The Female Way to Happiness at Work: Happiness for Women and Organisations

Abstract

In recent years, greater attention is being paid to happiness in the workplace. Previous research has revealed that the happiness of employees and organisations is closely related to working conditions and climate. Gender inequality in employment opportunities, work-life imbalance, the gender pay gap and the existence of the glass ceiling are a workplace reality and generate failures that can reduce women’s happiness at work and affect the happiness of organisations. This chapter seeks to understand workplace happiness through women’s advancement and leadership. Specifically, it explores how organisations can increase women’s happiness in the workplace and the effect that women leaders can have on the happiness of organisations. An exploratory and descriptive analysis is carried out in a set of Spanish and Latin American multinational companies based on information published in their annual reports and websites. Qualitative and quantitative techniques are used. The findings reveal that the implementation of organisational practices to reduce existing gaps and create fairer and more equitable workplaces can increase women’s happiness at work, and greater female representation in leadership positions can contribute to organisation happiness and sustainability. Important practical implications are derived for the management of human resources and female talent.