Happiness and well-being at work: A special issue introduction

Abstract

Over the last 10 years, research in the area of happiness has exploded, creating a wealth of empirical knowledge about mechanisms and processes that make people happy. One of the most accepted findings in this field is that work contributes quite substantially to well-being and happiness. With the rise of positive psychology in the past decade, there has also been an increased interest in the bright side of organizational life, paying attention to positive phenomena such as engagement, well-being, job satisfaction, or positive affective experiences at work. The ten papers appearing in this special issue of the Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology [Revista de Psicología del Trabajo y de las Organizaciones] address a variety of issues that may enhance our understanding of happiness and well-being at work. We hope that the positive focus of this special issue may serve to encourage further research in this domain. © 2013 Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid. All rights reserved.