Tackling common HR issues with THI

In the complex world of human resources, staying ahead of emerging challenges is crucial. Today’s HR leaders are not just managing employee relations; they’re driving organisational change, improving wellbeing, and building a culture of continuous improvement. Yet, with 85% of employees globally disengaged and UK businesses losing an estimated £42 billion annually to stress and burnout, the stakes have never been higher.

Common hr issues

The key to tackling these issues lies in understanding your workforce. The Happiness Index provides a powerful platform that turns employee feedback into actionable insights. This article will explore how our platform can help you address critical HR challenges, improve employee engagement, and build a happier, more productive workplace.


Unlocking employee engagement with continuous listening


The engagement crisis


Employee engagement is at the heart of organisational success. Engaged employees are more productive, loyal, and contribute to a positive workplace culture, yet the statistics paint a worrying picture. Only 36% of employees in the UK report being engaged at work, leading to decreased productivity, higher turnover, and a negative impact on your bottom line. Understanding and addressing the factors that drive engagement is essential for any organisation looking to thrive in a competitive landscape.


How The Happiness Index can help


The Happiness Index platform is designed to keep you in tune with your employees through continuous listening. Our advanced tools allow you to gather real-time feedback, so you can understand what truly matters to your workforce. With our intuitive dashboards, you can easily track engagement levels across teams, identify trends, and take proactive steps to drive improvement. 


Cultivating employee happiness for long-term success


The importance of happiness


Employee happiness is more than just a feel-good factor; it’s a critical driver of productivity, engagement, and retention. Research shows that happier employees are 13% more productive, yet only 40% of UK employees report feeling happy at work, revealing a significant opportunity for improvement. When employees are happy, they are more motivated, creative, and resilient. This leads to better individual and organisational performance. Moreover, happiness at work is closely linked to lower stress levels, reduced absenteeism, and a stronger sense of belonging, all of which contribute to a healthier workplace culture and a more sustainable business model.


How The Happiness Index can help


The Happiness Index platform is uniquely positioned to help you cultivate employee happiness across your organisation. By continuously listening to your employees and acting on their feedback, you can create an environment where happiness is not only prioritised but also actively nurtured. Our platform allows you to track happiness levels over time and correlate them with business outcomes, such as productivity, retention, and innovation. With these insights, you can implement lasting strategies that help you build a more resilient and successful organisation.


Reducing turnover by focusing on wellbeing


The cost of turnover


High employee turnover is a costly issue, with the average UK company spending £30,614 per employee to replace them. This figure includes recruitment, onboarding, and lost productivity during the transition period. But it’s not just the financial cost that’s concerning, broader implications include disruption to team dynamics, lower morale, and damage to your employer brand. High turnover can lead to a loss of institutional knowledge, disrupt team cohesion, and negatively impact the employer brand, making it harder to attract top talent in the future. Addressing the root causes of turnover, such as employee wellbeing, is therefore essential for sustaining long-term success.


How The Happiness Index can help


Our platform gives you the tools to monitor and improve employee wellbeing, a key factor in reducing turnover. Wellbeing is multifaceted, encompassing physical, mental, financial, and emotional health. By tracking wellbeing trends and identifying areas of concern, you can take proactive steps to support your employees before issues escalate into burnout or disengagement. The Happiness Index ensures that wellbeing initiatives are not just reactive, but part of a broader, strategic approach to creating a positive work environment. 


Fostering innovation through psychological safety


Innovation and psychological safety


Innovation thrives in environments where employees feel safe to express their ideas and take risks. Unfortunately, many workplaces fall short in this area, with only 47% of employees feeling psychologically safe at work. This lack of safety stifles creativity, slows down progress, and can prevent an organisation from reaching its full potential. Creating a culture of psychological safety is therefore essential for fostering innovation and enabling employees to contribute their best ideas.


How The Happiness Index can help


The Happiness Index platform allows you to measure psychological safety within your teams. By using our sentiment analysis tools and anonymous feedback options, you can create a culture where employees feel secure to speak up and share their innovative ideas. Our platform provides insights into the factors that contribute to or detract from psychological safety, enabling you to address concerns and build a more open and supportive environment. 


