PARADOX OF EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING: THE COEXISTENCE OF HAPPINESS AND UNHAPPINESS IN ACADEMIA

Abstract

Employees well-being has always remained a hot topic among diverse streams of literature. Although extant research from different disciplines sheds light on multiple factors causing happiness as well as the potential outcomes of happy workforce, however, despite its well established position, there still remains the gap to explore the question of what makes employees happy and what hinders their happiness, simultaneously.  This study builds on paradox theory to unveil the simultaneously experience of positive emotions that is, happiness and negative emotions; unhappiness. To address the gap, we collected the data using open ended questionnaires from 359 academicians working in higher education universities of United Arab Emirates. Data analysis unveiled the paradox of employees well-being by showing that happiness and unhappiness happens together, in a simultaneous manner. Thematic analysis of responses showed that collegiality, job safety and security, person-organization fit, career prospect, and job flexibility made employees happy. Whereas, toxic organizational culture, micro-management, organizational politics as well as lateral violence led them toward feeling unhappy. The study discusses theoretical contribution, and offers practical implications for practitioners. Based on the study’s limitations, we bid several future avenues.