Dedicated Happiness Roles

Do you remember way back in 2014 when Big Viking Games in London, ON., hired the first ‘happiness engineers’ to create a low-stress work environment in a high-stress industry? The video game company was (and still is) dedicated to doing just about anything to keep their employees happy. Their arsenal of happiness includes daily catered lunches, a soft-serve ice cream machine, and even puppies. Albert Lai, co-founder of Big Viking Games, believed that if the company creates a happier work environment everyone would want to be a part of it. He then hoped that they would attract the best people for every position in the company. He knew he would get a return on his investment from the quality of the employees they hired.

Big Viking Games Happiness Coordinator’s primary goal was to ensure the happiness of all Viking employees by executing on their perks, assisting with company events, and even stocking the pantry with groceries and other necessities like cookies. But let’s be clear, it is not their job to keep people happy 24/7. Frankly, it is impossible for people to be happy 100% of the time. Their job was to create work environments where employees could bring the best of themselves to the workplace and fulfil their aspirations.

Fast forward. The Director of Happiness at Social Chain outlines that their duty is to create a fun and enjoyable workplace for staff by celebrating all staff achievements, organizing group activities, arranging classes on valuable life skills and creating welcoming spaces that encourage creativity. Companies like Etsy have gone so far as to create their own Gross Happiness Index.

Creating an environment where employees can bring the best of themselves to the workplace and fulfil their aspirations is still the main goal of most successful leaders. Hiring a happiness engineer like Big Viking Games or a Director of Happiness may not be an option for all companies, however…all companies can benefit from upping the happiness factor in their workplace in order to create a positive and productive workplace.