The Pursuit of Happiness at Work: Behavior Pathway of Gen Z Employees

This study explores how young employees from Generation Z pursue happiness at work through a series of proactive and adaptive behaviors. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, the research proposes a psychological pathway in which job crafting enhances career adaptability, which subsequently fosters work engagement and thriving, ultimately leading to greater workplace happiness. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 462 employed Gen Z individuals in Indonesia, using validated instruments to measure job crafting, career adaptability, work engagement, thriving at work, and happiness at work. Structural equation modeling supported the hypothesized serial mediation model. The results demonstrate that job crafting significantly predicts greater career adaptability, which in turn leads to higher levels of engagement and thriving—two psychological experiences that contribute substantially to workplace happiness. The total indirect effect of job crafting on happiness at work through these mediators was statistically significant. These findings highlight that workplace happiness is not merely a product of external conditions or fixed individual traits but can be actively cultivated through motivational and developmental mechanisms. By underscoring the dynamic interplay of personal agency, adaptive capacity, and psychological vitality, this study contributes to the expanding literature on positive organizational behavior. Practical implications are offered for HR practitioners and organizational leaders to support Gen Z employees by fostering environments that encourage job crafting, adaptability development, and sustained engagement—thereby enabling them to experience meaningful happiness at work.