September 23rd-27th is The International Week of Happiness at Work, which aims to start conversations on how to make being happy at work the norm. Previous research shows that remote work increases employee happiness by 20%. But others are speaking out and disputing this claim.
I connected by email with Amanda Okill, principal consultant at work behavior and culture consultancy at Byrne Dean. She describes how remote working and the loneliness it conjures is proving a huge common obstacle to happiness at work. She cites Gallup statistics reporting that 20% of the world’s employees experience daily loneliness. “It’s alarming,” Okill says, “but it’s also a reality that many of us, including myself, grapple with. As if we’re small floating islands, close enough to see the world but too far to connect.”
She mentions that the loneliness numbers (25%) are even higher for those working from home. “For many people, this new way of working has delivered huge benefits, but we need to be smart in recognizing when we are impacted negatively—in the same way as being smart when sitting out in sunlight; too much exposure can be dangerous.”
A Top Five Company With The Happiest Employees
Comparably just released its 2024 annual list of the top five companies with the happiest employees in the United States. Paycom ranks number five, and their employees work full time in the office, five days a week. I was curious about their in-office work policy and how it fits with the body of studies showing remote workers are happier than full-time, in-office workers.
I reached out by email to Jennifer Kraszewski, Paycom’s CHRO to learn more about these findings in light of Amazon’s controversial reversal to a five-day RTO workweek. According to Kraszewski, Paycom employees returned to the office full-time in 2022, making this data even more compelling. She explains that Paycom’s belief is that work-life balance isn’t exclusive to remote or hybrid employees and that it’s about having clear boundaries between work and home life.
Kraszewski shared Paycom’s internal data that full-time employees report favorable results:
- four in five of surveyed Paycom employees are satisfied with their work/life balance.
- 89% of Paycom employees feel they are paid fairly.
- 96% of employees are satisfied with their benefits.
- 95% feel their work environment is positive.
“Our employee feedback landed us in the top five of U.S. companies with the happiest employees in 2024 by Comparably,” she told me. I asked the secret to their happiness. “I believe this is because our employees feel connected to one another through in-person interactions and collaboration at work,” she explains. “Remote and hybrid work can be great for some, but it can also mean employees lose the social interactions, friendships, mentorships and face time with leadership that come from working in office.”
Kraszewski cites a 2022 Microsoft survey that supports Okill’s argument in which employees say they feel this social deficit already, with 84% of full-time employees citing socialization with co-workers as a motivator for in-person work. She states that, “Remote or hybrid work can also make work-life balance much more difficult with blurred lines between ‘work time’ and ‘home time,’ adding, “in-office work helps establish stronger boundaries between work hours and personal life.”
Implications For Other Employers
I asked Kraszewski what she sees as the implications for other companies. She shared that a 2023 Resume Builder survey found 81% of U.S. company decision-makers predict returning to office will improve revenue and improve company culture.
“Of course, those are huge benefits to the business, but it needs to be done correctly,” she emphasized. “My advice to employers considering going back into the office is to focus on ensuring the company culture, productivity, benefits and technology are a priority. Having an office and on-site perks can improve employee engagement and company culture, which are huge for retention.”
She acknowledged that returning to the office is a big change for employees who have had a remote or hybrid schedule for a while. “Paycom helps enhance work-life balance for employees with generous time-off packages and simple time-off request processes through automated time-off decision-making technology,” she notes. “It’s easier to increase employee happiness and work-life balance when they feel comfortable taking time off.”
Okill believes part of the solution is for workplaces to consider structural changes that promote connection, particularly in a hybrid world. “This could include team-building activities, social events or time for non-work-related discussions,” she says. “It could also include risk assessments for lone workers and hybrid workers, along with systems designed to encourage check-ins.”
Implications For Employees
I asked Kraszewski about the implications of full-time, in-office work for employees. “Long-term work from home may inhibit career growth,” she argues. “Remote employees are only exposed to team members through virtual interactions and emails, which can make it a huge challenge to develop deeper work relationships, collaborate with others and learn about other parts of the business. This can be true for recent graduates, who need to grow their social skills and professional interactions. I’d encourage employees to pick the workplace environment that works best for them.”
Kraszewski admits that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. “But I do think our recent recognition for top U.S. companies with the happiest employees is a good indicator that working in office can have exceptional benefits, too.”
Okill closes with the importance of structural changes and raised awareness at an organizational level, but adds we all need to take ownership, too. “Recognizing our feelings of loneliness is the first step,” she concludes. “If we know more about it from our collective stories, we can identify and do something, rather than leaving it too late. This is our well-being, our quality of life. We make time for so many other things at work, I’m not sure why connecting with each other should be any different.”