Search begins for Britain’s Happiest Workplace

The search is on to find the happiest workplace and worker in the country as part of a new initiative designed to reward Britain’s brightest businesses and employees.

The Laughology Happiness Awards 2016 are the first awards of their kind. They will recognise the importance happiness plays in the nation’s economic performance.

Workplace happiness has become a serious business with a recent University of Warwick and Social Market Foundation study showing that employee happiness and wellbeing raise productivity by between 12 and 20%. Happiness as a commercial concept has gained much traction in recent years and consultancy Laughology has been a pioneer in the field. It is launching the awards to mark its 10th anniversary and to honour businesses, organisations and individuals taking happiness seriously.

Nominations are invited in the categories of Happiest Business or Organisation and Happiest Leader, Manager, or Employee.

The awards are sponsored by innovative furniture manufacturer Herman Miller and are supported by RBS, NatWest and Sir Anthony Seldon, the influential happiness expert and government adviser.

David Brents need not apply. The Laughology Happiness Awards aim to recognise the serious business of happiness, rather than workplace clowns.

Laughology Founder and CEO Stephanie Davies explains: “At Laughology we have been studying the benefits of happiness on productivity and wellbeing for 10 years and were one of the first organisations to help others harness the benefits of happiness through training and engagement. We have worked globally with some of the biggest business in the world.

“We are holding the first Laughology Happiness Awards for businesses and organisations because we want to honour the happiest staff, businesses, organisations and managers in the country. Increasingly organisations are realising how important happiness and humour in the workplace are. Happiness makes people healthier, more resilient, more productive and it promotes positive relationships and creativity. It boosts the bottom line.

“We are looking for the people and organisations that make a real difference and embody the core themes of happiness.”

To submit a nomination, go to the laughology website. Entries close on 17 October. The award ceremony will be held in London on 18 November at the roof top conservatory in the RBS building in Bishopsgate.