Happy Workplace: A Case Study of Kasem Bundit University Employees

Abstract

This study used qualitative research to study the definition, factors of a happy workplace and the results of a happy workplace of Kasem Bundit University employees with the following objectives: 1) to describe the definition of a happy workplace 2) to study the factors that create a happy workplace and 3) to study the happy workplace which affects employees’ work using in-depth interviews and literature reviews. The sample size (key informant) of this research consisted 12 employees. The results revealed that 1) the definition of a happy workplace was the organization that encouraged its employees to have a common goal, focus on adjusting a new work process, have operation guidelines which supported one another, strive for highest efficiency; moreover, the employees themselves had a chance to do what they loved, had a good attitude towards work, had good colleagues, were happy to work and loved their work 2) the overall factors that created a happy workplace included a total of 9 elements in accordance with the concept of a happy workplace of Thai Health Promotion Foundation (Thai-Health), which consisted of 7 elements as follows: Happy Body, Happy Heart, Happy Relax, Happy Brain, Happy Soul, Happy Family and Happy Society. In addition, the researchers found additional 2 elements i.e. Happy Instrument and Happy Environment 3) The happy workplace which affected employees’ work could be divided into three types: the happy workplace affecting employees themselves, affecting colleagues and affecting the organization. It could be described that          3.1) the happy workplace affecting themselves (the employees), namely making them happy, enthusiastic to work, willing to work, and ready to develop themselves 3.2) affecting colleagues, namely creating collaboration, unity, helping one another and working together happily and 3.3) affecting the organization, namely improving performance, building loyalty in the organization and organization development.