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Revisiting the Happy-Productive Worker Thesis from a Eudaimonic Perspective: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • José M. Peiró

    (IDOCAL, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
    IVIE, 46020 Valencia, Spain)

  • David Montesa

    (IDOCAL, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain)

  • Aida Soriano

    (IDOCAL, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain)

  • Malgorzata W. Kozusznik

    (IDOCAL, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
    Research Group Organizational and Occupational Psychology and Professional Learning, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Esther Villajos

    (Business Department, Universidad Internacional de Valencia, 46002 Valencia, Spain)

  • Jorge Magdaleno

    (IDOCAL, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain)

  • Nia Plamenova Djourova

    (IESE Business School, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Yarid Ayala

    (Business School, Tecnologico de Monterrey, 64849 Monterrey, NL, Mexico)

Abstract

The happy-productive worker thesis (HPWT) is considered the Holy Grail of management research, and it proposes caeteris paribus , happy workers show higher performance than their unhappy counterparts. However, eudaimonic well-being in the relationship between happiness and performance has been understudied. This paper provides a systematized review of empirical evidence in order to make a theoretical contribution to the happy-productive worker thesis from a eudaimonic perspective. Our review covers 105 quantitative studies and 188 relationships between eudaimonic well-being and performance. Results reveal that analyzing the eudaimonic facet of well-being provides general support for the HPWT and a much more comprehensive understanding of how it has been studied. However, some gaps and nuances are identified and discussed, opening up challenging avenues for future empirical research to clarify important questions about the relationship between happiness and performance in organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • José M. Peiró & David Montesa & Aida Soriano & Malgorzata W. Kozusznik & Esther Villajos & Jorge Magdaleno & Nia Plamenova Djourova & Yarid Ayala, 2021. "Revisiting the Happy-Productive Worker Thesis from a Eudaimonic Perspective: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-27, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3174-:d:516573
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. María Bastida & Belén Bande Vilela & Luisa H. Pinto & Sandra Castro-Gonzalez, 2023. "“Be Happy†While You Can: How Expatriates’ Accomplishments Affect Their Subjective Well-Being and Job Satisfaction," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, July.
    2. Baltasar González-Anta & Virginia Orengo & Ana Zornoza & Vicente Peñarroja & Nuria Gamero, 2021. "Sustainable Virtual Teams: Promoting Well-Being through Affect Management Training and Openness to Experience Configurations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-22, March.

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