When you’re running a business, your biggest asset is your people. Simply offering a good salary is no longer sufficient. Providing a supportive and nurturing environment will keep them happy and healthy and create a productive and satisfying work environment. But how can you do this?
- Recognition and appreciation
Giving your employees regular praise or constructive feedback, as appropriate, can help them understand their performance, feel motivated and realise how they may be able to improve. It can boost morale to acknowledge particularly good performance with awards or bonuses, or to celebrate milestones such as work anniversaries, birthdays and personal achievements. These can help you to create a sense of belonging within the team.
2. Career development opportunities
If you provide your employees with opportunities to learn, develop and gain new skills, it can show a commitment to helping them grow and reach their potential. It can help to motivate them if a clearly defined path for career advancement is set out for them. Where you have more experienced people on the team, you may want to pair them up with less experienced colleagues so your more seasoned staff can act as mentors, passing on their knowledge, guidance and support.
3. Positive work environment
Your employees are likely to react well to open communication in the workplace and an open-door policy where they are able to voice concerns or ideas without fear of retribution. You can ensure everyone feels welcome and like they belong by promoting inclusivity and ensuring diversity in the workplace. And, of course, it may go without saying, but providing a work environment that is physically and emotionally safe for your employees is key to wellbeing.
4. Leader, not boss
People like to have a leader, not a boss – someone who leads the charge rather than sitting miles behind the front lines, telling them what to do. Involved, empathetic leadership can help ensure that your team trusts you. Set them clear, realistic goals and expectations and you can avoid stress caused by ambiguity. And remember that they are human beings, with lives outside of work – encourage them to balance their work with their personal responsibilities and lives, and you will probably get more back from them in return.
5. Flexible work arrangements
Offering the flexibility to work from home some or all of the time might make all the difference to employees with parental responsibilities or other family commitments that mean coming to the office might cause hardship. It can also reduce stress related to commuting and improve the work-life balance. Depending on your business sector, you may also consider allowing employees to choose their own work hours within a certain range, so they can contribute when they feel like they’re at their best.
6. Health and wellness programmes
You may wish to provide fitness facilities or subsidies for gym memberships to promote your employees’ physical health; this exercise can also be a boon for their mental health. On the subject of mental health, you may wish to provide your employees with access to counselling services, mental health days or access to mental health-related apps. Stocking your office with nutritious snacks and healthy meal options can also encourage good eating habits among your staff.
7. Work-life balance support
Be generous with vacation, sick leave and parental leave – all of these allow your employees to recharge and to be at their best for you. Pushing them too hard will result in them getting burned out. Encourage them to take regular breaks and discourage overwork or presenteeism. For parents in your workforce, consider offering flexible schedules, on-site daycare or remote work options. This may be the difference between having them on your team or not – at the end of the day, no matter how good your company is, no parent is going to choose you over their children.
The flexible workspaces, cutting-edge facilities and outstanding business support in Broxbourne at Hoddesdon Enterprise Centre and Theobalds Enterprise Centre make them ideal for employers who want good employee wellbeing.
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