Today, after months of confinement, deleterious news in abundance, companies are aware that the well-being of employees is a priority. Every leader tries to answer it. But how to do it when you have so many responsibilities to investigate.
Coming directly from the United States, the “Chief Happiness Officer”, CHO, is gradually settling in modern companies in France. His role is to make the company more humane and pleasant for employees. The advisory role responsible for bringing smiles to a business is becoming increasingly popular in these bleak economic times.
In charge of the company’s happiness, quite a story!
The “Chief Happiness Officer”, CHO, has the mission of making a company more pleasant to live. Attached directly to human resources departments, these executives are considered “actors of happiness in business.” Also called M.Bonheur, this team member aims to create working conditions that favor the well-being of employees and make them happy to the best of their ability. This position was born out of an idea by Chade Meng Tan, the 107th employee hired by Google. He converted to human resources at the firm and decided to focus on the well-being of his employees. To do this, he invented the function of “Jolly Good Fellow” (super good boy in French, editor’s note) and dedicated himself to making life in society more pleasant. Now a billionaire and a meditation teacher, his idea has met with great success.
Why make your employees happy?
Why hire a CHO? Simply because well-being is one of the main performance factors, both individually and collectively, in a society. After all, it’s true: you’re here to work, not to joke around! Except that a lot of research done notably by MIT or even Harvard University highlights the link between employee happiness and productivity. According to their results, a happy employee would be “six times less absent, half as sick and up to nine times more loyal.” The objective of the CHO is complicated to implement: it must establish and establish a positive work culture in the company, create bonds and strengthen relationships. His missions are complex and Mr. Bonheur ensures that no bad vibes disturb the work of the employees. He can intervene directly at the staff level, modify communication tools, take charge of motivational interviews or even provide a coaching service. Versatile, the CHO leaves no detail to chance and can also organize events to bring team members together, be it parties, games or even simple discussions in front of the coffee machine. This practice is proving to be very effective and is gaining momentum.
Several companies already converted
Imported from the United States, this trend seems to convince a growing number of French companies. For example, the Qapa classifieds site saw its CHO bids increase by 967% between 2014 and 2016. If the first managers of employee happiness appeared within the Google company, the concept has seduced other companies such as McDonald’s and now it is conquering other large firms such as Boiron laboratories. Back from Club Med, his CEO, Christian Boiron, had the firm intention of ensuring the well-being of his employees and decided to hire a Mr. Bonheur to take care of it. The Just Ead France start-ups (AlloRest or Payname) have also hired an employee happiness manager. Employees, present on all fronts, must above all show a big smile in all circumstances.
What CHO missions?
Nathalie Forestier, head of employee happiness at Just Ead France (Allo Resto), says her first goal is to make sure every employee comes to work with a smile. To do this, she trusts that the key is to build a corporate culture and a positive climate. She also emphasizes the versatility of her position, the CHO must motivate but also reassure employees, break the routine and make them want to come to work. Beautifying the facilities, organizing events, seminars, all these small gestures contribute to the motivation of the employees. A sports trainer also visits the company once a week, a yoga teacher comes every month, and the firm hosts a monthly lunch for its employees. These combined initiatives make employees happier and more efficient, according to the happiness manager. She also highlights the importance of the person in charge remaining fundamentally positive, optimistic and with a great sense of listening.
What criteria to hire your CHO?
The manager of happiness in business must necessarily have good communication skills. To motivate everyone, the CHO must be creative, affordable, and available. An enthusiastic and energetic nature remains essential and a communication or human resources background is a good foundation. Sophie Magnillat, CHO at the Boiron Laboratories headquarters since 2015, indicates that she had a business background and benefited, upon her arrival, from the great support of the two co-hostesses of the house. With 800 people to make happy, this young woman has a lot to do but she insists above all on the smile that she must constantly show. It’s hard to see a person responsible for an unhappy happiness…
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