Get All Access for $5/mo

Unhappy Workers Cost the U.S. Up to $550 Billion a Year (Infographic) Investing money in improving company culture is often seen as frivolous. But it shouldn't be.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Your employees' happiness can make or break your business.

Disgruntled, disengaged, unsatisfied workers are less productive, less creative and more likely to leave. And that's expensive for you.

We aren't talking a few extra dollars here. Unhappy workers cost the U.S. between $450 and $550 billion in lost productivity each year, according to a 2013 report on the state of the U.S. workplace conducted by research and polling company Gallup.

Related: The Happiest People Know Their 'Flow State.' What's Yours?

While keeping employees happy requires some attentiveness on the part of managers, it's not rocket science. Workers want to be recognized when they do good work, have their personal life respected and have friends at work.

For more insight into why it's so critical that business owners and managers take care to attend to the emotional well-being of their employees, have a look at the infographic below from Good.co, a San-Francisco-based workplace personality assessment company.

Click to Enlarge

Unhappy Workers Cost the U.S. Up to $550 Billion a Year (Infographic)

Related: What Does It Feel Like to Find Your Purpose?
Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Side Hustle He Started in His College Apartment Turned Into a $70,000-a-Month Income Stream — Then Earned Nearly $2 Million Last Year

Kyle Morrand and his college roommates loved playing retro video games — and the pastime would help launch his career.

Business News

Homeowners in These 10 States Pay the Most in 'Hidden' Upkeep Costs

Hidden home costs pile on top of mortgage payments.

Growing a Business

5 Books to Help You Motivate, Unify and Build Perspective

In a post-Covid world, check out these must-read books to help build a more resilient organization, create a modern work culture and maintain a powerful growth mindset.

Money & Finance

Avoid These 10 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make with Money

Despite the challenging statistic that only 5% of startups survive beyond five years, common financial pitfalls often contribute to their failure. Through personal observation, I've identified the prevalent financial mistakes made by entrepreneurs.

Growing a Business

How Visionary Leaders Transform Curiosity Into Groundbreaking Ideas

Lee Brian Schrager, founder of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, discusses the spark that launched FoodieCon, his best practices for running popular food events, and why all business owners need to adapt to social media trends.

Making a Change

Learn All of Rosetta Stone's Languages for $152

A lifetime subscription is nearly $250 off for a limited time.