4 Steps To Creating A Positive Work Environment

Wed, 07 Nov 2018 by Peter U.

2. Make Sure Your Employees Feel Like They’re Being Heard

Something not enough employers focus on is actually creating a positive vibe and office culture. This doesn’t only include rewarding hard work, but also fostering good relationships between co-workers. Unfortunately, team building trips and going out for pints isn’t actually enough to ensure a positive environment, so you may need to implement regular meetings where employees can air out grievances or communicate with each other.

It’s important for them to feel like they’re being heard and that no one is excluded, overlooked, or bullied. Adult bullying and intimidating behavior is more prevalent than you might think, and it should be up to the employer (and the respective HR department!) to nip this in the bud. Consider all complaints, set reasonable sanctions, and make it a point to act on employees’ requests and complaints. This way, everyone will feel safe and comfortable. Forbes gives a few compelling reasons why your small business needs an HR professional.

3. Give Everyone A Quiet Place To Work

Now that open plan offices have become the norm, it can be difficult to create a quiet workspace. While an open plan office certainly has advantages – according to a study quoted by the BBC, employees are less stressed and more active in this layout! – working alongside everyone else can sometimes be distracting.

This can be solved by either providing some privacy, or allowing employees to use headphones at the office. That way, everyone can switch off and focus on work when they need to, while still being open to interaction and participation with everyone else. It’s a good compromise between isolated work spaces and a communal one.

4. Provide A Place To Relax And Unwind

No matter how passionate you are about your work and how much you enjoy it, sometimes, it becomes very stressful and it can get you down. That’s why there is a need for a place to unwind and relax in the workplace. That can be a dedicated quiet space, with sofas and books, a game room that acts as a sort of entertainment area, a place with chairs and a coffee machine, to wind down and chat for 10 minutes, etc.

No matter what you choose to provide for your employees, they will be thankful for the opportunity to take a break and unwind, and it will work to prevent a lot of workplace squabbles, burnout, and other undesirable behavior. No one can work non-stop, so a break is more than welcome, from time to time.

All in all, a positive work environment is essential to a well-functioning office, and unfortunately, it’s something that is often underestimated or even overlooked, entirely. You can make sure the office environment you create is positive and never has the opportunity to become toxic by implementing these tips and just generally keeping a close eye on things and making it a priority to foster positive relationships with and between your employees.

Latest News