HomeResourcesTalent ManagementRewards & BenefitsEmployee BenefitsCan joy improve our performance at work?

Can joy improve our performance at work?

by Warwick Business School | Employee Benefits

A recent study conducted by WBS has shown that hybrid-working has enabled more individuals to enjoy their jobs. The rise of job listings mentioning “passion” as a requirement and younger workers’ prioritization of work-life balance has sparked discussions on whether falling in love with work is out of fashion.

However, research indicates that experiencing positive emotions, such as joy, happiness, and pride, can enhance employee well-being, job performance, and motivation, and lead to better work quality. Positive emotions can also promote teamwork, trust, and a sense of belonging. Psychologist Barbara Fredrickson suggests that experiencing joy at work can broaden horizons and improve abilities over time.

To know more about these factors, download ‘Can joy improve our performance at work?’ guide above.

Related Articles

The Hidden Cost of Leaning on Top Talent

Over 90% of adults experienced extreme levels of pressure and stress over the past year, underscoring the reality that burnout in the UK workforce...

  • Leena Rinne
  • 2w

The Disappearing First Job: Why Under-40s Are Experiencing ‘Career Grief’ in the AI Economy

From ‘quiet quitting’ to side hustles and ‘portfolio careers’, British workers under 40 are increasingly questioning what their...

  • Jo-Ellen Grzyb
  • 2w

Is Workplace Happiness HR’s Most Powerful Productivity Lever?

For years, productivity strategies have centred on efficiency, processes and performance management. But new global research suggests HR leaders may...

How to Spot the Early Warning Signs of Team Disengagement

As we’re well into 2026, many employees are slipping back into well-worn routines, which can lead to a decline in motivation. That initial boost...

  • Lesley Cooper
  • 1m

Is AI Helping Burnout or Quietly Making It Worse?

AI is often sold as a cure for burnout. Automate the repetitive work, speed up administration, reduce friction, free people for higher-value tasks....

What Nobody Tells You About the Emotional Impact of Redundancy – and How HR Can Offer Empathetic Support 

Redundancy is one of the most difficult actions an organisation can take and can create a dual tension between process and...

  • Leading Executive Coaches Alison Lucas, of Randolph Partnership Ltd, and Lizzie Bentley Bowers, of The Causeway Coaching Ltd
  • 3m

Why “Right to Disconnect” Expectations are Rising and What HR Leaders Need to Get Right

The right to disconnect has long been discussed as a future aspiration for healthier work. In 2026, it is fast becoming a practical HR...

Short-Term Absence is Becoming HR’s Biggest Pressure Point Ahead of SSP Reform

Short-term sickness absence is already the most pressing sickness-related challenge for employers, and looming reforms to Statutory Sick Pay are set...

Sign up to our Newsletter