Successful business owners understand the importance of prioritizing a healthy workplace. On the behavioral side of things, having employees that work well together means your business runs smoothly. On the physical side of things, having healthy employees means fewer sick days are utilized and limited production loss issues occur. Because of these factors, it’s important for employers and human resource managers alike to take advantage of implementing a healthier workplace.
There is a plethora of techniques that can transform a mediocre workplace into a thriving work environment that cultivates wellness and positivity. From offering health insurance to arranging team building sessions, there are strategies suitable for every business. When building a healthy work environment, it’s important to always be open to new ideas—what you believe may never work for your company could be the catalyst that makes a huge difference in your office.
Talking to your employees and figuring out what your business’s individual needs are is the first steps in creating your plan of action, and these five strategies can help you foster a healthier workplace for both you and your employees.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
It sounds simple enough. Every business owner knows in order for things to run smoothly, your employees have to get along, and this stems from team building experiences.
There are many options when it comes to developing a strong, cohesive team. The most popular strategy is simply taking time at work to relax. Bringing donuts to work or catering in a nice lunch is a great way to get employees mingling.
Another classic way to encourage camaraderie is to offer team building exercises. You can create your own, purchase a toolkit, or hire a specialist to come to the office and lead them.
The options for promoting team building are endless.
Care About Your Employees…And Show It
So often nowadays, the employee may be innocently overlooked in favor of the customer, but this can set your business up for failure.
Your employees must come first. It’s important to never take your anger out on an employee for an honest mistake; this can drive a wedge between the two of you. Instead, listen to your employees and create learning opportunities from mistakes. This can set your business up well for the future, as they’ll know what to do in similar circumstances and will rely on you for future help and guidance.
Reward Production with Time Off
While giving your employees time off may seem like a negative venture that will work against your business and cut into your busy schedule, giving your employees an occasional day off can make a huge long-run difference. Rested employees will return revitalized and ready to work.
Time off can be awarded for many different reasons; holidays, religious obligations, special occasions, or even just because it’s what it takes to get your team energized and ready for the next big project at hand.
Lead with Compassion
Compassion starts with a watchful eye. Look for signs your employees may be struggling outside of work. Missed days, tardiness, and being a “slow poke” might be irksome to you because you may not fully understand what they might have going on outside of work.
Take the time to reach out to your employees individually and check in with them. You don’t have to get too personal, but be mindful of what they’re going through. If they need advice, support, or guidance, help them find the resources they need. This could be anything from counseling services to helping them confront a fear they have been harboring.
By being a compassionate employer, your employees will be more willing to reach out to you and have a more honest, open dialogue with you which can help you confront future problems before they become production issues.
Prioritize Your Employees’ Health
While this may be a redundant point, employee health and wellness are often overlooked. That’s why it’s important to remind business owners to focus diligently on their employees’ health. Without it, businesses face a loss of production and an unhealthy work environment.
Offering good health insurance, extending paid sick time off, and conducting random drug testing extends incredible benefits that benefit both you and your employees. Over time, you’ll find that these perks keep your employees healthier, long term, which increases their productivity, boosts your bottom line, and encourages a healthy workspace to thrive in.
When it comes to managing a business, the chaos continually ebbs and flows. When one fire is put out, another sparks. However, fostering a healthier workplace may feel like added work at first, but over time, these strategies will become second nature and help build the thriving, healthy establishment you’ve always envisioned.
