A positively ghastly development at work

Pushing staff to be ‘happy’ at work through contrived activities could backfire badly

Petting zoos. Laughter yoga. Lunchtime mindfulness sessions. A concierge for travel booking. Ice cream baristas. And on-site bars for after-hours use. These are just some of the perks on offer in companies today as they endeavour to make work a positive experience for their staff.

Companies are spending more time and money trying to create a ‘happiness’ culture at work. The premise is that if it looks like a happy place to work ...