Creating a Healthier and Happier Work Environment for Your Employees

Your employees are the glue that holds your business together. Full-time employees spend at least a third of their day at work, so it’s essential to keep them comfortable, not quite like a second home, but close. It’s not only good for their morale, but it’s ultimately good for business. After all, happy employees are more motivated, innovative and productive. You can easily improve the atmosphere of your workplace by following these recommendations.

Create a Pleasant Physical Environment

The work environment can influence job performance and employee morale. Having uplifting colors in the office is better than white or grey. Shades of blue and green keep creativity flowing while reds tend to be better for concentration. Keep some cheerful decorations and plants around the office, as well. Allow your employees the flexibility to decorate their own spaces with their unique styles.

Lighting is also a significant factor in job performance. Natural light can promote better productivity by reducing fatigue, generating more energy, and enhancing mood. If you can’t add natural lighting, blue-enriched light could be a good substitute. Install these light bulbs in the rooms in which you have brainstorming sessions. Middle tones are great for meeting rooms; they keep employees alert without the excess stimulation from a source like fluorescent lights. Warmer toned lighting works well to create a relaxing environment in break rooms. Proper lighting also prevents eye strain and headaches.

Just as a pleasant indoor environment makes a significant impact, the outside of your building should also look appealing. You may not have patrons coming to this building, but it’s important for employees to feel good about their workplace. They won’t be excited about coming into a drab building every day. Make sure to get good landscaping and keep the building and parking lot maintained. Fix any damage that occurs when it happens, so the problem doesn’t get worse. If your parking lot is deteriorating and you can’t afford to get it repaved, you might consider a BST overlay for preservation and a fresh, clean look. Give your employees a nice looking place to walk into in the mornings by keeping the windows and doors clean. They’ll also appreciate a pleasant outdoor environment in which to walk during breaks. Consider comfortable furnishings for the building’s exterior spaces.

Give Employees Sufficient Freedom

Try giving employees some freedom to take breaks when they feel that they need to get up and move around, go outside for fresh air or get a snack. Assigned times for breaks and lunch might not work as well for some people’s performance; a short unscheduled break can give someone a burst of energy to continue their project. Providing them this freedom lets your employees know that you respect them enough to treat them like adults, and you trust them enough not to micromanage them.

Encourage Open Communication

As an owner or manager, it’s easy to get so involved with your work that you forget who really makes the place run. Keep in communication with your staff and get to know each of them by name. They’ll appreciate that management is treating them like individuals instead of numbers. Let them know that they’re valued and that you value their input and feedback. Constructive feedback and positive reinforcement keep employees motivated. They feel appreciated when they have a role in the company’s success. Also, involve them in the decision-making process during periodic staff meetings.

Prioritize Employee Health

Your employees’ mental and physical well-being can make all the difference in their productivity. It can also decrease the number of sick days taken. Promote a healthy work-life balance. Let your employees know that their health is important to you. Stocking nutritious snacks in the break-room will encourage healthy eating. Engage with your employees one-on-one, even if it’s just to ask how their day is going. Offer some incentives for practicing healthy living. You might give a bonus to employees who meet specific health goals each month. You could also get them a discount on a membership to a nearby gym. Allow your employees to take a mental health day if needed. Let the employees know that there are resources readily available for helping them with any anxiety or depression.

You can also allow employees to work from home at least one day each week if they don’t have to be in the office physically. If some employees don’t need to be in the office during certain times of the day, allow them to work the hours when they feel most productive. Some people are more productive in the early morning, while some work best in the afternoon or evening.

Design a Comfortable and Ergonomic Office

If you don’t have proper furnishings that are adjustable, sitting in an uncomfortable chair all day can adversely affect productivity. Consider installing convertible desks. These desks allow the user to sit or stand, decreasing fatigue and increasing productivity. Ensure that keyboards are ergonomic and computer monitors and desks are at proper levels for the chairs. One person might be more productive on a laptop in a comfortable chair with an ottoman, while another might focus better at a desk. Consider placing different furniture types around the office and allowing employees to be mobile if they so choose. Customization of their own space can also help.

Develop a Strong Company Culture

When hiring, you must find employees who have the proper education, work experience and talents. However, it also pays to find great team players who hold the same values as your company. Encourage collaborative work amongst employees. Rather than allowing employees to remain isolated, you can regularly incorporate team-building activities. These activities will help employees get to know one another better and become comfortable interacting with one another. These workshops will also teach useful methods for working collectively. Make sure that someone’s negative attitude isn’t impacting others. A toxic work environment can be a horrible place to spend your days. Having employees who are friends with one another can help significantly. You can encourage after-hours get-togethers. Developing a strong company culture will promote the values that are important to your business and employees.

Train and Promote Current Employees

Offering opportunities for promotions can help employees feel like they can grow with the company instead of being stuck in a dead-end job. Make training available to employees at convenient times. If your company presents opportunities for promotion, but finding the time for training is impossible, employees won’t take advantage of the education. Learning new skills will increase motivation and self-worth. It’s also likely to decrease your company’s turnover rate; employees aren’t as inclined to leave for better jobs if they can grow with the same company.

Reward Employees for Exceptional Work

If an employee goes above and beyond, make sure they know that it hasn’t gone unnoticed. You might buy them lunch, allow them to leave early on a Friday or give them a gift card. They’ll be enthusiastic and motivated to keep up the outstanding work. They’ll feel good about their role in the company.

Like the other parts of your business, the more you contribute, the more you get out of it. Treat your employees like they’re an integral part of your business, which they are. It’ll make for happier employees, a more productive atmosphere and an increasingly successful business.