If Work Makes You Happy, Is it Work? Exploring Intersections of Work, Happiness and Wellbeing
Wednesday, January 24, 2018, 1-1:50pm
The Center for Health and Happiness kicked off 2018 with a January 24th seminar from Dr. Gregory Wagner, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Senior Advisor at the Harvard Center for Work, Health, and Wellbeing.
In his distinguished career providing organizational leadership both nationally and internationally, Dr. Wagner has served as Senior Advisor to the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, and he has worked closely with both the World Health Organization and the International Labor Organization. At Harvard, Dr. Wagner teaches about the science behind occupational and environmental policies and regulations, and the limits of regulatory health protective strategies.
Framing his seminar around the “work wellbeing conception model,” Dr. Wagner talked about the role of the workplace in determining and driving worker health, wellbeing, and life satisfaction. The research discussed by Dr. Wagner suggested that, interestingly, people who are employed are more likely to be satisfied than dissatisfied. However, negative work conditions—including high job demands, a dangerous or sedentary physical work environment, or even a long commute—are associated with lower satisfaction and reduced productivity.
View a recording of the seminar here.