Nov 17, 2016

Business owners hold the key to workplace happiness

Want to be happy in the workplace? Office Genie’s latest research found the best way to achieve this is to set up your own business. In light of Global Entrepreneurship Week, it seems the benefits of an entrepreneural spirit are to be embraced. Of 2000 UK workers, the happiest among them are business owners.

When compared to the rest of the workforce and the average happiness level, business owners are 17% happier. Not only do they feel more positive before work (70%), they also feel positive when they reflect on their day in the office (68%). This is a stark difference to the feelings of other staff members: particularly junior staff who we recently found are the least happy in the workplace.

Owning a business can come with an increased level of financial autonomy - this is reflected in the way in which business owners view their pay. A huge 70% are happy with their earnings and a (comparatively) mere 26% feel they deserve higher wages. In contrast, fewer than half of UK workers are content with their pay.

The value placed on pay is another marked difference between business owners and employees of other seniority levels. Business owners are the only workers to place job satisfaction (29%) above pay (26%) when it comes to what they value at work. Colleague relationships came in a close third (24%) for those owning a business.

Peter Ames, Head of Strategy at Office Genie, has the following to say on the findings: “Global Entrepreneurship week offers an opportunity to reflect on the many advantages of starting your own business. While there are undoubtedly risks, the rewards are there to be seen.

“Our figures show business owners tend to see high levels of job satisfaction, financial autonomy and ultimately happiness.”

”So, if you are considering starting up your own business, the facts show it could well be the best thing you’ve ever done!”

An inside view

Genie Ventures’ founder Ciaron Dunne discusses the benefits he’s discovered running his own company:

“Business owners bear large amounts or risk, responsibility and uncertainty but, quite simply, I have the best job in the world. I have this unique opportunity to create exactly the kind of company I want to work at, and to work with exactly the kind of people who inspire me.

“I'm also fortunate that I tend to thrive with risk and uncertainty, and that the business has been relatively successful. I should definitely mention the huge benefits of watching great people coming through, of celebrating successes and sticking together, and of looking forward to coming back to the office every day.

“Everyone should get to love where they work, and - as a business owner - I get to do just that!”

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