Maintaining an appropriate work environment helps improve employee morale, retention and productivity. We explain in this post 4 ways to improve the work environment.
Improving the office work environment includes facilitating and providing employees with space and privacy to do their work, making the office more comfortable, and improving communication.
Organizing events (activities) in the company and expressing your gratitude builds confidence and sparks enthusiasm.
To help maintain productivity and high spirits, the rights of employees must be respected, with a salary commensurate with their work and performance and respecting their breaks.
The work environment influences mood, motivation, mental health and performance. If employees work in a monotonous office environment and with unfriendly workers, they may not have enough confidence or job satisfaction to speak up and express situations that may be negatively affecting them. Therefore, creating a positive work environment is essential for the success of the company. We will explore ways to cultivate a better work environment that keeps employees happy and engaged.
Creating a better workspace often takes common sense, tact, and empathy. The key is to see employees as human beings and not as work tools. Here are four ways to improve the work environment:
1 . Make the office comfortable.
A clean and attractive office can have a tremendous effect on relationships between co-workers and managers.
"Even if the sun can't shine on your workplace, make an effort to provide a relaxing environment with comfortable furniture, complete work equipment, and a few extra amenities."
Mike Canarelli, co-founder of WTM Digital.
For example, it is advisable to give employees flexibility when choosing the furniture and decoration of their workspace.
“It makes it easy for workers to buy things like gym balls and plants with company money,” says AJ Shankar, CEO and founder of litigation software company Everlaw. “We also rely on our employees to manage their own time. They are free to take breaks to play or just recharge their batteries when necessary.”
John Turner, founder of QuietKit, says that employees should have the freedom to customize their workspace, suggesting getting rid of the “one size fits all” and giving everyone a budget to customize their own settings.
Did you know? Open format offices aim to improve communication and collaboration. Without forgetting that an office with an open format is not incompatible with spaces that have more privacy.
2. Improve communication with employees.
Team members and senior management must focus on your communication methods -including inclusive communication initiatives- and their effects on creating a positive work environment.
“Employees are motivated and feel valued when they are given positive reinforcement and shown how their work contributes to the success of the company.”
Dominique C. Jones, BusPatrol personnel director.
This means developing performance plans for employees and giving them specific feedback on how their work contributes to the broader scope of the organization.
When staff are involved in decision making in an effort to create a better work environment, they feel valued. Asking employees for their opinion on a new benefit offered or asking them what they think about a new project for a client will make feel more involved in addition to being able to obtain a new vision on different issues.
3. Organization of company events to encourage engagement.
Hosting company-wide events can encourage employee engagement. The more employees socialize, the more relationships they will build with each other and with their bosses. Attending company events can help employees feel like they are part of a work culture that values more than just completing tasks on time. It can give them a sense of belonging along with opportunities to express their personality.
The morale boost that often follows these exciting events can give employees more and better energy to take with them to work each day. You can plan a lunch at the workplace, a scavenger hunt, a day at the fair, or an hour in an escape room.
4. Express your gratitude to your team.
As you work on communication, don't forget to show gratitude for your team's hard work. According to David Sturt, executive vice president of marketing and business development at OC Tanner Company, effective employee recognition can transform and elevate an organization.
“It ignites enthusiasm, increases innovation, builds trust and drives the bottom line. Even a simple “thank you” after an employee goes above and beyond on a project, or stays late, goes a long way.”
David Sturt, , Executive Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at OC Tanner Company.
Why is it important to improve the work environment?
Creating a positive work environment motivates and engages employees, leading to increased job satisfaction and employee retention in your organization. Employees will experience less stress in the workplace and will be more willing to share ideas for the success of their business to help their organization grow and prosper.
A healthy office environment can increase productivity, minimize absenteeism and, in certain industries, reduce workers' compensation and medical claims.
To help create a stress-free work environment, consider putting an employee health and wellness plan in place to reduce fatigue. An employee assistance program like the one we offer from Healthy Work will help improve the organization's work environment.
What does a toxic office environment look like?
A toxic work environment presents several telltale signs:
- Lack of communication or the use of appropriate aggressive communication between employees
- Managers communicate unclear or incorrect information
- An adverse work-life balance for team members
- Employees who take very little time off
- Disrespectful employees and managers
The company's work climate is perhaps the most obvious indicator of a toxic office environment. When a company prioritizes business results at the expense of employee retention, job satisfaction, and mental health, the office environment will be toxic.
If you want more information on how to improve the work environment of the organization, do not hesitate to contact Contact Healthy Work.
Information obtained and inspired by Article 8 Actionable Ways to Improve Workplace Environment from the Vantage Circle Blog.
