The Happiness Index - Data. Insight. Stories

Matt Phelan

Research, data, evidence and the stories of people focused on employee engagement, workplace happiness and driving performance at work. Connect with Matt via LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewphelan/

  1. Unplugging to Re-Connect with Riina Gröhn

    10 HR AGO

    Unplugging to Re-Connect with Riina Gröhn

    The unconventional power of digital detox In a world of constant notifications and "always on" culture, what if the most strategic thing you can do for your business is to turn everything off? 🤯 This week, we're with Riina Gröhn, Chief People Officer at LIWLIG Group, who shares the story behind her company's unconventional all-employee event called Unplugged to Re-Connect. They took everything normal for a corporate event—laptops, slides, and even phones—and put it all away. Riina shares the surprising reality of orchestrating an event for over 300 seasoned event professionals, and how they handled everything from waking people up without alarms to creating a phone park for their devices. She reveals the remarkable outcomes, including a 53% increase in employees considering a change to their daily digital habits and a newfound sense of togetherness. Are you ready to learn how a digital detox can improve your company culture and drive long-term business performance?

    50 min
  2. The quest to map global workplace happiness

    12 SEPT

    The quest to map global workplace happiness

    In a world full of unknowns, what if we could finally light up a map of global workplace happiness? 🌍 This week, our brand manager Joe takes over as host to grill our co-founder Matt about a groundbreaking new project: the Global Workplace Happiness Report. For over a decade, The Happiness Index has been gathering data, and now, thanks to new technology, we're ready to create the first-ever global picture of workplace happiness. This isn't about "toxic positivity" or telling people they should be happy. This is about understanding a subject that we know drives performance and great business outcomes. The goal is simple: reconnect companies and their people so that work is fulfilling and businesses perform better. We discuss the vision, the daunting technical and logistical challenges, and the incredible global partnerships with companies like Google that are making it all possible. Ready to be part of the most ambitious workplace happiness study ever? Your voice is needed to make this project a success.

    19 min
  3. When You Grow Up, What Do You Want to Be? The Science of Workplace Happiness

    4 SEPT

    When You Grow Up, What Do You Want to Be? The Science of Workplace Happiness

    What if the secret to your organisation's success is hidden in a childhood dream? 🤯 This week, we share a truly unique and fascinating story about a young beetle named John—a Liverpool native who just wanted to be happy. This talk uses John’s journey to prove that happiness is not a soft skill; it’s a non-negotiable strategic metric. We reveal how John’s daughter, Jude, uses world-class research to expose the science of well-being, showing him exactly why his adult life went wrong. This talk introduces the Fab Four drivers of human happiness, straight from our data, proving that fundamentals like Safety, Acknowledgement, Freedom, and Relationships directly impact your business. (Keep your ears open! See how many cheeky Beatles references you can spot in the story.) Ready to understand the human science behind peak performance? Tune in to decode the evidence.

    5 min
  4. Regenerative Performance: Why You Can't Pour from an Empty Cup with Dr James Hewitt

    27 AUG

    Regenerative Performance: Why You Can't Pour from an Empty Cup with Dr James Hewitt

    In a world of 'hustle culture' and burnout, what if the secret to elite performance isn't grinding harder, but recovering smarter? 🤯 We're joined by James Hewitt, a human performance scientist and former professional athlete. He's here to challenge everything we think we know about productivity and wellbeing. This isn't about working more. It's about a groundbreaking approach called Regenerative Performance. James unpacks why our traditional, extractive models of work are failing and why a leader’s personal wellbeing is the number one predictor of their organisation's wellbeing. He also reveals how something as simple as a three-to-four-day break can be as effective as a month-long vacation for recovery. We explore the science behind chronotype bias, the surprising truth about coffee's effect on our brains, and how to use a "regenerative mindset" to thrive under pressure. From sleep to nutrition and even fitness, James provides the playbook for a working life that builds you up instead of burning you out. Are you ready to stop running on empty and transform your approach to work and life?

    53 min
  5. Decoding Your Brain: The Science of Benevolence with Mark Dean

    21 AUG

    Decoding Your Brain: The Science of Benevolence with Mark Dean

    This week, we're joined by Mark Dean, a brilliant brain and mind scientist on a mission to end mental ill-health in the workplace. We dive into the fascinating science behind benevolence—not just as a moral virtue, but as a strategic business driver. Mark shares his powerful insights on how we can use our brains to achieve happiness, even when facing challenges. He introduces the "bus principle" and the power of pausing, teaching us how to watch our thoughts without being controlled by them. He also reveals a stark data point: while most people think sunshine makes us happier, office workers are often unhappier on sunny days, as they yearn to be outside. Crucially, Mark provides a look into the brain during acts of benevolence. He shares research showing that giving kindness increases our serotonin and dopamine levels, while lowering stress hormones. The latest World Happiness Report confirms this, showing that benevolent acts are 10% higher globally since the pandemic. Are you ready to understand your brain better, cultivate kindness, and use the science of benevolence to not only improve your well-being but also transform your workplace culture and performance?

    50 min
  6. Ending Career-Based Misery with Andrew MacAskill

    14 AUG

    Ending Career-Based Misery with Andrew MacAskill

    This week, we're with Andrew MacAskill, who's on a mission to end career-based misery. He reveals a stark truth: Europe has the lowest engagement scores globally, yet the fewest people looking for a new role. We discuss the cost of this "stuck" workforce—lost productivity and apathy. Andrew highlights the "Moral Factors" (meaning, impact, leadership, ethics, security) that drive people's career choices. We also explore the critical need for companies to "de-risk the move" for candidates, particularly at non-senior levels, to empower them to leave unhappy jobs. Ready to confront these brutal facts and unlock your team's true potential?

    6 min
  7. Collabureaucracy: Why Your Meetings Are Killing Productivity with Dr. Carrie Goucher

    7 AUG

    Collabureaucracy: Why Your Meetings Are Killing Productivity with Dr. Carrie Goucher

    What if the biggest drain on your business isn't competition, but your calendar? 🤯 We're with the brilliant Dr. Carrie Goucher, who reveals why our meeting culture is a relic of the industrial era. Dr. Goucher introduces a powerful new term: 'collabureaucracy'—the needless collaboration and bureaucracy that bogs us down. The numbers are stark: most people spend 40-50% of their time in meetings, and 50% of that time is completely wasted. The cost is more than just time; it's missed milestones, poor decisions, and a workforce that is more likely to quit. Bad meetings emotionally exhaust your people, increase burnout, and leave valuable talent untapped. But this isn't a problem without a solution. Dr. Goucher presents a new playbook: a movement to create space for deep work and candour, and to reclaim productivity. Ready to liberate your workforce and make your organisation unstoppable?

    6 min
  8. Global Alert: Workplace Happiness Down 6% with Tony Latter

    31 JUL

    Global Alert: Workplace Happiness Down 6% with Tony Latter

    This week, with Tony Latter, we reveal vital new data: cultural assessment scores are down 6% globally in the last year. Happiness and engagement are both falling. Trust is eroding, driven by a shocking 10% drop in employees feeling listened to. We'll unpack the critical distinction of "we listened, we did" to rebuild trust. Plus, get an exclusive preview of our Global Workplace Happiness Report 2026, filling a massive market gap by focusing specifically on workplace happiness globally. Ready to tackle this global challenge head-on and leverage data to truly empower your people?

    5 min
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Research, data, evidence and the stories of people focused on employee engagement, workplace happiness and driving performance at work. Connect with Matt via LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewphelan/

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