Would you believe that an astronomical 85% of people are unhappy with their jobs? Some are unhappy about their boss, commute time, colleague, type of work, long working hours, stagnant growth, or even meager payments. As an employer, you need to be more conscious about the happiness and well-being of your employees.
A healthy work environment is more important than most people think. Today, most employees are likely to deal with a slew of physical and mental health problems, including anxiety, stress, alcoholism, depression, hypertension, among others. The problem with tired, weary, sickly, alcoholic, and depressed workers is that they drag the business down.
They are not productive and cost a lot more in insurance premiums. Employers are likely to deal with absenteeism, negative business brands, reduced innovation, and much more. Promoting a positive and healthy work environment means promoting productivity, health, wellness, and worker satisfaction.
What can an employer do to improve and promote a healthy work environment? We have compiled an in-depth guide listing the crucial features of a healthy work environment.
1. Create the Workplace Thoughtfully by Design
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When creating a healthy work environment, the first thing you have to do is create a healthy workplace. Most people overlook their offices or workplaces and the impact they have on the employees. Poor temperature control, noise, poor lighting, lack of privacy, inadequate sanitary facilities, and poor ventilation may create a stressful environment.
It’s vital that you create a comfortable working space for all your employees. Have a positive team space where people are not crammed up in one place. Make sure it’s small enough for them to work as a team but big enough that everyone has enough room to be comfortable on their own.
If you need to install standing desks for the employees who would feel comfortable working that way, consider it. If not, then promote economic chairs and desks to avoid posture problems. The wrong posture can directly or indirectly cause major problems apart from backaches.
Standing desks are designed to allow employees to sit or stand whenever they please. These enable them to keep their muscles active, and you won’t have to deal with avoidable sick days or workers’ compensation. Beyond that, promote a clean environment. Use the right cleaning products from reputable brands such as Ottsafetygear.com.
2. Build Trust
Most employees agree that some of the most important attributes in the workplace are trust, honesty, and fairness. Several steps you can take to build trust and integrity in your workplace. Some of these things include keeping the promises you make.
It’s important for employers not to over-promise or under-deliver. It’s vital that you make firm commitments without saying discouraging things like you’ll do your best. Follow up on your team, communicate obstacles, and discuss how you can deal with them as a team.
It’s also essential for you to own up to your mistakes, show compassion, focus on actions, and make amends. Start the first five minutes of your staff meeting with a discussion of the personal and professional lives of your employees. This way, you’ll have an easier time getting them to trust you.
3. Keep Communication Lines Open
A lack of communication can be incredibly frustrating for employees. It’s important that employers keep the lines of communication open.
It gives the employees validation and satisfaction. It’s always better for them to know that they can be heard at any time they have a problem and taken seriously.
It’s just as important for them to know that their opinion in the business is valued. That they can bring in their ideas and contribute to the organization. This can highly and considerably boost their morale and self-esteem and, in turn, productivity.
Ensure you find an easy mode of communication where every employee can reach management without problems at any time they need to.
4. Promote a Balance Between Work and Personal Life
Did you know that a large number of employees have major conflicts between work and family lives? If you want to promote a healthy work environment, it’s important for you to strike a balance between the two for all your employees. If possible, you can encourage any employees who can work remotely to do so.
More and more people working remotely have reported higher productivity and improved work timeline. They have cited better and improved work quality and improved communication and collaboration.
5. Offer Rewards, Benefits, and Incentives
Only a very small number of employees are satisfied with the recognition given in the workplace. A majority of employees agree that meaningful recognition doesn’t have any dollar value. Employers should strive to give employees bonuses as a way to reward high performances.
They can also give out perks that are not money-related. They could be social activities outside of the workplace, half days, casual days at the office, or even office parties.
Employers could also install workplace amenities like a daycare center, a gym, and a cafeteria. These are great incentives for employees to come to work. Employers can also offer to pay for additional education for their employees.
This is a win-win situation for businesses because the employees get more skilled and loyal to the business. Recognizing an employee in public for great performance can also make a huge difference.
6. Promote Wellness
Promoting a healthy work environment has a lot to do with promoting employee wellness. Some of the steps you can take include encouraging exercise, promoting preventative care, and emphasizing education. You can also have an on-site doctor, provide healthy snacks in the lunchroom, and be mindful of mental health.
Depending on how large your organization is, it may be advisable for you to consider an employee well-being assistance program. It would help those who have mental health issues such as stress, depression, or anxiety. You can recommend behavioral resources to empower your employees and offer incentives for those who maintain good health.
You can also directly partner up with medical experts to provide tailored health benefits for your employees. For example, you can check out this dentist in Los Angeles and devise a dental health benefit especially made for your employees.
Promoting a Healthy Work Environment
These are some of the most crucial steps you should take to promote a healthy work environment. Promoting workplace wellness is not an easy task, but you’ll be well on your way to achieving it with these tips.
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