Exploring the Path to Employee Happiness: A Review of Employee Well-being Research

Abstract

As the global economy continues to develop and competition intensifies, the importance of employee happiness is increasingly recognized. Employee well-being not only relates to individuals' physical and mental health and quality of life but also directly impacts organizations . Therefore, understanding and enhancing employee happiness have become important topics in organizational management and human resource management. In traditional organizational theory, employee job satisfaction is typically regarded as an evaluation of employees' perceptions of their job content, work environment, and working conditions. However, with increasing emphasis on employee psychological wellbeing and life satisfaction, researchers have begun to expand job satisfaction to encompass employees' overall happiness and well-being indices. This shift reflects a trend in organizational management away from the mere pursuit of productivity and economic efficiency towards a focus on holistic employee development and happiness. The purpose of this study is to systematically review and analyze research on employee happiness, including its concepts, influencing factors, and consequences. By delving into existing research findings, a better understanding of the mechanisms of employee happiness formation and the pathways of influence can be achieved, thereby providing theoretical guidance and practical recommendations for organizational and human resource management. This study aims to enhance the understanding of employee happiness, employing a literature review approach. Key findings include the multidimensional influencing factors of employee happiness and its associations with organizational performance and turnover intentions. Future research could explore employee happiness from various perspectives, including individual, team, and cultural differences, interdisciplinary approaches, and the application of emerging technologies. Such research endeavours will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the nature of employee happiness, thereby providing more effective guidance and support for organizational and human resource management.