The success of your company relies heavily on your employees’ happiness. Job satisfaction is paramount for workers, as it gives them a sense of purpose and keeps them motivated. In fact, half of the employees would rather have a positive workplace than a higher salary.
Why is that so? Because employees need to feel valued and know that what they do matters to the company. And no amount of money can compensate for a worker’s unhappiness.
Employees can only be productive when they feel good at work. And their productivity is what will help your organization thrive. Happy employees contribute to clients’ happiness, produce higher-quality work, and can even increase your sales. That being said, every business owner should look for ways to increase workers’ happiness within their company. Here are 7 actionable steps to help create a positive workplace culture.
Priorities work-life balance
Due to the actual economic climate, the pressure to work harder continues to increase. And yet, work would never come at the expense of living, as it can turn out to be harmful not only for employees but also for companies. Overworked employees can quickly become tired and susceptible to experiencing burnout. By contrast, employees with good work-life balance work harder, and as such, they achieve better results.
Supposing you have a fixed work schedule, you should encourage your employees to leave on time. Alternatively, you could also introduce flexible working hours if that’s a possibility in your company. Employees don’t want to feel like their job takes over their lives, and this is understandable. After all, everyone needs some time for themselves when they can engage in their hobbies or spend time with their loved ones.
Reward your employees
Employees are happy when they feel appreciated, as they know you value their efforts and hard work. You can do regular shoutouts to people within your organization to provide recognition for their exceptional results. Or you can offer them an extra day off. Even a heartfelt thank you can mean a lot to an employee. These small, informal things are all excellent ways to praise someone for doing a good job at work.
By rewarding your employees, you’ll boost their motivation to do even better in the future. Once they find out that their talent adds value to the company, they’ll work harder to bring your company closer to your goals.
Provide career development opportunities
Lack of professional development is among the main reasons employees leave their workplace. And this is entirely understandable, as no one wants to feel bored and stuck at their job. Employees want variety; they want progression. And you can satisfy their hunger to learn and grow by providing career development opportunities.
Doing this won’t only benefit your employees but also your organization, as you’ll get access to a large pool of exceptional internal talent. As a result, you’ll reduce the costs and time you’d typically spend on the recruitment process. Plus, employees gain a sense of purpose after getting a promotion, which leads to increased productivity and engagement.
Build a positive safety culture
Employees’ happiness also depends on how safe they feel at the workplace. No one would ever want to go to work fearing that they may suffer an accident. Unfortunately, hazardous workplaces often lead to injuries; sometimes, they can even be fatal for employees.
You can find information about workplace accident statistics and what leads to injuries on https://www.accidentatworkclaimcare.org.uk/.
What you need to know is that you aren’t powerless regarding this issue. You can prevent workers’ injuries by prioritizing safety within your company. Through practical training programs, accountability, and clear communication, you can build a positive workplace culture where employees can stay out of harm’s way. Make sure to reduce hazards, whether physical, ergonomic, or environmental, and provide your employees with PPE if the working site requires it.
Encourage employee feedback
When employees feel heard, they are more likely to bring a better outcome to a company. There is no such thing as the perfect workplace, and employees don’t expect that. But they want their problems and suggestions to be considered. But too often, this doesn’t happen, leading to diminished employee morale and happiness. Tight deadlines, lack of managerial support, and too much responsibility can all contribute to workplace stress, taking a toll on employees’ mental health.
You can priorities employees’ well-being by encouraging them to express their feelings freely and contribute with new ideas. Taking feedback on board is crucial, but it doesn’t mean much if you don’t act on it. As soon as your employees learn their opinion matters and see meaningful change, they will likely feel valued.
Offer extensive benefits
Benefits are a practical way to keep employees happy. They will likely be more productive and satisfied with their jobs if they feel cared for. A salary increase isn’t the only way to provide your employees with financial support. For instance, you can offer them health and well-being benefits or gym memberships. This shows that you’re willing to go the extra mile to ensure they are happy and healthy.
Benefits are a tricky thing, so the best way to approach this situation is to communicate with your employees and figure out their needs. That way, you’ll be able to offer benefits that will turn out to be genuinely helpful for them. After all, you don’t want to pay for something your employees don’t even need.
Promote breaks
While hard work is indeed crucial for a company’s success, managers shouldn’t overwork their employees. Staying late to get the job done or skipping lunch is a counterproductive practice that can quickly lead to unhappiness and burnout. Instead, you should encourage employees to take frequent breaks. There are different things your team members could do during this break, such as taking a walk, having a conversation with a colleague, getting a snack or simply stepping outside the office.
While it may seem contradictory, promoting breaks will allow mental breathing room. Thus, employees will be able to stay more focused throughout the day, and rather than working harder, they will work smarter. Frequent breaks can also boost employee productivity and help prevent burnout.