Kun, AgotaAgotaKunGoh, Yong WYong WGohFein, Erich CErich CFeinBalogh, BlankaBlankaBaloghDr. WANG Rong, JessyJessyDr. WANG RongJiang, JiangJiangJiangWatanabe, YayoiYayoiWatanabeNoro, IkukoIkukoNoroJeevanandam, LohsnahLohsnahJeevanandam2025-10-082025-10-082025International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, 2025, vol. 25(3), pp. 655-679.1470-59581741-2838http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11861/25871<jats:p> This cross-cultural study investigates workplace well-being and happiness across five countries– Australia, China, Hungary, Japan, and Singapore – and examines how dimensions of Psychological Capital (PsyCap) predict global well-being at work. A total of 1749 working adults completed validated measures of workplace well-being (PERMA), subjective happiness, and PsyCap components (hope, optimism, self-efficacy, resilience). Using non-parametric comparisons and regression analyses, we found significant national differences: Japanese employees scored lowest and Hungarian employees highest on workplace well-being, while happiness at work was highest in China and lowest in Japan. Our hierarchical regression analyses identified four key predictors—agency (hope), optimism, self-efficacy, and happiness—which together explained nearly 59% of the variance in workplace well-being (ΔR <jats:sup>2</jats:sup> = 0.588). These predictors consistently explained well-being across countries, although with varying explanatory power (ΔR <jats:sup>2</jats:sup> = 0.401–0.626). Notably, resilience and the pathway subscale of hope were not significant predictors. These findings highlight the universal and culturally nuanced aspects of well-being, underscoring the need for culturally sensitive measurement tools in global psychological research. The study contributes to the third wave of positive psychology by integrating cross-cultural perspectives with robust statistical evidence, and it informs both organizational well-being initiatives and future international well-being assessments. </jats:p>enWorkplace Well-BeingPERMASubjective HappinessPsychological CapitalCross-Cultural ComparisonPeer Reviewed Journal Article10.1177/14705958251358633