--- title: "Happiness At Work Survey: Don’t Worry, Be Happy" id: "13903" type: "post" slug: "happiness-at-work-survey-dont-worry-be-happy" published_at: "2012-10-17T21:39:03+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-15T18:59:23+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/10/17/happiness-at-work-survey-dont-worry-be-happy/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/10/17/happiness-at-work-survey-dont-worry-be-happy.md" excerpt: "The Happiness At Work survey — with ties to an online shoe store — reveals what traits make workers happier. Also: How McDonald's went sustainable." taxonomy_category: - "Learning" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "employee happiness" - "Leadership" - "Surveys" - "work culture" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Executive Team" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Happiness At Work Survey: Don’t Worry, Be Happy What makes a person happy, anyway? Is it their general demeanor? Or perhaps life circumstances? Or maybe they just got really lucky in life. Whatever the case may be, the CEO of Zappos has been trying to figure it out. That and more in today’s Social Media Roundup: ### Shades of Happiness > Are You Happy At Work? A New Test Tells You the Answer [http://t.co/UMxQ6REe (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/UMxQ6REe) > via [@WSJ (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/WSJ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#mpi (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/mpi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#eventprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Jason Hensel (@pimplomat) [October 17, 2012 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/pimplomat/status/258634306874929152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Who’s the happiest person in your office?** Well, according to a new study, a lot of factors come into play. Delivering Happiness at Work, a consultancy co-founded by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, has had thousands of people take [its Happiness At Work survey (opens in a new tab)](http://www.happinessatworksurvey.com/) — and [early results show (opens in a new tab)](http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2012/10/16/are-you-happy-at-work/) that the key to being a happy worker involves being at a small company, having a supervisory role, working as a caregiver, working in a skilled trade, and not being in your 40s. If you are all of these things, we want your life. *(ht*[@pimplomat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/pimplomat/status/258634306874929152) *)* ### Big Mac Sustainability > Great tips for creating a culture of sustainability at your next meeting. [And who doesn’t love a hot McDonald’s fry?] [http://t.co/ATr7gFXf (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/ATr7gFXf) > > — Aaron Wolowiec (@aaronwolowiec) [October 17, 2012 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/aaronwolowiec/status/258651724062015488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Ideas from Mickey D’s:** Trying to improve the sustainability of your next conference? Get some ideas from McDonald’s Julie Larson, who [has been working to make the company’s worldwide convention (opens in a new tab)](http://www.meetings-conventions.com/green-standard-blog_ektid51154.aspx?c%20i%20d=eltrMtgNews) more eco-friendly. Among the things they’ve tried: composting. “I’m really proud that we found a partnership with Waste Management, HAVI Global Solutions, and the McDonald’s operation team,” she says. “More than 80,000 pounds of food was kept out of the landfills. We were a bit giddy at the process.” How have your conferences worked in sustainability as a mission? *(ht [@aaronwolowiec (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/aaronwolowiec/status/258651724062015488) )* What cool stuff have you seen online today? Let us know in the comments. (TMG archive photo) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#employee happiness](https://associationsnow.com/tag/employee-happiness/) [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/) [#Surveys](https://associationsnow.com/tag/surveys/) [#work culture](https://associationsnow.com/tag/work-culture/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoInnovation Impact Survey Informational WebinarSeptember 18, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/09/18/innovation-impact-survey-informational-webinar/) - [ArticleBeyond Registrations: Five Ways To Measure Training ImpactNovember 3, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/11/03/beyond-registrations-five-ways-to-measure-training-impact/) - [VideoAmerican College of Emergency Physicians: ACEP Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation ProgramSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/american-college-of-emergency-physicians-acep-geriatric-emergency-department-accreditation-program/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents Practical AI-How Associations Are Putting It To WorkJanuary 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/01/29/associations-now-presents-practical-ai-how-associations-are-putting-it-to-work/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2012%2F10%2F17%2Fhappiness-at-work-survey-dont-worry-be-happy%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !