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Episode 8 | Season 3

Can Workplace Happiness Solve the UK’s Productivity Crisis? with Lord Mark Price

In this episode we chat to Lord Mark Price, former Managing Director of Waitrose and former Deputy Chair of the John Lewis Partnership. Now the founder of WorkL, the leading global employee experience platform helping individuals to work happier and organisations to improve commercial performance by prioritising employee happiness, Mark explains how employee happiness can significantly boost productivity and drive commercial performance.

 

About the Guest

Lord Mark Price is a celebrated figure in the business world, best known for his contributions to enhancing employee engagement and happiness. As the former Managing Director of Waitrose and former Deputy Chair of the John Lewis Partnership. He is now the founder of WorkL, the leading global employee experience platform helping individuals to work happier and organisations to improve commercial performance by prioritising employee happiness.

Mark is a member of the House of Lords, and serves as a Non-Executive Director of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. His commitment to ethical business practices includes former chairmanship of The Fairtrade Foundation and Business in the Community, as well as his presidency of the Chartered Management Institute. He was also formerly Minister of State for Trade and Investment under David Cameron. 

Mark has written a range of business books on his Six Step Methodology, Employee and Customer Happiness, his new book Happy Economics explores the intricate links between employee engagement and economic performance.

 

This Episode Covers:

The Importance of Workplace Happiness: Happiness at work is essential for driving productivity and commercial success. Organisations with happy employees benefit from lower staff turnover, reduced sick leave, and improved customer service, all contributing to higher profits.

Six Factors of Happiness at Work: To enhance workplace happiness, focus on six critical areas: reward and recognition, information sharing, empowerment, well-being, instilling pride, and ensuring job satisfaction. These factors are foundational to creating a positive and productive work environment.

Culture and Management Matter: Organisational culture and management styles play a significant role in employee happiness. Companies that promote trust, recognition, and empowerment generally see higher levels of employee engagement and satisfaction.

Cost-Effective Strategies for Improvement: Many strategies to improve workplace happiness, such as personalised recognition and empowerment, are low-cost. Implementing these can lead to significant improvements in employee morale and productivity.

Global Perspectives on Workplace Happiness: Globally, workplace happiness varies, with countries like the UK scoring lower compared to developed nations the US. Understanding and addressing cultural differences in workplace practices can help improve overall employee satisfaction and productivity.

Tailored Management Approaches: Recognising individual differences among employees is crucial. Effective management involves personalising support and empowerment to meet the diverse needs and preferences of employees, thereby enhancing job satisfaction and organisational performance.


Links

  • Website: WorkL

  • Social media: LinkedIn

  • Take the free WorkL Happy at Work Survey here

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