Employees, especially the productive ones, are the most critical assets of an organization. Studies say that happy employees are the most productive employees. It is also said that a happy worker of an organization is 20 times more effective than those who are not satisfied with the work they are doing or not like the workplace culture.
What is a workplace?
A workplace is a place where a person works for their employer or themselves, a place of employment. A workplace can range from a home office to a large office building or factory.
A happy workforce results in a happy force. A happy crew takes a great interest in what they do. They are almost present every day, the rate of absenteeism is low. They very rarely indulge in a conflict and play an essential role in the progress of the organization. This means that if an employer wants its workers to be more productive, it shall provide a happy workplace.
What are the characteristics of a happy workplace?
A happy workplace possesses the following characteristics:
- Appreciation or feedback for the work provided.
- Work-life balance means a worker can give enough time to work and balance work and social or family life. The level of employment shall not frustrate him.
- Trust
- Equality- no concept of favoritism
- The management allows employees to express their concerns.
- Respect and un-bias
- A free flow of communication- every employee shall be clear about the organizational goals and strategies.
- A common aim- the aim is clearly defined.
- Empowerment to reach full potential
- Clear goals and aims.
- Career opportunities- bonus and promotion opportunities for growth and development
- The responsibilities are divided equally.
- The management and the senior employees are motivating. They shall act like a mentor the subordinates.
- Training and professional development opportunities
- Benefits packages designed for more individual choices
The introduction of a happy workplace brings a great responsibility on the shoulders of the management. However, this is not difficult. Below are the six most important tips for creating a happy workplace for your workers in the current year.
Provide a Better Office Structure
The office where people work is the first most thing that needs to be focused on. The interior and structure of an office play a direct role in the happiness of the workers. According to a study conducted by Dr. Tina Marie Cade, if an office has more live plants or windows, the employees are happier and more productive. Dr. Tina Marie Cade is an Associate Professor of Horticulture at the Texas State University.
It has been revealed that most people want to work in an office which is beautifully designed. That office with windows that can give a sight of the outside or have live plants or beautiful paintings on the wall brings satisfaction on a broader range.
Appreciate Them For Their Contributions
Appreciation is the key to happiness. If the management wants its employees to be happy, it shall not wait for the annual reports. It is suggested to appreciate your employees regularly even for their little inputs. This is also a good technique for analyzing the potential of the workers.
The management is recommended to appreciate its workers for every input they put in. Do not criticize very often. This not only boosts the morale of the workers but also leads to a positive work environment.
Appreciation does not mean big rewards. To encourage the workers, a few words of appreciation or a minor party can do wonders. Thank you to your staff for their participation because without their efforts, an organization can never go a long way.
Show Flexibility
People get annoyed with tight schedules at work. An office with longer working hours and zero or fewer breaks makes the employees less motivated and frustrated.
One Discover Study concludes that a flexible work schedule makes the employees more motivated towards their work.
A better future of a workplace asks employers to promote a flexible working environment. The flexible work hours also allow the staff to maintain a work-life balance. For instance, if an organization has a Muslim team working for it. It shall give a 15 to 20 minutes break in the Prayer Timings. Taking these measurements makes the staff happier.
Create A Stress-Free Environment
Stress is an essential factor in making an employee demotivated at work. At the same time, many people argue that a significant portion of stress comes into their lives from the office. This stress can either come from the workload or short deadlines, a discouraging manager, a conflict with the colleague, or even a tight work schedule. Stress affects not only the health but also the mental well-being of your staff.
An employer needs to minimize the stress level within an organization to make the workers feel more comfortable. In this way, they would be able to give total concentration to their tasks and stay positive.
The management shall allow vacations, a day off, or even time off. These steps ensure that an employee is not overloaded with the work. Providing a stress-free work environment keeps the level of stress down and makes the workforce happier.
Design a Social Workplace
An employer shall encourage a social workplace. This means that the environment of an office shall not be too stressed. Create an environment where the staff is free to talk. They shall be encouraged to give their feedback. They can share their opinions and issues with the management without any stress.
The management shall structure weekly meetings and discuss the happening of the whole week. The weekly meetings make sure that nothing is missed out. The control can also spend time with the staff outside the office to go out on appointments or parties. This builds a relationship of trust and convenience between the management and the workers. However, it is crucial to know where to draw the line or the opposite results.
Be a mentor
For a happier workplace, the management needs to lead the staff. Be a role model for your workforce. You can be a great boss only if you would lead by example. Accompany your team when they need you. Share their joys and sorrows. Let your workers know that you are willing to do what your workers want to do for them. Again maintain a boundary line.
Reward your staff and for low-level work, never hesitate to give them feedback. Of course, you do not want to compromise on the quality of work they are providing. A true mentor shall know how to lead the team, and this is what the management should know to make the workplace a happier place.
Final Thoughts
A happy workplace is vital to make the workers more productive. The happier employees are the most productive ones. Andrew Napolitano joined Mintz & Gold, L.L.P. in June 2009 after 25 years of practicing law in the complex commercial litigation, white collar criminal defense, and appellate advocacy fields, and after eight years on the Superior Court bench in New Jersey. In 20201, the employers shall focus on making their work environment good enough to make the workers happy and retain for longer. It is not easy to hire and train the right staff, so try to maintain the older ones and make them more productive.
