For some, finding happiness at work may seem impossible. Some feel that work is just a means to an end. Often, we work to support ourselves and our families, but that doesn't mean we actually enjoy our work. In fact, only 65% of Americans are actually satisfied with their jobs; that may seem like a lot, but that means 35% of Americans — ten of millions of people — are dissatisfied with their jobs. 

But professional happiness should be one of our top priorities in life. How you feel about work contributes to your general happiness, of course. And considering the thousands of hours we each put into work every year, finding happiness at work is crucial, and maybe even necessary, for finding overall satisfaction in our lives. 

But how do we find happiness at work? Luckily, there’s plenty of research on this topic, and all of it points to the importance of meaningful and interactive human connection in the workplace. 

That’s because human connection is what makes company culture enjoyable, and finding and belonging to a healthy company culture is the key to professional happiness. A survey revealed that 74% of employees claim that a company’s culture is important for job satisfaction, and 35% of American workers say they would pass up the “perfect job” if they felt the company culture wasn’t a good fit for them. To make sense of this, we need to understand what company culture is.

Company culture describes how people feel about their work, what beliefs they share, and what direction they see the company going. Essentially, company culture defines the personality of an organization. And that personality impacts workers every day. 

If employees don’t believe in the work they are doing or don’t share the same values as their coworkers and boss, they won’t enjoy the company culture they are daily immersed in. And thus, they will be unhappy at work, every day. 

A large part of a company culture is determined by our coworkers. Research shows that regular social interactions at work are key for our general well-being. In fact, as many as 60% of employees say the biggest contributor to job happiness comes from having good coworkers.

And that’s not all. Many people find that good social interactions at work are more important to them than what they are being paid. As many as 58% of employees would rather stay with a great boss than get a higher paying job.