Making employees ten percent happier through an app

Why we write about this topic:

Many workers suffer from stress and burnout. Apps and other technologies can help better monitor employees’ mental health, and sound an alarm if necessary.

Bowers and JACkLING, employment intermediaries in the field of technical personnel, are launching a program to increase their employees’ happiness in life. Through ongoing research using an app, they are continuously measuring the happiness level of their employees. Based on the scores obtained, the companies develop a personalized program. The goal is to make employees ten percent happier within two years, the companies announced in a press release.

Fifteen universal factors

Bowers and JACkLING happiness program has been inspired by Ruut Veenhoven, emeritus professor of “Social Conditions for Human Happiness” at Erasmus University Rotterdam and The Rookie Minds. Vingerling: “Before we can help our employees become happier, we researched what happiness consists of and how we can influence it. Happiness is the outcome of a complex interplay between genes and environment. Sixty percent of happiness is genetics. The remaining forty percent can be influenced through fifteen universal factors, such as your health and financial situation. The program focuses on thirteen facets; you have no influence on age or Gross Domestic Product. Everyone has chances to increase happiness, but it is unusual to explore that without complaints, let alone through your employer.”

Personalized plan

In the past month, the first baseline measurements were completed. “We discuss the results in personal meetings with employees, tell them where opportunities lie and offer a comprehensive customized plan.” In doing so, Bowers and JACkLING also look at things outside of work. “Happiness is not just about fulfilling conscious desires, but more about fulfilling unconscious needs. After we put together a personalized program, several coaches are ready to work with people. Within the health theme, does someone score low on the physical part? Then we offer a blood analysis for which we have hooked up an orthomolecular expert. For example, does someone have unconscious intolerances? Then we help detect and treat them. Everything for the increase of life’s happiness.”

Electric Auke: “Is making a lot of money and getting richer and richer the pinnacle of happiness?

“Well,” Auke starts out saying. “To a certain extent, money does make you happy.