Mexico Ranks 4th in Workplace Happiness in Latin America: Buk

A recent study on workplace happiness in Latin America has placed Mexico in fourth position among regional countries, with an average employee happiness score of 81%. The study, Organizational Happiness: Factors Driving Well-being and Their Positive Impact on Business, conducted by Buk, highlighted the growing importance of employee well-being in the business landscape. 

The report emphasizes that the results reflect a broader trend toward improving organizational happiness across the region, with Mexico scoring slightly above the average. The study identified five key drivers of workplace happiness including a sense of belonging, meaningful work, recognition, work-life balance, and fair compensation. Among these, a sense of belonging and the alignment of work with personal values were found to have the strongest impact on employee well-being.

Industry-specific findings reveal interesting trends, with the mining sector emerging as the leader in workplace happiness, reporting 87% of employees feeling satisfied. Non-profit organizations followed with an 84% satisfaction rate, while the food and real estate sectors lagged behind, with happiness levels of 66% and 65%, respectively.

The study also found generational differences in workplace happiness. Baby Boomers reported the highest satisfaction, with 87% of them expressing happiness at work, surpassing Generation Z by eight percentage points. In Mexico, 74% of Baby Boomers were happy in their jobs, compared to 54% of Generation Z and 66% of Millennials.

Experts believe several factors contribute to lower satisfaction among younger generations, including heightened awareness of mental and emotional well-being, high expectations for work that aligns with personal values, and the pressures of constant connectivity through technology and social media. These factors, the study suggests, can lead to frustration when the work environment does not meet their standards.

Workplace happiness is not only beneficial for employees but also for businesses. According to the study, companies with happier employees experience a significant reduction in turnover and resignation rates. For instance, a 10% increase in happiness can reduce employee turnover by up to 12 individuals in a workforce of 1,000.

Building Happiness, an annual survey that tracks employee satisfaction across more than 750 organizations and 84,000 employees, suggests that companies investing in the four pillars of happiness which include well-being, engagement, appreciation, and sustainability, are more likely to see long-term benefits in both employee satisfaction and business performance.