Model of work motivation based on happiness: pandemic related study

Abstract: This study aims to enrich the current literature by providing a new approach to motivating Generation Z employees in Poland. Employees need to be motivated in order to be efficient at doing a particular task at the workplace. As young people born between 1995 and 2004 called Generation Z, enter the labour market it, is essential to consider how employees' motivation might be affected. Traditionally identified motivators are known, but many reports indicate that the motivation continues decreasing. This situation causes some perturbations in business and fluctuations of staff. In order to prevent this situation, the employers are looking for new solutions to motivate the employees. A quantitative approach was used to collect new evidence from 200 Polish respondents completing an online survey. The research were conducted before and during pandemic time. We report and analyse the survey results conducted in Poland among representatives of Generation Z, who were employed for at least 6 months. We developed and validated a new approach to motivation using methodologies called Factor Analysis. Based on empirical verification, we found a new tool that connects employee motivation and selected areas of the Hygge concept called Hygge star model, which has the same semantics before and during Covid-19 pandemic.