Long story short: Bringing joy to the workplace

December 2, 2022 10:33 AM

When was the last time you felt happy at work?

If your workplace needs a pick-me-up, these organizations are leading the way: Laugh Dot Events is providing laughter as an employee benefit, hosting stand-up comedy shows and trivia nights for teams. The company also hosts "Laugh breaks," where employees take time out of their day to attend a 15-minute comedy routine.

"There doesn't have to be a reason for people to carve out time to laugh," says Kevin Hubschmann, founder and host at Laugh Dot Events. "We are making a personal connection and building more trust by seeing our coworkers laugh."

Creating personal connections has transformed the culture at Huntington Bank. The company's CHRO, Rajeev Syal, has been on a years-long mission to create a "colleague-centric" organization, where the bank's 20,000 employees feel a sense of belonging and connection. The result is a happier and more supported workforce.

If you really want to make employees happy, it's probably a good idea to give them a cash gift around the holidays. But there are a few do's and don'ts to ensuring your gifts are meaningful and make the right impact. An expert from O.C. Tanner reveals the secrets.

Check out more from this week's top stories on how to boost the mood of your workforce.

Can laughter be an employee benefit? This company is making it possible

Kevin Hubschmann, founder and host at Laugh Dot Events, wants to provide laughter as an employee benefit, through interactive online and in-person comedy shows. Laugh Dot Events has already partnered with companies like Spotify, Facebook and Microsoft to host comedy shows specifically customized for each workforce's interests and boundaries. Hubschmann says he's on a mission to reveal just how beneficial a good laugh can be.

"People have done every wine tasting, escape room and corporate retreat — we need something new," he tells associate editor Deanna Cuadra. "People should be excited to come together and actually have fun with their [coworkers]."

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Can laughter be an employee benefit? This company is making it possible

Huntington Bank's CHRO has spent years building a 'colleague-centric' culture

For the 20,000 employees of Ohio-based Huntington Bank, which operates across 11 states in the Midwest, an ongoing cultural evolution has required buy-in from all of its team members, who are encouraged to support and check in with each other. It's an encouraged practice that started during the pandemic, but one that continues to build systems of support for colleagues.

The bank's CHRO, Rajeev Syal recently spoke with editor-in-chief Stephanie Schomer about creating a cultural makeover, the pandemic lessons that will help propel Huntington into the future, and what will keep the organization competitive in 2023.

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Huntington Bank's CHRO has spent years building a 'colleague-centric' culture

The best and worst states for healthy aging

The world is slowly recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, but the effect it's had on individuals' quality of life has yet to improve — and it varies by state.

Wellness platforms DoFasting and Kilo Health recently released their 2022 Healthy Aging Index Report, which analyzed individuals' quality of life across all 50 states. The report takes into account five key metrics in its ranking system: demographics, economics, behavioral aspects, healthcare and mental health. Mississippi came in last place with a score of just 28.13 out of 100, due to poor results in areas of obesity, poverty, regular exercise, newborn mortality rates and income levels. See which state fared a bit better.

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The best and worst states for healthy aging

Skip the fruitcake and offer up cash — what employees want for the holidays

While 57% of employees appreciate a gift at the end of the year, it's most impactful when an employer is thoughtful about their giving, says Mindi Cox, chief people officer at employee recognition platform O.C. Tanner.

"We want to demonstrate that we care about somebody, that we've thought about them and that we have deep appreciation for them in our lives," Cox says. "Even though we're doing it at scale for a business, there's an opportunity to make it personal." Cox shares her tips for gift giving this season and the sweet-spot for monetary perks.

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Skip the fruitcake and offer up cash — what employees want for the holidays