Aflac survey: small-business employees are happier

Small businesses make up more than 90 percent of businesses today, and now they can also claim to be some of the happiest places to work, according to a new survey.

The recently issued 2017 Aflac Small Business Happiness Report, unveiled several findings about what it’s like to work for a small business and identified several factors related to employee satisfaction and happiness. Aflac says the survey is designed to serve as a resource for small-business owners looking for insight to “better support their employees and keep them happy.”

“And while our report shows that small-business owners can breathe a sigh of relief because their employees are happy, it also sheds light on areas of opportunity for employers looking to build upon that success, including improving their benefits offerings,” Matthew Owenby, Aflac senior VP and chief human resources officer, said in a news release.

Aflac surveyed 1,000 small-business employees and asked them what it’s like working for a small business.

Advanatages of working for a small business
The report found that 84 percent of small-business employees are happy in their current job and nearly half (48 percent) agree that most, or all, of their happiness in their current job is because they work for a small business.

While the “flashy perks” offered by many big businesses are “enticing,” working for a small business offers its own advantages, which can often be more lasting and
influential to employee career development, Aflac said.

Factors such as seeing the fruits of their labor, feeling that their input truly matters, and being rewarded for their hard work were all cited by survey respondents as the best parts of working for a small business. Additionally, compared to working at a large company, employees indicated that small businesses make them feel more appreciated (67 percent), accomplished (54 percent), productive (55 percent), and motivated (52 percent).

Benefit offerings
Although small businesses are fostering happy workplaces, 72 percent of respondents indicate that an improvement in their benefits offerings would make them even happier. The report found that 22 percent of respondents say their benefits plan is one thing they like least about working for a small business.

More than one-quarter (26 percent) of respondents said that the benefits offering would be their main reason for switching over to a large company.