Impact of happiness-enhancing activities and positive practices on employee well-being

Purpose Psychology studies have gradually evolved in the past decades from examining negative to positive states of mind. This has led to an increasing interest in understanding the well-being of individuals. Further, organizational research has demonstrated a positive impact of employee well-being on key business indicators. Drawing from positive psychology, this study examines the impact of happiness-enhancing activities and positive practices (HAPP) on employee well-being. Design/methodology/approach This study was conducted in an emerging information technology firm in India. Using validated measures, this study designed an online survey that was completed by 54 employees of the firm. Findings Employees largely perceived the HAPP as important but reported low levels of engagement in most activities or practices. Using hierarchical linear regression, this study found that self-concordant work significantly impacted employee’s job satisfaction and job-related affective well-being. Practical implications Leaders must harness the synergy between individual and organizational growth by providing self-concordant work contexts in which employee’s key skills, competencies and strengths are leveraged. Originality/value This study contributes to the existing scant literature on HAPP. Further, in a first, this study uses these psychological interventions in the context of workplace and assesses their impact on employee well-being which itself is an area of growing interest among academicians and practitioners.