Ankita Srivastava, IOCL

srivastavaankita@indianoil.in

Author works at the Corporate Communication department of Corporate Office, IOCL

ग़म और ख़ुशी में फ़र्क़ न महसूस हो जहाँ,

मैं दिल को उस मक़ाम पे लाता चला गया

साहिर लुधियानवी

Beautiful prose by world-renowned Ludhyanvi ji! When he penned this thought way back in the 1960s, he would have never thought, much later in the 21st century, this would become the mantra of Corporations for fuelling global economies. HR practitioners across corporate corridors are strategizing to create balanced workplaces for their workforce who feel engaged and aligned with the company’s goals. Today, companies are spending billions to enhance employee productivity and adopting strategic engagement frameworks to ensure their human capital is at its best. As you tune in to the numerous benchmarks and practices around the industries, the key principles for having a productive employee are outlined as under:

  • Purpose-Driven Culture: Connecting employees’ work to a larger, meaningful mission encourages them to invest more of themselves in their tasks.
  • Employee Engagement: Fostering a workplace environment that makes employees feel valued, involved, and motivated. Companies focus on increasing engagement through recognition, career development, and providing a sense of purpose.
  • Work-Life Balance: Promoting flexibility in work hours, remote work options, and wellness programs helps in reducing burnout and increasing productivity.
  • Empowerment: Giving employees more control over their work fosters creativity and ownership. This can be through project-based work, goal setting, and minimizing micromanagement.
  • Diversity & Inclusion: Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels represented, understood, and respected contributes to higher innovation and creativity.
  • Learning & Development: Upskilling and reskilling employees through regular training programs ensures they are equipped with the latest tools and techniques, while also giving them a sense of growth and future-proofing their careers.
  • Technology: Companies invest in technology that makes employees’ jobs easier, from communication tools to AI-driven solutions, to improve efficiency and reduce repetitive tasks.
  • Transparency: Frequent, clear communication from leadership helps align employees with company goals and fosters trust, which drives higher performance.

Companies aim to maximize employee satisfaction and productivity by creating an environment that prioritizes well-being, growth, and inclusion.

WHY SO SERIOUS?

In a world so dominant with digitalization, social media, machine learning and AI, the future of workforce engagement has become more complicated. There is what I call, the ‘information detonate’, a condition where we have a humongous amount of information which is extremely difficult to absorb and translate into repurposed outcomes. Out of the 5.44 billion internet users in the world, the average time spent by people on social media (only) has increased from 90 minutes in 2012 to 143 minutes in 2024. Human-to-human engagement is declining at a rapid pace. With alternatives just a touch away, it’s likely that employees also seek communication and transactions digitally rather than in person. The COVID-19 pandemic was another factor in alienating human beings and digressing them towards loneliness and individualism.

With so much disparity in the social fabric of human existence, how can companies expect today that they will get the same level of engagement and productivity from their employees deploying persistent HR mechanisms? While the basic elements do hold true, bringing in the happiness element through playfulness and humour may glue the quintessential.

EMBEDDING FUN IN THE COMPANY CULTURE
The future is uncertain; however, the need of the hour is clear. Engaging employees by raising their happiness index is the way forward. Lightening up the atmosphere can lead to a more productive and enjoyable environment. Being too serious can stifle creativity, reduce morale, and increase stress in the long term.

A fun workplace has its own set of additional benefits for the corporation as depicted by the Smart Art below:

Embedding humour and fun in company culture can enhance workplace morale, improve communication, and increase productivity. Enlisting herewith are some key strategies for incorporating the fun element at workplaces

  • Walk the Talk:
    – Encourage light-heartedness: Leaders can set the tone by being approachable, using humour in meetings, and celebrating small victories with fun.
    – Stay authentic: Keep the humour appropriate and aligned with the company values and culture.
  • Create Happy Workplace:
    – Fun office spaces: Add elements like creative break areas, games, or themed workspaces to make the environment more vibrant.
    – Casual Fridays or theme days: Encourage employees to dress down or participate in themed activities to break the monotony.
  • Try Humorous Communication:
    – Humorous newsletters or memos: Share light jokes, cartoons, or fun facts in internal communications.
    – Playful meetings: Start meetings with a funny video, joke, or icebreaker to lighten the mood.
  • Team-Bonding:
    – Fun events: Organize activities such as trivia, scavenger hunts, or costume days that encourage everyone to participate.
    – Celebrate birthdays and milestones: Recognize personal and professional achievements with a touch of humour, like gag gifts or funny speeches.
  • Foster Playfulness:
    – Office challenges: Introduce fun competitions, like desk decorating contests, or fitness challenges, with light-hearted rewards.
    – Break-time fun: Provide board games, snooker, foosball, or ping-pong tables for employees to enjoy during breaks.
  • Encourage Innovation &Creativity:
    – Open suggestion channels: Allow employees to propose ways to make work more fun, whether it’s themed days, humour in presentations, or social events.
    – Gamify tasks: Incorporate game elements (points, leaderboards) into day-to-day tasks to make work feel more playful.
  • Infuse Positive Attitude:
    – Laugh at setbacks: Encourage resilience by finding humour in failures or challenges, reframing stressful situations in a lighter way.
    – Recognize fun leaders: Identify and encourage individuals who naturally bring humour and positivity into the office.
However, there is a caution element. Fostering a culture of humour should always be done with respect and inclusivity in mind to ensure everyone feels comfortable and valued.

NURTURING HAPPY PLANET
Nonetheless, the bottom line is, as a society, we need happy human beings because their well-being has a profound ripple effect, enhancing the overall quality of life for individuals and communities. They are crucial in building strong and peaceful communities, economic growth, civic engagement, and generational impact. Collectively, happiness promotes stability, cooperation, and progress, making societies more harmonious, prosperous, and sustainable.

Companies need happy employees because they are more productive, engaged, and loyal, which directly impacts the success of the business.

  • Higher Productivity: Happy employees are generally more motivated, leading to increased efficiency and better performance.
  • Better Retention: Employee satisfaction reduces turnover, saving costs associated with recruiting and training new hires.
  • Enhanced Creativity: A positive work environment fosters innovation and problem-solving.
  • Improved Customer Service: Happy employees often provide better service, which can enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Lower Absenteeism: Satisfied employees are less likely to take unnecessary sick days, ensuring smoother operations.
  • Positive Workplace Culture: Happy employees contribute to a supportive, collaborative, and resilient company culture.
 

Investing in employee well-being translates to better business outcomes, from profitability to brand reputation.

Let’s fuel playfulness and fun in life and workplaces for uplifting happy beings and in turn nurturing a happy planet.

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