Happiness at Work and the Shifting Work Landscape Due to COVID-19- a Comparative Literature Review

This study provides a comparative review of existing research on happiness at work before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic search was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines to ensure comprehensive retrieval of relevant literature. The study sourced articles from various academic databases, resulting in 27 publications from 2009 to 2019 (the decade preceding the pandemic) and 61 publications from 2020 to 2023 (after the onset of COVID-19). This was subsequently complemented by a narrative review to extract qualitative thematic insights pertaining to organizational, leadership, employee, and work-level factors. At the organizational level, research since the start of the pandemic has shifted focus toward creating a positive environment centered on human-centered ethics, organizational culture, practices, certification, and strategic approaches rooted in workplace happiness to benefit employees. Leadership styles have adapted in response to the pandemic, emphasizing human-centered and empathetic methods. At the employee level, the focus has been on individual customization, coping strategies, promoting psychological well-being, and mindfulness. At the work level, attention is given to issues such as flexible work arrangements, remote work, autonomy, job demands, and job crafting. Various theoretical frameworks exist within the literature on happiness at work; however, Fisher’s Happiness at Work has gained significant prominence since the pandemic’s onset, with 51% of articles focusing on this framework. Organizations must acknowledge that happiness at work is evolving alongside changes in work practices and arrangements and management must prioritize and actively support employees’ well-being to foster a positive work environment. This paper offers valuable insights for engineering managers by highlighting human-centered leadership and employee well-being, which are often ignored as critical priorities in the post-pandemic era. Just as employees are integral components of an organizational system essential for its proper functioning, focusing on this system and enhancing employee happiness at work will improve productivity, quality, reduce absenteeism, and overall enhance work experience. Therefore, this review clears the way for future happiness at work research specifically focused on engineering management.