9 Things You Can Do to Create a Happier Work Environment

Creating a comfortable and amicable working environment isn’t always easy, as there are many different components that go into looking after the well-being of your employees.

There is a great deal of responsibility to juggle when running a company, from making sure that productivity stays high in order to keep your business profitable, to looking after the physical and mental health of your employees, and managing interpersonal relationships within the company to keep the atmosphere productive.

If your struggles with managing all of your responsibilities have been getting in the way of creating a positive and enjoyable working environment, then here are nine things that you can do to keep your employees happy.

Create a positive atmosphere

If your workspace feels dull and depressing from the moment that your employees walk in the door, this is one of the first things you need to work on improving for the good of your team. For example, doing simple things such as ensuring that there is as much natural light as possible throughout the building are key to improving the mood of the workspace. Even something as simple as playing some upbeat music in the background can do wonders for creating a more enjoyable atmosphere within the building, although it is important to use music that won’t be too distracting.

Let fresh air into the building

Fresh air is vital for feeling healthier and happier, and it is particularly important for the health of your employees that they are exposed to fresh air throughout the day, rather than sitting in recycled air conditioning which can cause respiratory problems and spread germs. There are also a number of toxins within buildings, such as fumes from paint, which can be detrimental to your employees’ health if not regulated, which is why keeping fresh air flowing through the building is important. There are also some additional ways to bring cleaner air into the building, such as buying an indoor plant or two for the office.

Recognize hard work

Running a company means you often have a number of different responsibilities to juggle, and it can sometimes be difficult to find the time to really engage with your employees one to one.

However, it is important to set aside some time every now and then to show your employees that you recognize their individual hard work, as well as their efforts as a team, as this will boost morale and increase their drive to put more effort into their work. Showing your employees how much you appreciate them could involve anything from giving a simple compliment, to offering financial rewards and bonuses to those who have shown themselves to be exceedingly hard workers.

Allow regular downtime

It is important to remember that productivity can decrease over time if people aren’t given scheduled breaks within which to replenish their energy levels. Most workspaces only offer an hour or so a day for a lunch break, and while this is a good start, you may also want to consider offering your employees small but regular breaks throughout the day to help to improve their efficiency.

Check-in with your workforce

It is important to your employees that you recognize them as individuals, and not just as another faceless entity within your workforce. Therefore, try to check in with individual employees on a regular basis to see how they are fairing. Not only will this give you the opportunity to monitor their productivity and effectiveness as an employee, but it will go some way towards increasing their company loyalty, and also help to protect the mental health of your staff members.

Offer educational advancements

One of the benefits of working within a larger company with an established hierarchy is that it provides people the opportunities to potentially advance in their occupation. This is something that is important to a lot of career-driven employees, as being promoted provides people with a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Even if there are no obvious opportunities for promotion in terms of job role, there are things which you can do to give your employees more focus and drive, such as by offering opportunities for further education. For example, you could facilitate their undertaking of an associates degree online by financing their studies and giving them increased support in the workplace to help them succeed.

By using education as a reward for hard work and company loyalty, you will not only foster greater productivity within your workers but also benefit from the extra skills and qualifications that they will be able to bring into your company.

Offer more fulfilling tasks

While some menial tasks cannot be avoided, there is a lot to be said for offering people opportunities to take on more responsibility. Allowing your employees to oversee tasks that they consider to be more important than their usual responsibilities will provide them with an increased sense of purpose, and give them greater drive to continue to have their hard work recognized. Not only that, but it will also allow your employees to feel trusted and appreciated by you.

Offer fun events

Allowing people to let off steam and actually enjoy being around their colleagues in an informal setting is important, not only for rewarding your team but also for helping to build stronger working relationships. Therefore, you may find it beneficial to throw the occasional office party, corporate function, or family-friendly event that will allow people to connect and create more positive foundations with the company.

Encourage wellness

A lot of productivity and profit can be lost if too many of your employees find themselves being run down by low physical and mental health, which is why it is vital to encourage greater overall wellbeing within all of your employees.

For example, you could offer a weekly exercise class paid for by the company, or team up with other businesses to get your employees access to discounted health care and mental health services.