The Happiness at Work survey

An employee happiness survey measures how people feel at work and what’s driving those feelings. Unlike a long annual staff survey, it focuses on happiness as a leading indicator of performance, retention and wellbeing.

Statistician and happiness expert Nic Marks developed the Happiness at Work survey in 2012. Nic also created the Happy Planet Index and the Five Ways to Wellbeing, and founded Friday Pulse.

Start with one core question, asked every week: “How happy were you at work this week?” Then ask about what’s driving it. The Happiness at Work survey’s quarterly Culture Profile asks 15 questions across the Five Ways to Happiness at Work, answered anonymously on a 1 to 5 scale. For example:

• Do you feel that you have good friends at work? (Connect)
• Do you feel that you are treated with fairness and respect at work? (Be Fair)
• Do you feel free to be yourself at work? (Empower)
• How often do you receive helpful feedback on your performance? (Challenge)
• Do you feel the work you do is worthwhile? (Inspire)

More often than once a year. Happiness changes with events like a new manager or a restructure, so an annual survey misses most of it. A short weekly pulse, like Friday Pulse, shows the trend and flags problems early.

Engagement surveys and eNPS ask whether people are committed or would recommend their employer. A happiness survey asks how people actually feel at work, which moves first. Read why Nic sees the Happiness KPI as the answer to eNPS’s flaws.

Yes. The free personal happiness test takes 2 minutes and gives you your own happiness report.