With World Mental Health Day approaching on Thursday 10th October, The Myers-Briggs Company – a Certified B Corporation®– is urging businesses to consider the well-being of their workforce. A third of your life is spent at work, but what determines your well-being while in the office? That’s the question that Dr. Martin Boult, Senior Director Professional Services & International Training, The Myers-Briggs Company, asked before starting a three-year international study on workplace well-being.
Boult’s “Well-being in the Workplace” report, released in May this year, explores the most effective activities for enhancing well-being and its benefits for both people and organisations.
The study of more than 10,000 people from 131 countries compared workplace well-being across geographies, occupations, genders, personality types and age. Boult, along with Dr. Rich Thompson, Senior Director Research, The Myers-Briggs Company, also analysed relationships between workplace well-being and organisational outcomes such as commitment and job satisfaction. The study showed that:
Well-being improves with age:
The youngest age group (18-24 years) reported the lowest levels of well-being (6.77) and the oldest age group (65+ years) reported the highest (8.14).
Relationships are the leading contributor to workplace well-being:
Relationships ranked the highest contributing aspect of well-being (7.85 out of 10), followed by Meaning (7.69), Accomplishments (7.66), Engagement (7.43), and Positive Emotions (7.19 out of 10).
Gender plays a role in workplace well-being:
While men and women have similar levels of well-being at work (men = 7.45; women = 7.52), women reported slightly higher levels of Engagement (women = 7.47; men = 7.29) and Positive Emotions (women = 7.22; men = 7.13). This suggests women’s overall well-being may be supported by emotions that link to levels of interest and enjoyment they get from their work.
Well-being is similar around the world:
Participants from Australia/New Zealand and Latin America reported the highest levels of well-being (7.83 out of 10), while participants in Asia (7.38) reported the lowest. “The similar levels being reported suggest that regional culture may have less of an effect on workplace well-being than previously thought,” said Thompson.
Workplace well-being is related to organisational outcomes. Higher levels of workplace well-being correlated with:
- Higher levels of job satisfaction
- Higher commitment to the organisation
- Citizenship behaviors such as increased discretionary effort to help co-workers and contributing to organisational objectives
- Employees being less likely to have plans to look for a new job
Commenting on the findings, John Hackston, Head of Thought Leadership at The Myers-Briggs Company, said: “Growing evidence shows well-being influences a wide range of life outcomes and, despite organisations spending vast sums on “wellness programs”, few companies use real insight to inform their workplace well-being strategies.
“Companies should consider how they can leverage these insights to benefit their workforce. For example our research has shown that well-being improves with age, and so drawing on the wisdom and experience of senior-aged workers to help mentor younger colleagues can be a key benefit in the workplace. Implementing mentorship programmes could be one way to achieve this.
“Furthermore, recent organisational research has indicated up to 80% of people in large organisations are not engaged with their work, something that results in huge losses in productivity. We know that improved employee well-being leads to greater commitment to the organisation, improved job satisfaction and a reduced likelihood of job hopping, and ultimately helps to drive business success.
“And considering the currently record-low unemployment levels across the UK, organisations have to compete fiercely for the best talent. Offering excellent workplace well-being is one way to engage and retain employees, regardless of their age, gender or nationality.”
About The Myers-Briggs Company
In our fast-changing world, your edge lies in harnessing 100 percent of your talent – whether you’re at work, home, school, college, or anywhere in between. Your success and sense of fulfilment aren’t just about what you know and what you can do, they hinge on your relationships and interactions with others. The Myers-Briggs Company empowers individuals to be the best versions of themselves by enriching self-awareness and their understanding of others. We help organisations around the world improve teamwork and collaboration, develop inspirational leaders, foster diversity and solve their most complex people challenges. As a certified B Corp (and a registered California Benefit Corporation), The Myers-Briggs Company is a force for good. Our powerfully practical solutions are grounded in a deep understanding of the significant social and technological trends that affect people and organisations. With over 60 years in assessment development and publishing, and over 30 years of consultancy and training expertise, a global network of offices, partners and certified independent consultants in 115 countries, products in 29 languages, and experience working with 88 of the Fortune 100 companies, we’re ready to help you succeed.
