Tip of the Week: How to Give Your Team the Best Working Conditions

When it comes to the workplace, people want more than they used to. It used to be all about the salary and decent working conditions, but that has significantly changed in the past decade. In order to attract the best talent and stay ahead of the competition, you want to provide optimal working conditions when possible. Thankfully, by providing your team with a few accommodations, it doesn’t have to be difficult for everyone to enjoy their workday. According to an infographic released by Adecco, one of the world’s top staffing agencies, there are several factors which contribute to employee satisfaction in the workplace, including:

• Flexibility.
• Trustworthiness.
• Communication.
• Availability of development opportunities.
• Feedback availability.
• Recognition of success.
• A sense of purpose.

Flexibility is Key Employees love having choices in the workplace, including the ability to work from home. As a society, modern mobile technology has brought about a huge change in the way we do business. We can now work from anywhere. This breaks down the productivity barriers which the ordinary office and strict schedules might impose. By giving your team the option to work remotely, you could potentially score points in the “cool boss” category, and they might even want to work harder. Jumpstart Inter-Office Communication A significant part of the American workforce feels that they don’t have adequate communication systems in place between themselves and upper-management. This can lead to miscommunication, which results in errors and extra work that can slow down a modern business. One way to avoid this is to implement an open-door policy, where you make yourself available for discussion whenever someone needs direction or clarification. Give Credit when It’s Deserved One of the most basic ways you can improve employee morale is through a simple act of recognition. Some common types of recognition in the office are:

• Certificates and awards.
• Prize money.
• Gift certificates for local businesses.
• Free food.
• Company merchandise.

Upward Movement Within the Business Employees want to feel as if they are getting somewhere in the company. According to Adecco, only 39 percent of the workforce feels that they have the potential to move up from their current position. Recent studies have proven that promoting from within rather than seeking outside talent can help keep turnover rates low, meaning that your business’s top talent won’t leave when you least expect it. You can improve employee retention by offering on-the-job training, mentorship programs, and offering networking opportunities to help your team feel like they’re getting somewhere. The Simple Matter of Trust A business owner is an employer, and as such, they need to show their employees that they can be trustworthy, honest, and fair. If your employees have a good relationship with you, they will be willing to work harder when you need them most. It all comes down to being a good communicator. Take some time to get to know your employees, and treat them like they are people rather than resources. Provide Valuable Feedback Employees value critical feedback, whether it’s good or bad. This helps them better approach their work, and it can help them see you as a good employer. The key is to provide constructive criticism, which helps employees improve their work. Tell them “what needs to be worked on,” rather than what’s “good and not good.” Address issues in their work ethic, then help them move forward while being aware of what needs to be resolved or improved upon. A Sense of Purpose A team needs to understand what the ultimate goal of their efforts is, and if they can’t, they will lose enthusiasm and work ethic. This is the last thing you want, so make it clear what your employees are working toward. Help them realize how the business’s goals coincide with their own personal goals. That way, they can connect with the business on a personal level, and feel like they are doing something for both themselves and the company. Creating a company culture can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. By following these simple steps, your business can put a corporate policy into effect designed to both attract and retain the top talent in your area. Do you have any favorite tips for improving the workplace? Let us know in the comments.