Happy employees are more productive, and this has been proven by many studies. One study, in particular, found that being happy made employees 12% more productive at work. This means that the happiness of your employees could have a direct impact on your bottom line, and if it has never been a priority in your business, it will need to be from now on. Let’s take a look at a few simple ways that you could make your employees happier and more productive.
Favor a Good Work-Life Balance
One of the first things you have to determine is whether or not you are overworking your current employees. This is not something they are likely to tell you out loud, but it is something you can see by monitoring your processes, asking questions, and conducting good exit interviews.
If you notice that employees are complaining about not being able to spend time with their families or that they’d like to see schedule changes, try to see what you can do. You could switch to shorter weeks with longer shifts to give them longer weekends or go for rotating schedules. You could also consider allowing some or all of your employees to work remotely or in a hybrid structure.
Encourage a Healthy Lifestyle
Healthy employees will automatically be happier, and they’ll be less likely to miss days at work. Healthy employees are also much more focused and energetic, which has a direct effect on their production and the quality of their work.
There are many things that you can do to push your employees to live healthier. One of the things you should do right now is look for a service that will allow your employees to get in-store cash discounts on OTC healthcare and wellness products through your benefits program. You could also do things like switch your soft drinks station for low calorie flavored seltzer, overhaul your cafeteria’s menu, add a gym and a recreation room with physical activities, and give your employees deals on things like gym memberships or spa sessions, among other things.
Make Sure that Your Employees Have a Voice
Another thing you have to do is give your employees the chance of getting their voices heard. Feedback and transparency should become part of your company’s culture. You shouldn’t just try to portray that they’re being heard to either. You need to let them know that you’ve received their feedback, and actually consider acting on it.
You could have team meetings where you discuss some of the feedback and suggestions you receive and see what your employees think of them. If you notice enthusiasm for some of the initiatives, you can consider instituting them. This will allow you to improve your workplace, show your workforce that their opinion is valued, and improve personal engagement in your operation.
These are all things that you could do starting today to improve happiness in your workforce. Always strive to improve it as it will not only affect your productivity, but also your brand as an employer and with the public.
