There are many proven benefits of creating a workplace that workers enjoy spending time in. Happy employees are measurably more productive. Also measurable is the reduction in tardiness and employee absences at companies that prioritize a happy workplace. Making work enjoyable also reduces work-related stress and all the physical and mental negative effects it is prone to. And happy employees feel free to try new things, fostering a surge of creativity in problem-solving in the workplace.
Additionally, companies that see employee happiness as extraneous to success are missing the important public relations impact of employee satisfaction. Happy employees can be a company’s most powerful advertisement. The employee satisfaction factor at Apple’s home office is almost as well known as the company’s products. Likewise, Google brags about how its employee perks are one of the leading reasons that they consistently garner the employment of some of the world’s brightest minds.
Finally, any business should take into consideration the growth in consumer activism. Shoppers today have numerous choices when it comes to who they buy from and they want to give their business to companies that do good things. Consumers are increasingly more likely to give their business and their money to companies that treat their employees well.
You don’t have to be a tech giant to create a workplace that workers don’t dread going into. Here are a few ideas that will help any company make a transition to a more positive space.
Give flexibility
One of the biggest factors you should take into consideration when looking at employee experience in your business is work-life balance. Workers spend half their waking hours at their jobs and often feel that they have to make sacrifices in their personal lives to succeed. Offering employees the ability to avoid those sacrifices can be a powerful incentive and greatly increase their happiness levels.
Flexible scheduling is one way to give your employees the ability to balance their personal and professional lives. There are different avenues to achieve flexibility. You can offer flexible shifts, allowing workers to choose their own hours. This can make a huge difference for students, working parents or those with caregiving responsibilities. You can also be flexible in work location, allowing employees to work remotely some or all of the time when possible.
This is a situation that was forced on many workers during the recent health crisis and now that they have experienced the freedom of working from home, they don’t want to go back to the grind.
Bulk up the benefits
When business owners are asked to increase benefits for workers, all they see are dollar signs. They should be aware, however, that the increased payout in benefits can mean a huge increase in employee satisfaction, retention and productivity. All businesses should make an effort to offer basic benefits such as health insurance and paid sick leave. Those that can afford it would be well advised to add options like retirement plans and tuition reimbursement. Over half the workforce in the United States says they would leave their job in an instant for one that offers better benefits. Many would rather see a good benefits package than an increase in pay.
Revamp your space
The physical atmosphere at work can have a profound effect on employee mindset. You don’t have to move to a new location or do major renovations to create a more welcoming workspace.
You should maximize natural light and change out lighting sources from fluorescents to something warmer and more natural. Add plants around the workplace. Minor renovations like painting walls in inviting, non-industrial colors and changing out worn floor coverings can make a difference. Provide employees with ergonomic keyboards, soft office chairs and convertible desks to increase their comfort level. Get rid of the cubbies that isolate workers and institute a more open and spacious workspace. Create small co-working spaces with comfortable furnishings. Your employees spend a lot of time in the workplace; make it somewhere they enjoy being.
Employee satisfaction can impact stress levels, productivity, creativity and your business’s standing in the public. Offer benefits such as flexible work schedules, health packages and inviting spaces to become a preferred employer.
