Across the world, the Covid-19 vaccine continues to be rolled out, and venues such as bars, restaurants, and offices are beginning to re-open once again. With this in mind, given the amount of time that lots of employees have been working remotely, many businesses are questioning what aspects of office life make them happiest.
It turns out, gimmicks such as ping-pong tables are no longer as well-received as they used to be. Instead, in order to make employees love their office and be more productive, businesses need to go back to basics. Here are some of the top things that employees said they would like in their office environment.
Comfort
Comfort doesn’t just mean something being nice to work on and aesthetically pleasing; it extends much further than that. A careful attentiveness to design and detail can boost the happiness of employees. A smart business owner will think beyond the existing layout and furniture space when moving into an office and instead will be open to refurbishment in order to create a happier environment for employees. This will also lead to increased productivity.
Top Quality Utilities
It can’t be understated how far it goes for employees when the basics of an office work flawlessly and any complaints regarding such utilities are answered quickly. It’s important for employers to ensure that their electricity, heating, and water are working as effectively as they can be. In order to afford sufficient service when it comes to rectifying any problems, employers should consider sites such as Utility Bidder, which will ensure the water supplier for business is the most cost-effective water supplier they could be using.
Give Everyone a Say
Communication throughout an office space is vital. Too often do employees think of themselves as just a number with no real say in what the business does, so ensure them that that’s not the case. Start committees where people from every department can have their say, open a suggestions box, and when a change is implemented due to an employee suggestion. Make sure to let everyone else know about this, so they know their opinion matters.
Make Work a Community
If you run a business, do so openly. Offer clear communication to your staff, so they know what is happening with the business and what future plans are. You can do this in a newsletter where you can also include mentions of staff members who have done something well or have exciting news to share. Encourage team engagements too. Nothing can make a workspace feel like more of a community than going for something nice to eat or drink and talking about something other than work. This will lead to happier staff and consequently increased productivity.
Consider Making Flexible Working Permanent
Many organizations are implementing flexible working as a permanent feature. This can have a huge impact on an employee’s happiness at work as it’s easier for them to establish a work-life balance. It also minimizes external stress that pertains to getting to the office, such as paying for transport and rush hour traffic. You don’t have to do away with the office completely; however, giving employees the option to work from home a couple of days every week will have an extremely positive effect on morale.
