THE INFLUENCE OF THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT'S LEADERSHIP STYLE ON THE LEVEL OF HAPPINESS AT WORK AMONG CIVIL SERVANTS IN KOTA KINABALU, SABAH, MALAYSIA

Happiness at workplace is usually associated with the feeling experienced by an employee who can drive their productivity every day while in the work environment. It also sometimes associated with a high level of job satisfaction as well as passion and enthusiasm peaking among employees to complete the tasks entrusted to them. However, there are various factors that can affect a person's level of happiness whenever they are at workplace. Among the factors is the leadership style applied by the head of the department. The relationship between the leadership style of the head of department and the level of happiness at workplace among civil servants can be examined by looking at the public sector around the district of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Therefore, by using the 'mixed-method' approach, this paper aims to discuss the influence of the leadership style of department heads on the level of happiness at workplace among civil servants in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. It is hoped that the information is useful to the authorities, especially the policy makers to improve the leadership style among department heads in the public sector by considering the importance of happiness in the workplace in ensuring productivity, job satisfaction, enthusiasm and work spirit among the civil servants are always at the appropriate level.