IGNOU and Indian Psychiatric Society organized Virtual Symposium on Happiness @ Work

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do” - Steve Jobs

Background

Happiness At Work: A popular yet controversial topic. What is it? Why does it matter? How can we measure it? How can we increase it? All these and more questions revolve around the most talked about topic especially in the present context. The issue of mental health and decreasing employee engagement is being discussed intensely. The organizations throughout the globe are facing these issues. Therefore, it becomes all the more pertinent to discuss and deliberate on such issues to find plausible solutions.

Employees are propelling for kind of work that has meaning and purpose by taking more responsibility towards their changing work styles and personal developments. Agility and mobility are in high demand for working environment throughout the globe. Individual employees are looking for work environment that allows them to make proactive choices which will redefine their work in a constructive manner. Employees all over are looking for happiness and engagement at work which has some sense and impetus. With the new world of work that is gearing up, everything is changing at work and work place resulting into evident pressure and tension. Employees are thriving for new ways to cope with these radical changes.

With rare exceptions, happiness is not a term that has been extensively used in academic research on employee experiences in organizations. This does not mean that organizational researchers are uninterested in employee happiness at work. Employee happiness is crucial for any organization’s long-term health. However, it has been the biggest challenge for organizations of all shapes and sizes in the upcoming years. Although there is not a one-fits-all approach in the field of happiness at work but it is essential to understand the significance of happiness at work from the perspective of practicing psychiatrists. This is a new approach which will give a broad view towards the practical relevance of happiness at work.

Objectives

The objectives of holding the symposium are to understand the following from the perspective of practicing psychiatrists:

• The actual meaning of happiness at work;
• Parameters to measure happiness at work;
• Advantages of having happy employees;
• Factors of happiness and unhappiness at work;
• Psychological Methods to enhance happiness at work (for employers and employees)