PurposeThis research seeks to explain the mediating function of workplace happiness in enhancing employee engagement through the drivers of employee engagement among the IT sector employees of India.Design/methodology/approachQuantitative data were acquired from 104 respondents from the Indian IT industry via an online survey utilizing Google Forms, employing a stratified random sample method. The study hypotheses were tested using PLS-SEM.FindingsResults indicated that workplace happiness positively mediate employee engagement and drivers of employee engagement.Research limitations/implicationsThe current study followed a cross section analysis where establishing causality is difficult however there is a scope to do longitudinal study on the same phenomenon. Research data are produced through online surveys. Possible sources of bias may be selective memory, attribution and/or exaggeration. This study covers specific variables of workplace happiness and drivers of employee engagement other variables remains unaddressed, such as COVID-19-related impacts. The nature of the industry and sample size was limited.Practical implicationsThis study shows that workplace happiness has a mediating effect on both drivers of employee engagement and employee engagement; as a result, organizations should consider the function of workplace happiness as a mediating factor when implementing drivers of employee engagement and employee engagement.Social implicationsOn the social level, this research will help organizations to understand the drivers for employee engagement and linkages between workplace happiness and employee engagement. It hopes to create more happy workplaces and have good social impact.Originality/valueThis is the first study to look into the function of workplace happiness as a mediator between the drivers of work engagement and work engagement.