Knowing How to Create Happiness in Business
We’ve read in several places that an espresso machine or a gym membership won’t retain staff. Indeed, injecting sweet little initiatives into a toxic culture won’t make the magic happen. It’s high time to look at our organizations through the lens of the employee experience.
We’re talking here about how the employees feel about their daily routine, their work environment, the tools at their disposal, the recognition from their peers and their manager, training, celebrations, vacation and break time, etc. All these moments are often seen mechanically, as purchases to be made, secondary expenses, systems to be implemented. However, when we take some time to think, we remember that they exist for the employee, that they were implemented and have persisted over time as priorities, because they have a proven impact on the efficiency and engagement of the staff.
For example, these days, in the era of hybrid work, many employees are looking for offices that replicate the comforts of home. Whether it’s bright and airy rooms, spaces for socialization, or areas dedicated to snacking or preparing a meal on the go, bringing a touch of home to work can provide many benefits.
Studies conducted by OfficeGenie have shown that office design is one of the main factors of happiness at work—so much so that, on average, it makes employees 33% happier at work. And as we know, more happiness makes it much easier to get through the vagaries of work.
You have to rethink the factors of happiness at work and reinvest in them. Staff shortages, the high rate of rejection when a job offer is presented, the incisive comments on opinion sites, and the drastic increase in leave to take care of mental health are a sign that it’s time to move toward a humanization of the working conditions, where the employer gives as much as they ask from their staff.
Not easy, you might say. Indeed, it’s a long-winded process, but it can be broken down into small steps. Survey your employees on irritants that you can easily resolve while you work on a substantive program.
- Provide training to your frontline managers on the importance of the employee experience and how to influence it positively
- Review your vacation policy and include corporate days off in it to celebrate your employees
- Have a summer schedule
- Replace the office chairs
It’s crucial that the project doesn’t stop there. You have to continue with surveys on the criteria to be improved, focus groups to understand the subtleties, and an action plan with follow-up in internal communication. There won’t be an end date, because the needs are constantly evolving, but your organization will grow like never before.
Sources: https://bruntwood.co.uk/blog/how-office-environment-can-impact-your-employees-mental-health/
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