Advancing EDI with data-driven insights


The EDI imperative


Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are critical components of a vibrant, high-performing workplace. Organisations that prioritise EDI are more likely to attract and retain top talent, drive innovation, and achieve better business outcomes. However, many organisations struggle to move beyond surface-level initiatives, resulting in a disconnect between their stated values and the lived experiences of their employees. In the UK, only 24% of employees feel their companies are truly committed to EDI, highlighting the gap between intention and impact. To make meaningful progress, organisations need to take a data-driven approach to understanding and addressing EDI challenges.


How The Happiness Index can help


Our platform provides you with the data-driven insights needed to advance your EDI efforts. By tracking demographic data and analysing employee sentiment around inclusion, you can pinpoint where your organisation needs to improve. The Happiness Index helps you move beyond tokenistic efforts and build a workplace where equity is a given, diversity is celebrated, and inclusion is the norm. With our tools, you can create a more inclusive environment that not only reflects your organisational values but also drives better outcomes for all employees.


Managing change and transformation with employee insights


The challenge of change


Change is inevitable in any organisation, but managing it effectively is one of the most challenging tasks for HR leaders. Whether it’s a merger, restructuring, or the adoption of new technologies, change can create uncertainty, resistance, and a dip in productivity if not handled well. Research shows that 70% of change management initiatives fail, often due to a lack of employee buy-in and poor communication. Successfully navigating change requires understanding employee concerns, maintaining clear communication, and ensuring that everyone is aligned with the new direction. Without these elements, even the most well-intentioned change efforts can fall flat.


How The Happiness Index can help


Our platform provides you with the insights needed to manage change effectively. By gathering feedback before, during, and after major changes, you can understand employee concerns and address them proactively. The Happiness Index helps you keep your workforce informed, engaged, and aligned with organisational goals during times of transformation. With real-time feedback, you can adjust your approach as needed and ensure that the change process is as smooth as possible. 


Strengthening leadership through employee feedback


The leadership gap


Strong leadership is the cornerstone of organisational success, yet many leaders are disconnected from the realities of their workforce. This disconnect can lead to a lack of trust, lower engagement, and missed opportunities for improvement. Studies show that 58% of employees believe their leaders are out of touch with their needs, a troubling statistic that underscores the importance of bridging this gap. Effective leadership requires more than just making decisions from the top down; it involves listening to employees, understanding their experiences, and using that feedback to guide decisions. When leaders are attuned to the needs and concerns of their teams, they can make better decisions, foster a more inclusive environment, and drive higher levels of engagement and performance.


How The Happiness Index can help


The Happiness Index platform offers a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between leaders and employees. By providing leaders with real-time feedback and insights into their teams' experiences, they can make more informed decisions, demonstrate empathy, and build stronger, more connected teams. Our platform enables leaders to track key metrics related to employee engagement, wellbeing, and psychological safety, ensuring that they are aware of and responsive to their teams' needs. 


The journey to a happier, more productive workplace starts here


The challenges facing HR professionals today are significant, but they also present an opportunity to create lasting, positive change within your organisation. The Happiness Index platform provides the tools and insights you need to address these challenges, from enhancing engagement and reducing turnover to fostering innovation and advancing EDI. And with our dedicated team of experts, you’ll have the support you need to turn data into action.


Ready to transform your organisation? 


Whether you’re looking to explore the platform or just want to learn more, our experts are here to help. Together, we can build a happier, more productive workplace. Chat to Our Experts Today!


References

  • Gallup. (2022). "State of the Global Workplace: 2022 Report."

  • Deloitte. (2023). "Global Human Capital Trends Report."

  • SHRM. (2021). "The Cost of Employee Turnover."

  • McKinsey & Company. (2020). "Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters."

  • Harvard Business Review. (2021). "Why Change Management Fails."

  • Edelman. (2022). "The Edelman Trust Barometer."

  • Oxford University. (2019). "Happy Workers Are 13% More Productive."


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About The Happiness Index


The Happiness Index helps organisations measure the key employee engagement AND happiness drivers to power their people strategy.


Our unique platform offers the products, insights and tools to shine a light on your cultural health and empower management to drive thriving cultures.


Our neuroscience-based pre-built surveys measure the full employee experience - from onboarding to exit to empower and enable organisations to understand their people and create data-led action plans.

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