It should come as little surprise that your workplace has a significant impact on your productivity, performance, and overall wellbeing and mood. If you and your staff work in an environment that is dark, gloomy and unwelcome, it can make everyone feel a little demoralized, disillusioned and like no one cares about their happiness –and this can lead to a high turnover of staff, costing you more money in the long run.
Sometimes, it’s the small things that can make the biggest difference–thoughtful items like smoking shelters, although there’s no legal requirement to provide a smoking shelter, bike covers, lockers to store personal belongings in, and the like. Here, we are going to look at some of the things you can do to make sure the workplace is as pleasant as possible for you and your employees.
Put together a strong team
One of the best ways to ensure that the workplace is harmonious and pleasant is to make sure you have a strong team that works well together. Of course, you can’t guarantee that everyone is going to be the best of friends and that there are never going to be any tensions, but if you build a team that makes the most of everyone’s strengths and areas of weakness, that is open, and that has policies for dealing with any issues that arise, it is much more likely to be a nice place to work.
Have a space to relax
One of the best ways to encourage productivity and efficiency during working hours is to provide a comfortable and relaxing space for downtime. Having a break room where they can switch off from the pressure of work, even if it is only for ten minutes, can make a massive difference to the rest of the working day. Make sure that there is somewhere comfortable to sit, and facilities for them to enjoy something to eat and drink and use the bathroom. It does not have to be anything fancy – a basic kitchenette with a fridge, sink, microwave and tea and coffee making facilities is more than enough. Just make sure it is always clean – no one likes to eat or sit in a dirty area, and it does not look professional to any visitors who may avail themselves of the facilities.
Make sure there is plenty of natural light
No one works well in a dark, gloomy room. It makes people feel depressed and sleepy. If you want to get the best out of your staff, make sure that there is plenty of natural light entering the space that they are in. Big windows, minimal clutter to block it out, and lots of fresh air all make for a great working environment. If natural light is not possible, invest in lightbulbs that mimic it. Your staff’s mental health will thank you for it, and so will the increased productivity and profit margins it ensues.
By making sure your staff is working in a comfortable and pleasant atmosphere, you are showing them that you put their well being first, which leads to a more focused, more motivated and more loyal workforce, so it is in your best interests.