Employers can expect more commitment from their staff if they come from a happy country, a new survey has found.
Researchers at the Cass Business School have found that the level of commitment that employees gives to their job is closely matched to the overall chirpiness of the population from which they are from.
Dr Garry Gelade examined 49 countries and looked at whether the economy, national personality, or cultural values had the most impact.
He found that happy places like Brazil, Israel and Cyprus provide loyal employees, whereas in Russia, Japan and Hong Kong the reverse is true.
The UK was ranked at 34 which suggests that we have a considerable way to go in the smiling stakes and perhaps should aspire to the undiluted perkiness of Australia, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Meanwhile, we can at least be glad that we aren’t as depressed as the Eastern Europeans, in particular Latvia, Bulgaria the Russian Federation, who are, according to the survey, really miserable.
Gelade also found that commitment to work is high in countries where the population is extrovert or outgoing, while countries that are more neurotic and introverted don’t like working as much.
“With an increase in corporate employment in many parts of the world, many corporations operate cross-nationally and employ an international workforce, especially in London,” said Gelade.
“This study will have practical implications for organisations seeking to maximise commitment levels among an eclectic workforce.”
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2007
