The workplace environment plays a major role in how your company works. If the environment is not conducive to comfort and productivity, then your employees and work will suffer. You will also have a high employee turnover and wonât be able to make your business grow as much as you would like to.
So, you must cultivate a positive work environment. This is something that requires planning and effort, so make sure you allocate enough resources to it. In addition, you have to look at this from a multidimensional approach.
Consider the interiors of your office, the work policies you have in place, as well as the general office sentiment. You need to look at all these aspects in order to find the right balance for your employees. Here are a few ways you can promote a positive and healthy work environment.
Run an Employee of the Month Program
Employees love to be recognized for their efforts and achievements. So, introduce an employee of the month program. In this, set performance and attitude goals, so that people are motivated to perform well. Make sure you tie this with certain benefits like a small prize or an extra day off.
Also highlight the employee of the month in a monthly email newsletter. Use the corporate email templates on PosterMyWall to make your monthly internal emails, and send them out with praise and recognition for your employees. This will show people that their work is being seen and appreciated.
Offer Flexible Work Schedules
Ever since the pandemic happened, people have gotten used to hybrid work schedules. Remote work is now increasingly common, with most companies opting for hybrid work options. In addition, younger generations are less accommodating towards rigid workplace expectations.
So, the conventional 9 to 5 in-office work schedule is out of vogue. Therefore, you need to offer flexibility in your work hours and office presence. This will improve employee sentiment and also help you retain people for longer.
Work on Your Office Interiors
A dull, gloomy environment demotivates people working there. So, get rid of those fluorescent lights with dull gray interiors in your offices. Instead, make your work environment as warm and comfortable as possible. Add color here and there, and make the lighting bright, but not glaring.
In addition, add a few comfortable sitting areas so that people can work in a relaxed way. When people have spaces where they can wind down, theyâre more likely to work with a refreshed mind. Also add a dining area with some fun elements to promote employee satisfaction.
Create Employee Advancement Opportunities
Many employees change their workplaces because they feel like they canât grow any further. You need to prevent this sentiment from building up. So, you should create employee advancement and learning opportunities. Let people participate in new projects and make suggestions of their own.
In addition, encourage employees to take part in training and learning programs. Give them access to various online courses related to their work. Then, give them the chance to implement their learning for the opportunity towards a bonus or a promotion. This will encourage productivity and bring in fresh ideas to the table.
Be Transparent
Employees no longer take their bossâs word as the last word on any issue. You need to be transparent with your employees and keep them updated about whatâs going on in your company. So, share quarterly reports, any issues the company faced, and how all of you need to work together to improve in the coming quarter.
This sense of accountability and transparency will foster a better work environment. Employees will feel part of the decision-making process and will be more likely to want to meet your goals.
Encourage Employee Initiative
Let employees show initiative and come up with new ideas for the company. Every quarter, have teams pitch a bunch of different projects they want to go for. Then, pick out a few to support for the coming quarter. Let the employees take ownership of these projects and give them the support and resources they need.
If these projects work well, then reward them appropriately. This will encourage employee initiative and also help you expand your products and services. Just make sure you are all transparent with each other and have these projects supervised well without infringing on peopleâs autonomy.
Promote a Healthy Work-Life Balance
A healthy work-life balance is the top priority for most employees these days. So, you need to promote this at your workplace as well. Encourage people to not stay over their work hours, and be flexible with the work schedule. Also, make sure you offer mental health days and employee counseling.
This will show your employees you are concerned about their welfare. Encourage them to take their days off as well, and to spend time on personal hobbies. In conclusion, there are many ways you can promote a healthy work environment. These will not only lead to more employee retention, but also help your company progress further.