How Google inspired the business world to priortise employee happiness
When talking about employee well-being programs, employee satisfaction or just about cool places to work, Google is usually one of the first companies that spring to mind.
Since its launch in 1998, the internet giant has not only become one of the most successful, multi-billion dollar companies in the world, but it has firmly established itself as a leader of the millennial office experience.
Google's corporate wellness program focuses on the well-being and work-life balance of the ‘googlers”, and it is considered as being instrumental in its business growth. Their holistic approach to wellbeing is not just about physical health, but volunteering, family, and happiness as well.
Highlights from their program include:
Free bikes around campus, Lego stations and Ping-Pong tables and even the big company slide
Office dogs
Wellness and healthcare services, including physicians, chiropractic, physical therapy, and massage services
Nap rooms
Colour-coded healthy cafeteria with (free!) healthy snacks like dried fruit, KIND bars, and coconut water
Flexibility for family with generous parental leave policies, retirement savings plans and death benefits
Standing desks
Googlers’ charitable donations are matched
Lifelong learning is encouraged with onsite coding or cooking or dance classes
Not only are employees healthier but they are happier and more satisfied too, with employee satisfaction rising 37% as a result of those initiatives*.
Newton Cheng, Google’s Fitness Programs Manager, explains why happiness is vital for company culture, “We know that if we can help someone be happy, it supports their ability to be innovative and creative.”
And a growing body of research backs this view. A 700 person study conducted in Britain by the University of Warwick found that happiness led to a 12% increase in productivity, while unhappy workers proved 10% led productive.
The research team summarised, “We find that human happiness has large and positive causal effects on productivity. Positive emotions appear to invigorate human beings.”
Whilst big budgets aren’t a reality for every company, we can all take a lesson from Google’s philosophy. Figure out what makes your employees happy and healthy and put more of an emphasis on that. It could even be as simple as fostering social connections, ensuring staff feel listened to and empathized with by management or encouraging a culture of helping each other.
Mind Bright offers a number of science-based workplace wellness workshops which empowers attendees to understand the mechanics of stress, so they can rewire their brain to be calmer. Employees will be happier and healthier, so your organisation can thrive. Read more here.
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