Making employee morale a high priority is one of the most important things you can do for your business. Improving the office atmosphere for those that work for (and with you) is how you keep good people around and ultimately run a successful business. Having good, hardworking employees is a major key to success, so pay attention to the health and well-being of those you hire and implement these little strategies to make a big difference in your employees’ work day.
Celebrate
Recognize special events in the lives of your employees and have holiday get-togethers. If your company is small enough, it can be appropriate to throw a little birthday party at the end of the day, complete with cake and balloons. Even something as simple as giving your employees birthday cards shows them that you care and they matter. That can greatly improve the outlook of someone’s day.
Also take the time to celebrate accomplishments, big and little. Acknowledging what has been achieved shows that hard work and dedication is appreciated and won’t go unnoticed.
Eat
Getting everyone together to talk and enjoy a healthy treat is one of the best ways to start a productive and positive day. Offer fruit, yogurt, muffins, and coffee in the morning to ensure that everyone has a healthy start to their day.
Once a week (more or less, depending on your budget) take a group of employees out to lunch or offer a healthy catered lunch for everyone in the office. This can create strong bonds and equalize the group. Plus, taking the time to nourish your body is one of the best ways to increase energy and improve clarity – which ultimately increases productivity.
Move
Sitting at the same desk all day can get stale (and detrimental to your health) so a change in scenery can do wonders. Encourage employees to get up and away from their desks to walk around and stretch. If possible, hold meetings outside or in a separate work area. Getting away from the computer for just a few minutes to get the blood flowing again will refresh the mind and greatly improve mentality and productivity.
Relax
Make sure the workplace atmosphere is comfortable and functional. Create a relaxed and inviting environment for your employees. Make sure the chairs are comfortable and there is plenty of light. Place plants around the office and hang art on the walls to add color and life to the workspace. Have your employees add their own personal touches.
Also, deadlines are stressful enough, so take the time to reduce other stresses your employees may encounter. Make sure any complaints or concerns are handled diligently. And get rid of those pesky scanners and printers that never seem to work and invest in new ones that do!
