Organisational Happiness and Management: Interview with ISMT Coordinator, Célia Santos

2025-12-18

Célia Santos, lecturer and Scientific Coordinator of the Bachelor’s Degrees in Human Resources Management and Management at the Miguel Torga Higher Institute (ISMT), is featured in an interview in the "Technology, Strategy & Innovation" magazine by Jornal de Leiria. In this conversation, she discusses the need to create real conditions for happiness at work and the direct impact of this factor on organisational productivity.

Happiness and Professional Performance As the scientific coordinator for the Management and Human Resources areas at ISMT, Célia Santos emphasises that employee satisfaction reduces absenteeism and improves work quality. For the lecturer, happiness is built daily through:

Promoting autonomy and recognising merit.
Providing constructive feedback and team support.
Ensuring a real balance between workload and personal life.

Demographic Challenges and Work-Life Balance The ISMT Professor also analyses the low fertility rates in Portugal, linking them to the difficulties of balancing professional and family life. She notes that inflexible schedules and unpredictable shifts are obstacles that companies must mitigate to support their workers.

Social Responsibility and Inclusion Regarding Corporate Social Responsibility, Célia Santos argues that the integration of migrant workers should include induction programmes with Portuguese language training and organisational culture. The ISMT lecturer highlights that companies investing in diversity and inclusion gain a clear competitive advantage.

Mental Health in Organisations The interview also addresses mental health, with Célia Santos warning about psychosocial risks, particularly in shift work. The lecturer recommends that companies adopt clear metrics and concrete plans that go beyond rhetoric, ensuring effective prevention and professional well-being.