Happier people work harder, a study has found.
Happiness makes people over 12 per cent more productive at work, according to the latest research from the University of Warwick.
Professor of Economics Andrew Oswald said: "Companies like Google have invested more in employee support and employee satisfaction has risen as a result.
"For Google, it rose by 37 per cent, they know what they are talking about. Under scientifically controlled conditions, making workers happier really pays off."
Dr Daniel Sgroi added: "The driving force seems to be that happier workers use the time they have more effectively, increasing the pace at which they can work without sacrificing quality."
The study, to be published in the Journal of Labor Economics, included four different experiments with more than 700 participants.
During the experiments a number of the participants were either shown a comedy movie clip or treated to free chocolate, drinks and fruit.
Others were questioned about recent family tragedies, such as bereavements, to assess whether lower levels of happiness were later associated with lower levels of productivity.
Dr Eugenio Proto said: "We have shown that happier subjects are more productive, the same pattern appears in four different experiments.
"This research will provide some guidance for management in all kinds of organizations, they should strive to make their workplaces emotionally healthy for their workforce."
