Simple ways to make employees happier at work

Simple ways to make employees happier at work 

While it’s often said in business that the customer should come first, these days, employee experience is everything. Your people should be treated like your most valuable asset because their happiness can have a remarkable effect on the overall success of your business.

Happy employees are more motivated when they come into work, more committed to their jobs, more loyal and, overall, more engaged. With a happy workforce you can generally expect lower staff turnover and higher productivity too. So, what can you do to give your employees a bit of a boost?

Create a positive working space

Your employees’ working environment can have a huge impact on how they feel day-to-day, so one thing you can do to boost the morale of your employees is to make work a positive place to be. Bring functionality and fun together by creating a comfortable, inspiring and practical working space.

Simple things like plenty of natural light, comfortable furniture, break-out areas, a drinks fridge and a welcoming colour scheme will make a huge difference to how your employees feel when they get to work and motivate them.

Creating a positive working space doesn’t need to be a huge expense though. Whether you add a pool table, a TV, some interesting wall art or some plants around the building, by making work feel a bit less like work you’ll make your employees feel happier because they’ll feel like they’re in a fun and creative space.

Organise regular social events

Regular social events are a great way to give your employees a bit of a boost and reward them for their hard work. Whether it’s a team lunch, a day out, or some casual drinks after work, social gatherings offer opportunities for employees to have a momentary break from their daily activities.

These also allow your team to build positive working relationships which will strengthen the community culture of your business.

Prioritise a good work/life balance

As with many things in life, balance is key, and that’s no different when it comes to work. While your employees are of course expected to come into work and fulfil their daily tasks and meet key objectives, it is important to remember that your employees have other priorities outside of work.

Flexibility is key. By allowing your employees to work from home or do flexible hours, for example, you instantly provide them with a sense of freedom that will make them feel valued. You’ll also help to reduce your employees’ stress levels and avoid them losing motivation or burning out.

Part of striking a good work/life balance is making sure that there is a healthy and sustainable level of pressure in the workplace. Don’t expect your employees to answer emails late at night or take work home with them, let them enjoy their time away from work so they feel refreshed when they come back in. It’s all about meeting in the middle and making this part of your business’ culture.

Recognise your employees

When employees feel valued by their employer, they will generally feel happier at work. That’s why the simple act of saying “thank you” can be the simplest yet most effective way of boosting the morale of your employees.

Recognising employees for going above and beyond or doing a good job at work not only will motivate them to repeat those behaviours, it will also make them feel appreciated. This can help build employees’ confidence and reassures them that they’re a valued member of the team.

Instilling recognition into your culture will spread positivity across your business too. When employees consistently show gratitude towards their colleagues and get recognised back, the working environment becomes positive, inspiring and enjoyable. This atmosphere will soon rub off on your employees and will not only make them happier but motivate them to do their very best at work.

Through our solutions, we strive to make everyday a great day at work. If you’re interested in employee reward and recognition a great place to start is our employee benefit platform.

Visit www.myworkperks.co.uk to find out more.

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