Work/Life/ Happiness
Happiness Police: Young people need an attitude adjustment By Jason Walsh
A new report has wiped the grin off America’s faces. According to the 2024 World Happiness Report released this spring, the United States has dropped out of the top 20 happiest countries—it’s the lowest U.S. ranking since the annual Gallup survey measuring world contentment first published in 2012. And which Americans is it who can’t seem to turn their frowns upside down? Gen Z, according to the report. Survey respondents under 30 “single handedly knocked” the U.S. lower in the rankings, is how middle-aged grouches at USA Today framed it. The report found that such factors including poor living situations, lack of support systems and a decreasing confidence in government contributed to younger respondents’ overall malaise. The report surveyed nearly 150,000 people in more than 140 countries. For a seventh-straight first-place finish, the Finnish topped the list. Following Finland were other joyous Nordic countries: Denmark (2), Iceland (3) and Sweden (4).
John Helliwell, editor of the report, told CNN that Finland fosters a culture of community and institutional trust and promotes work-life balance, resulting in high happiness rankings. In general, the top-ranking countries tend to have a strong social safety net. Until recently, the U.S.’s happiness has followed a U-shaped curve, showing happier times under age 30 and over 60—with drearier days in middle age, when the stresses of young children, pricey mortgages and long work hours tend to put a damper on one’s chill vibe. Typically, the young have been happier than the old—but that has shifted in North America, according to the report, with unease for those under 30 rendering them for the first time less happy than those over 60. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the least happy countries tend to have critical challenges due to widespread poverty, political instability and war. The lowest ranked European country is Ukraine (105). The least-happy country overall is Afghanistan (140). Check out the full list at worldhappiness.report/ed/2024 . For those wondering about North Korea, it seems the Hermit Kingdom didn’t participate in the survey, preferring to instead compile its own happiness index. Its most recent ranking from 2011 showed China at No. 1, followed by North Korea, Cuba, Iran and Venezuela. Dead last, of course, was the “American Empire” (203). No doubt their researchers spoke to a lot of those Debbie Downers in Gen Z. What makes people happy at work? According to HR management site lattice.com , the following factors are the prime contributors to a happy workplace: 1. Making enough money
2. Having a good boss 3. Having autonomy 4. Variety of tasks 5. Healthy work/life balance
For the first time, Americans under 30 are unhappier than those over 60.
April 2024
NorthBaybiz 15
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