Happiness of Leaders at Workplace: A Study on SDG 3 in Open Distance Education Institution

For the promotion of healthy lives and the well-being of all, as provided in Sustainable Development Goal 3, SDG 3, it is essential to measure the impact and understand workplace happiness in higher educational institutions. Many institutions are increasingly recognizing the importance of employees' well-being in the achievement of organizational goals. However, there is limited research on the relationship between workplace happiness and SDG 3, particularly among non-academic staff. The current research aimed at the measurement of workplace happiness using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, which was administered during seminars conducted across all 54 regions and main campus of Open University. Participants of the study included non-academic staff above grade 17 working in the regional offices and main campus. In addition to OHQ, a survey questionnaire was also used to gather demographic information about the participants and capture participants' views on emotional well-being that is currently practiced at their workplace. This study significantly explored the relationship between workplace happiness and factors such as work environment, job satisfaction, and work-life balance. A detailed analysis was used to track changes in happiness and well-being over time after the implementation of happiness strategies that were provided to the participant during a seminar conducted both in-person as well as online through Microsoft Teams using a university link, where psychology experts provided their views and highlighted the importance of well-being at workplace, along with suggesting the attendees with different techniques that they may adopt in their daily lives to decrease the stress and anxiety-related issues for better well-being at workplace. The findings of the study contribute to a deeper understanding of how workplace happiness impacts mental health and well-being, aligning with the broader objective of SDG 3 and sustainable development.