Here's what's really making employees happy at work

Do employers really know what makes their employees happy? They might be missing the mark. 

While happy employees are 12% more productive, according to a study by the University of Warwick, only 42% of employees are content with the rewards and recognition offered by their companies. In an effort to find out what's missing, wellness platform Wondr Health conducted a survey on happiness with nearly 500 employees around the world. 

"In the past, when employers wanted to get employees engaged, it was typically all about offering more money," says Dr. Tim Church, the chief medical officer at Wondr. "Our findings reveal a different way of thinking in the workplace."

Read more: The 25 best jobs for 2024

Today, employees are prioritizing personal relationships over financial gain: Only 16.8% of employees say financial freedom brings them happiness at work, compared to 30.1% of employees who said fostering friendships in the office made them happy. And while Church was surprised to see money drop so low in the ranking, he wasn't surprised to see employees prioritize their peace of mind, especially with a new cohort of workers setting the tone.

"The way [Gen Z] talks about relationships and emotions is something the generations before them hid," Church says. "This is a generational change, not just a fad, and I think it will be a really healthy and positive change for the world we live in."

To see what's keeping employees fulfilled, both in and out of the workplace, check out Wondr's rankings: