Introduction

Abstract

Tena koutou and welcome to the NZ Journal of Human Resource Management’s special issue on Positive Psychology at Work. Positive Psychology at work is the applied study of human flourishing and optimal functioning. It is grounded in the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within them and to enhance their experiences of work. One of the principal aims has been to redress the imbalance of research from the deficit or illness approach, towards harnessing the benefits of flourishing and positivity at work. In 2001 Fred Luthans led the organisational and applied focus of positive psychology into the workplace, setting standards of research and expectations, and the area has continued to surge. Last year, Donaldson, Dollwet and Rao conducted a systematic review and identified 1336 articles published between 1999 and 2013 in the area. The findings demonstrate that positive psychology is a growing and vibrant area, committed to using the same rigorous scientific methods as other academic disciplines, and dedicated to the pursuit of understanding well-being, excellence and optimal human functioning at work. This special issue contributes to improving our understanding of positive psychology in the New Zealand workplace and publishes a range of perspectives in the area.