Happiness Camp: cultivating well-being in the workplace

It’s no secret that higher levels of well-being lead to greater productivity—both in the workplace and in our personal lives. In recent years, workplace stress and depression have emerged as important issues in today's professional environment, with significant implications for both employees and organizations. The World Health Organization estimates that depression and anxiety cost the global economy approximately $1 trillion annually due to losses in productivity.

Changing attitudes toward employee well-being  

The good news is that this escalating trend is inspiring global efforts to address these challenges. Many companies are now implementing comprehensive mental health programs, investing in employee assistance services, and fostering supportive work cultures to mitigate stress and enhance overall well-being. These proactive measures show a growing commitment to creating healthier work environments and improving the quality of life for employees across different industries.

And with more engaged employees, productivity improves—a survey of 1.4 million employees conducted by Gallup Organization shows that companies with high employee engagement report a 22% increase in productivity. It’s becoming more and more clear that rather than being an optional perk, investment in employee well-being needs to be a core part of company culture.

At the IE Center for Health & Well-being, we’ve been dedicated to promoting well-being in the workplace since we opened in 2019. Our mission is to empower our community to thrive and reach their fullest potential. We offer comprehensive knowledge, robust support, and diverse learning opportunities to enhance personal and professional life. All students at IE University take classes on well-being as part of their academic curriculum, and we provide a variety of events, workshops, and retreats to further enhance the community’s education on a wide range of health-related topics.

A global community for well-being education 

As part of our commitment to fostering holistic growth, we were invited to participate in Happiness Camp, Europe’s largest corporate happiness conference. Happiness Camp is designed to promote well-being and joy in the workplace, bringing together some of the leading voices on corporate happiness to share, educate, and inspire. This year’s event, which was held in Porto, Portugal, welcomed over 10,000 attendees from more than 40 nationalities.

The event offers masterclasses, networking, and inspiring talks from global leaders in HR, mental health, and communication. Attendees can earn certifications while exploring strategies to cultivate happier, more productive workplaces. The event is designed to inspire and equip participants with the tools and insights needed to cultivate a flourishing, balanced, and fulfilling life.

There was a series of Happiness Labs held throughout the day: hands-on masterclasses designed to impart practical, applicable skills. Our Center Academic Director, Lisa Bevill, was among the facilitators. In her masterclass, “Humanizing brands: crafting connections that resonate with consumers,” Lisa delved into what it means to be human, touching on key themes of emotion, creativity, autonomy, and consciousness.

The masterclass explored how brands can build deeper connections by aligning with consumers’ values, emotions, and trust. Just as people seek meaningful relationships, they also gravitate toward brands that feel authentic, empathetic, and purposeful. Within a company, every employee is responsible for embodying the company’s values, and leaders must acknowledge the work that is being done and also recognize the changes that are needed for the company’s healthy evolution.

Other masterclasses focused on a range of equally inspiring topics, such as how to develop a growth mindset, strategies for preventing burnout, how to build a great place to work, and how curiosity drives personal growth. Facilitators and participants alike drew on their varied experiences and perspectives in engaging discussions that gave participants practical and actionable ideas to take away with them.

Taking the stage to explore workplace well-being  

In addition to the masterclasses, this year’s conference had two main stages—the Happy Stage and the Joyful Stage—for keynote speakers. There was a range of insightful talks throughout the day, including:

• Nihal Yousefian, former vice president of human resources at Netflix, presented a talk titled “Innovate or stagnate: moving beyond the echo chambers, where inclusion is the new think tank.” Her talk explored how diversity and inclusion drive innovation. She believes that true value is added when people are empowered to reach beyond their roles.

• Danny Stacy, head of talent intelligence at Indeed UK, presented “Understanding well-being: how rising expectations are changing work for good.” Danny asked key questions around what “well-being” really means. In a world where people seek satisfaction from their jobs, it’s essential that employers listen to their people and be transparent and adaptable to facilitate well-being at work.

• In “Community building in the digital age: fostering connection and collaboration,” Kelsey Robb, EMEA community advisor at Google, explored how we define community. Companies should strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, and community leaders play a crucial role in fostering this environment.

• In “Redefining Success: Building Resilient Teams in the Era of Burnout,” Jen Fisher, global expert on well-being at work, challenged the traditional views of success and productivity. Well-being is a systemic problem that is going to require systemic solutions. Jen suggests we need to make well-being the outcome of our work rather than a luxury.

Bringing workplace well-being to the forefront

Happiness Camp is playing a vital role in transforming the way we approach workplace well-being by raising awareness and helping to inspire a culture of happiness within organizations. By emphasizing the importance of mental health and personal growth, Happiness Camp is not only educating individuals on how to improve well-being in their own lives, but also encouraging companies to prioritize a more supportive work environment. As a result, a more engaged, resilient, and fulfilled workforce is beginning to emerge.

There is still work to do, and at IE Center for Health & Well-being, we continue on our mission to support our community, as well as positively contributing to the wider global issue of health and well-being in the workplace, as well as human flourishing. With greater awareness, engagement, and transparency, we can empower people and businesses to embrace well-being as a core value, ensuring a healthier, happier future for workplaces all over the world.