New Management Standard Makes Workplace Happiness Measurable and Auditable

Augsburg, Germany, 9 October 2025 - A non-profit initiative based in Augsburg, Germany has launched the Workplace Happiness Standard (WHS) - a management standard designed to help organisations systematically foster, measure, and integrate workplace happiness within existing Quality Management Systems.
The standard is freely available and aimed at organisations that wish to create working environments that are not only more humane but also more effective and sustainable.

Background: Happiness as a Management Discipline
Despite growing attention to employee satisfaction and mental health, most organisations still lack a structured approach to managing happiness at work.
"Most organisations treat well-being as a voluntary benefit. We see it as a systemic leadership responsibility," says Andreas Kalchschmid-Lehmann, founder of the Workplace Happiness Institute (TWHI).
The Workplace Happiness Standard closes this gap. It is grounded in academic research and defines eleven key dimensions - including purpose and meaning, leadership, autonomy, recognition, fairness, and learning - translating them into clear, verifiable requirements. Happiness is no longer seen as a soft or abstract concept but as a measurable quality dimension.

A Scientifically Grounded Standard
Developed from several years of research, the WHS is fully compatible with established frameworks such as ISO 9001. Organisations can adopt it without major structural changes and may seek certification if desired.
A particular focus lies on measurement:
TWHI provides a free employee survey that allows organisations to assess their current state. The results reveal where the work environment supports - or hinders - happiness and motivation.

From Vision to Practice
"Our goal is to make happiness at work as natural as quality or safety," explains Andreas Kalchschmid-Lehmann.
The standard is designed as an open, non-profit, and evidence-based system that organisations can implement either fully or step by step.
Currently, several pilot projects are underway in organisations of different sizes and sectors.

A Broader Societal Impact
Beyond organisational benefits, TWHI also emphasises the societal value of workplace happiness.
"Work shapes people's lives more than any other social institution. When we start building structures where people can flourish, it positively affects health, fairness, and social cohesion," says Kalchschmid-Lehmann.

Free Access
The Workplace Happiness Standard and the free employee survey are available at twhi.org/en.
The website also provides implementation and certification guidance, as well as further information on the scientific foundations of the standard.

The Workplace Happiness Institute gUG (haftungsbeschränkt)
Andreas Kalchschmid-Lehmann
Grainauer Weg, 1b
86163 Augsburg
Germany
press@twhi.org

The Workplace Happiness Institute is a non-profit organisation based in Augsburg, Germany. Its mission is to develop scientifically grounded and practically applicable methods to promote happiness and well-being at work.
With the Workplace Happiness Standard (WHS), TWHI provides a freely available framework that helps organisations of all sizes create workplaces where people can truly thrive.
Further information: twhi.org/

This release was published on openPR.