A Study on the Level of Academic Staff Happiness at Work and Factors Affecting It: A Public University Case

Abstract

The aim of this study is to measure the level of academics’ happiness at work and to determine the factors affecting them. For this purpose, a research study using mixed method research was designed. The quantitative part of the research was implemented with 206 academics and the qualitative part was conducted with 141 of the 206 academics in October– December 2018. The work happiness was found to be higher in the faculty members than research assistants. It was observed that the increase in intrinsic satisfaction decreased the negative emotions and increased the happiness at work, and happiness increased with higher level of education. The factors affecting the happiness at work were identified as academics’ work environment, working conditions, factors related to the work itself and leadership characteristics of their supervisors. The qualitative data show that academics who frequently express the factors that affect their happiness at work positively have positive feelings and fewer negative emotions while those who often express negative emotions have lower positive and higher negative feelings. Based on the positive and negative statements in the qualitative data, the most important factor negatively affecting the academics’ happiness at work is the workplace relations, and the most important factor that positively affects happiness is the work itself.