Gaslighting, Phubbing, & More!

This statistic comes from Gallup research on employee engagement, which found that highly engaged teams show significantly better outcomes, including 147% higher earnings per share than their competitors.

This statistic is often attributed to a study by economists at the University of Warwick, which found that happiness led to a 12% spike in productivity, while unhappy workers were 10% less productive.

Example? Adobe replaced its annual performance reviews with regular, informal check-ins, focusing on employee development. This shift improved employee engagement and is often credited with helping Adobe outperform its peers in the creative software space.

Still think team engagement and happiness at work are just buzzwords? These numbers and real-world examples show they’re powerful drivers of tangible business success.

Hello, hello, how are you all? It’s Wednesday, so it’s time for another edition of Happiness At Work!

Now let's dive into workplace happiness and keep our journey of joy and discovery rolling!

2 Signs Your Boss Is ‘Gaslighting’ You

Imagine starting your new job full of excitement, only to find your boss subtly questioning your decisions in public while offering support in private. Over time, this leads you to doubt yourself, feeling like an imposter. If this sounds familiar, you may be experiencing workplace gaslighting.

Gaslighting is when a boss or colleague makes you question your reality, competence, or performance. Here are two key signs:

1. Your Boss Dismisses Your Side of the Story -

If you’ve ever had your version of events completely brushed off, or heard “I never said that!” when you know they did, you might be dealing with gaslighting. It’s a tactic designed to make you doubt your memory or judgment. Tip: Keep notes of important conversations or have a trusted colleague join in to prevent “he said, she said” moments.

1. Your Confidence Takes a Hit

Gaslighting bosses often trivialize your concerns or change expectations to keep you on edge. Over time, you start doubting your abilities and feel like nothing you do is good enough. When this happens, reconnect with trusted mentors or colleagues who remind you of your worth and achievements.

Remember, it’s not you—it’s them. Trust your gut, protect your confidence, and don’t hesitate to seek support when things feel off at work.

Phubbing at Work - Why It’s a Problem and How to Handle It

Ever been mid-conversation only to have the person you’re talking to glance at their phone? That’s phubbing (phone + snubbing), and it’s more than just annoying—it’s downright disrespectful.

Research shows that 90% of people feel offended when they’re phubbed, and in a work setting, it can erode trust and productivity. Phubbing tells your colleagues, “I’m more interested in my phone than in you,” which can seriously damage team morale.

To tackle this behavior, kindly but directly ask colleagues to stay present during discussions, and make it a habit to keep your own phone out of reach during meetings or important chats.

The best fix? Lead by example—show that real connections happen face-to-face, not screen-to-screen.

Let's chat

Each week, I get to give you a dope recommendation to increase your productivity and happiness at work. This week's recommendation is this amazing guide I found that is STILL TRUE! This is specifically for writers but I think all professionals can understand the directions it's taking!

That's it from this time. This newsletter aims to initiate conversations about #happinessatwork as it's the future of work. I also believe in bringing new interesting topics and dope recommendations for you.

Keep It Hygge ideates and executes Happiness-at-work initiatives at various organizations. Get in touch with us. If you are looking for some unique, creative, and humane ideas and programs to increase the happiness quotient of your organization, hit us up!

If you like what you read, so share it with your colleagues, bosses, interns, clients, etc. See you next week.

Till then, Keep It Hygge!

Cheers,

AJ

#HappinessAtWork, #EmployeeWellbeing, #WorkCulture.