Mark Price, a Conservative peer and former managing director of Waitrose, is making it his mission to promote workplace happiness. He argues that it is key to improving the UK’s lacklustre productivity performance. Price has created a remarkable 34-year career at the John Lewis Partnership, starting as a graduate trainee and climbing all the way up to deputy chair. Employee experience is everything. He’s a huge advocate for putting employee experience first in all organizations. In his view, solving the problem of widespread worker discontent might hold the key to Britain’s economic fortunes.
Price’s observations couldn’t be more timely. The employer/employee dynamic took a turn for the toxic with the arrival of COVID-19. He contends that great strides have been made in workplace safety and employee legal protections over the past 50 plus years. Sadly, the industry has largely left out the emotional side of the work. “We’ve forgotten that work is a beautiful, honorable, redemptive thing at all,” said Price. You’re helping yourself, you’re helping your family, you’re helping society… Working is good…
Through his fledgling organization, WorkL, Price has accumulated some eye-popping data to back that assertion. The “How Happy Are You at Work? Alarmingly, almost a third of these respondents – almost all of whom are located in the UK – indicated that they are “very unhappy” in their work. This malaise not only takes a toll over mental health but weighs down personal relationships and productivity.
“Work isn’t only about dollars and cents,” Price said. It ultimately comes down to how your employee experience reflects that to you. It’s a reflection of the value you perceive you are getting and what your employer enables you to learn and grow. His passionate belief is that when workers are more valued, engaged, and fulfilled in their positions, companies benefit. They want greater knowledge retention, reduced absenteeism, and increased profitability.
Price is overall bullish on his time with John Lewis Partnership, calling it a “magical” and “very forward-looking” institution. He is the first to admit that the company has had a tough past few years and “might have made a couple of blunders.” Even so, he says he doesn’t harbor any resentment towards the company that defined most of his career.
In his new book, “Work Happier,” Price suggests something he refers to as a “work happiness charter.” This charter is a step towards creating a social contract between the workforce and employers in order to put happiness back at the centre of work. He argues that this contract could do more to enhance the health of the UK’s people and workforces than any piece of legislation. Perhaps most importantly, it would help encourage people to reenter the workforce.
Our scientific studies show conclusively that when you’re satisfied with your job, you’re more productive. When you feel good while working, you’re more efficient. Further details from Price via blog.whiteboardadvisors.com. When you go the extra mile in discretionary effort, not only do you become likely to earn the top dollar salary over your unhappy coworkers. Beyond simply landing a promotion, you’ll boost your promotion chances, mental health and overall wellbeing.
Price’s mission is clear: to empower organizations to understand the critical role that a happy workforce plays not only in individual lives but in the broader economy. He posits that fostering an environment where employees can thrive will ultimately lead to a more robust and dynamic workforce.
The former Waitrose boss’s focus on happiness resonates strongly amid ongoing discussions about job satisfaction and employee engagement in today’s evolving work landscape. As businesses navigate the complexities of post-pandemic recovery, Price’s insights serve as a timely reminder of the importance of prioritizing employee well-being.