Come On, Get Happy!

At the 2014 VolunteerMatch Client Summit in Detroit, we learned from experts in CSR, volunteer engagement, technology and program administration. In this series of blog posts, we’ll share with you the valuable insights offered at each session. Up today: REally Happy Employees: The Impact of Well-being.

When was the last time you found yourself laughing hysterically in a conference session? Oh, and also watching a video of a dog try to speak? For me, the start of the “REally Happy Employees: The Impact of Well-being” session at our recent Client Summit was the start of a high-energy discussion on the potential impact employee happiness and well-being can have on your CSR programs.

John C. Havens, founder and executive director of The H(app)athon Project, introduced us to some very interesting concepts in just 45 minutes. He showed how wearable and emerging technologies are transforming the workplace and challenging us to measure employee well-being to drive positive bottom-line results.

The most refreshing thing about the discussion was that the session itself was an experiment in the very topic being discussed! In other words, Havens had everyone in the room smiling, talking with one another, and asking questions about how their own programs might improve with a little bit of humanity. Imagine the company that provides Fitbits to its employees and ends up saving money on health insurance costs. Or, how about the organization that determines which activities excite employees most (working with kids, being outdoors, etc.) and integrates those specific projects as part of its Global Day of Caring? Mixing common sense and very complicated technologies, and ultimately infusing a little humanity back in the workplace, clearly resonated with everyone in the room.

For me, it was a chance to think differently for a few moments and remember that the programs we’re all managing are about the people and relationships – not just the hours tracked.

For more happiness, view the full slide deck from this presentation. You can also check out 2012 World Happiness Report and explore the Gross National Happiness Index.