Break
If your team loves a good cup of coffee, take them out for a cup of joe. Or, send them coffeehouse gift cards and a new mug if they are remote working. Not only is it a lovely gesture that will make them smile, but it’s also good for their health, too!
Related: Is Coffee Good For You? Discover The Health Perks of a Cup of Joe
11. Add Pops of Colorful Flowers
Want to automatically spread happiness? Bring in a bouquet of flowers and put them in the break room or another employee gathering place. Flowers are found to have an immediate impact on happiness and have a long-term positive effect on moods, according to studies conducted by Rutgers University.
12. Celebrate an Employee of the Week
Yes, recognizing your employees does matter. It also can bring them a big dose of happiness, according to studies. Employees who aren’t properly recognized at work are three times more likely to leave the following year. Give consistent praise and help them realize how their specific work contributes to short-and-long-term company goals. A shout-out in a meeting, on a bulletin board, or even in the employee newsletter is a great way to praise workers.
13. Host an Outside Meeting
Whether you have access to an outdoor courtyard, a company garden, or even a local park, get your team outdoors. Outdoor time not only boosts vitamin D levels, but studies show green spaces are known to improve mood, too. In fact, a University of Sussex study found that workers were happiest when they ate lunch outside. So, host your meeting and then eat lunch together under the sunshine or a canopy of trees.
Do More of What Makes Your Team Happy
As you can see from the list above, it’s the small things that can have a major impact on overall mood and happiness levels.
But it’s important to note that happiness can be fleeting — especially during those long days in winter — and too much time feeling down isn’t good for anyone’s mental health.
Make it a practice to do activities or have quirky fun moments with workers often. Doing so will keep employees engaged and those who are in a better mood at work will perform better. Whether it’s more time outside together, healthy luncheon events, or even incorporating more team-building activities, take note of the feedback you get to spread happiness throughout your company.
How do you make your employees happy? Share your insights in the comments below!
