We all know that happy employees work better than employees who are unmotivated, unhappy, and basically wishing they were anywhere else at all. In order to get the best out of your staff, you need to inspire them, motivate them, give them opportunities to progress, and you also need to look after their health and well-being too. Feeling valued is vital.
As an employer, it is a moral responsibility to ensure that the basic care needs of your employees are met. The ironic thing is that if you do this, you will have better production of work coming your way, deadlines will be met, and overall, your business will thrive.
These days, more than ever before, we are aware of the issues pertaining to mental health. A subject which was once taboo, is now much more openly recognised and discussed – this can only be a good thing! If we can open up about mental health issues, we stand a much better chance of conquering them. According to the Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report, 7 million working days were lost in the UK in 2013, as a result of mental health issues. That is not only staggering and worrying from a health point of view, but it is also worrying from a business point of view too.
So, how can you ensure that you provide the best possible workplace for your employees to feel supported, and to enhance mental well-being in your workplace?
Let’s check out a few ideas:
Creating a Light And Supportive Environment
Your staff need to feel like they are supported in their jobs, supported in any personal issues that may arise, and also supported in their future career prospects. A sense of not going anywhere in a job can lead to frustration, which can then lead to depression. Having open lines of communication is vital, but having a framework which inspires and pushes your employees is something that can certainly help to prevent feeling stuck.
Employees need to feel like they can go and talk to their manager or supervisor when something is wrong at work, but if you can create an environment which encourages them to discuss a personal issue which might then go on to affect their work performance, all the better. Some organisations include a helpline as part of their work perk package. This can be a counselling line which an employee can call confidentially when something is wrong in their personal life, and they can get help accordingly. All of this will enhance performance at work, because your employees will be able to get the support they need, when they need it.
In addition, ensuring that your staff feel they enjoy the workplace is vital. Have regular social evenings, organise something once a month which staff can go to at the weekends. Consider identifying an organisation charity of choice, and have regular fundraising events. Basically, have a social panel to organise get togethers, and therefore enhance staff morale.
Ensure Employees Are Comfortable in Their Workspace
Office desks are not just office desks, they are a spot where employees will spend a large portion of their time. For this reason, that desk needs to be comfortable, adjustable, and it needs to offer ergonomic support. If a person is uncomfortable at the place they are sitting for several hours per day, how can you expect them to be happy? When that time accumulates, that feeling of discomfort continues, of course that is going to impact on their mental health. Having comfortable, adjustable office chairs are also vital, to avoid chronic pain and fatigue setting in during the day.
Look into having work zones installed within your workspace, where employees can go for different types of work. For instance, if a role calls for collaboration, have a collaboration zone, with office interiors to reflect that mood. If they need to concentrate on a quiet job, have a quiet zone, where they won’t be disturbed. It’s about giving your staff what they need to do their job effectively and comfortably. When you do that, they feel supported, they won’t be as stressed, and everything runs much more smoothly as a result.
Encourage Regular Breaks
Avoiding burnout is vital. Having regular breaks is a method to ensure that your staff have the time to recharge their batteries, take a deep breath of fresh air, and to help avoid stressful situations building up into something which is much harder to deal with. Consider installing a breakout area perhaps. This is a space where staff can go to rest, get away from their regular desk, and basically have a moment to themselves, before returning to work in a much better and fresher frame of mind.
It is also a good idea to ensure that there is plenty of natural light and fresh air getting into the office. It can be very easy to become down and demotivated if all you are staring at is the same four walls for the entire day. Jazz it up a little, move the office around, have people sat with desks directed towards windows, open those windows, add a few natural plants! The small details really make a difference.
Think of Ways to Energise
Halfway through a long and tiring day, everyone needs a quick pick me up, something to re-energise and give another surge to get through the rest of the day. There are many things you can use to do that, including those regular breaks we were just talking about. Height adjustable desks are a great way to help people push through that concentration barrier. These will help your staff to sit up straighter, protect their posture, and ironically, give them a boost and a push to continue.
An office revamp is also a way to re-energise and focus staff, because we all love something new! Think about new white office furniture, which looks clean and sleek, move things around, and basically reorganise your space to focus on your employees’ needs and wants.
Ensuring the positive mental health of your staff is something that is a minimum requirement of an employer. There are many ways to do it, and by meeting these requirements, you will certainly notice productivity is on the up.