One of the toughest parts about being an employer is balancing what your employees can do and what you want them to do. You want them to be successful, but you also need a return on investment from their activity. The more you invest in employees, the more you increase productivity at the workplace.
Every company has a different way of paying its employees, which may or may not affect your team’s productivity. If you’re providing benefits to all your employees, setting up a system that takes some guesswork out of paying your staff may be easy. Here are 10 different ways to make work easier for your employees.
1. Make Your Business a Pleasant Place to Be
A pleasant place to work means something different for every business. It could mean keeping the office well-lit, allowing dress codes that include casual clothes and free coffee, or offering a nice place for people to sit and be productive. It also makes an impact to decorate the workplace for holidays such as Eid, Christmas, and Halloween. This shows that businesses are willing to make the building lively for their workers. Also, implement monthly events for employees to distress and enjoy their day.
Whatever you decide what pleasant means to your business, ensure your employees know it’s a top priority. A friendly environment fosters teamwork, which makes it easier for employees to get along and increase productivity.
2. Provide Clear Goals And Objectives
Clear goals and objectives are important in making work easy for your employees. Objectives should be defined guidelines on what an employee should accomplish in a given period. A clear goal is one that the employee knows exactly what he needs to do to complete it. With clear objectives, it’s easier for an employee to know how much progress he’s making toward achieving his goals and when they’re due. This should be easy as your company should already have set monthly productivity goals for departments.
3. Automation
Automation makes work easier for employees because they only have to input their work once. This frees up time for other activities. It can streamline processes and tasks and reduce the data an employee needs to input manually. Digital forms and checklists allow employees to complete standard procedures without creating new ones. This can be a huge time saver for employees.
4. Offer Health Insurance
Many employers provide health insurance for their employees, but not all of them do. If you don’t offer health insurance, it usually costs more to come to work every day. That can make employees less likely to show up if they know they won’t get paid if they call in sick with a cold or other illness. Taking care of your employees’ health is an investment that will likely pay dividends in the long run.
5. Offer Work at Work Programs
A work-at-work program is an incentive or benefit that makes it easier for employees to do their jobs while working. Some work-at-work programs include flexibility in schedules, the ability to work from home, and incentives for reaching deadlines.
The most commonly used incentive is a bonus structure. Employees have the opportunity to show off their skills and productivity by hitting outstanding goals and being rewarded with a small bonus on their next check. Another common program incorporates wellness and making sure workers are not neglecting their health. This is very recognized by companies that are almost 100% remote.
Work-at-work programs help employees feel more comfortable with the technology they use in their daily jobs, which can make their jobs easier.
6. Encourage Friendships
Friendships between co-workers can make the workplace more pleasant. Encourage friendships between different departments by having monthly gatherings of employees who work in the same building. For employees who work from home, encourage monthly gatherings, so they can have a chance to get to know each other in real life instead of on a screen. Allow employees to leave work early or come in late if they know they’ll be needed to help with an event. This will show your employees that you value them as people and will encourage loyalty to your business.
7. Offer Employee Discounts
Offering employee discounts can help your employees make their money go further. Discounts for services and products are a good way to allow your employees to get what they need without spending more money on something expensive. Many employees have multiple discounts so their employees can enjoy discounts from restaurants, movie nights, or theme parks. Anything that makes it easier for your employees to spend their money may be a good idea if you want them to invest in your business.
8. Offer a Flexible Work Schedule
A flexible work schedule means different things to different people. Some employees want more days off, while others would rather be able to stay late or come to work early. It’s important to understand what your employees want regarding their schedules and give them the flexibility they need. You can prioritize flexibility by ensuring the employee has the ability to choose their own work hours, or have a program where employees can leave up to 2 hours early on Friday (once they have completed all their work for the day of course). If you’re interested in keeping your staff happy and able to be more productive, offering more flexibility is one way to do it.
9. Offer Training and Development Opportunities
Providing employees with training and development opportunities can help to improve their skills and knowledge, leading to increased productivity. This can take the form of in-house training sessions, workshops, or even tuition assistance for employees who want to pursue further education. By investing in your employees’ development, you can help them to become more confident and capable in their roles, leading to better performance and increased productivity.
10. Encourage Open Communication and Collaboration
Creating an open and collaborative work environment can help to foster teamwork and improve productivity. Encourage employees to share ideas and collaborate on projects. This can be facilitated through regular team meetings, an open-door policy, or the use of communication tools such as Slack or Microsoft Teams. By fostering open communication and collaboration, you can create a more cohesive and efficient team.
11. Provide the Necessary Tools and Resources
Ensuring that employees have the equipment, software, and other resources they need to do their job effectively is essential for increasing productivity. This may include providing laptops, smartphones, or other necessary productivity tools, as well as ensuring that employees have access to the software and other resources they need to perform their tasks. By providing employees with the tools they need to do their job effectively, you can help to reduce frustration and increase efficiency.
12. Encourage Breaks and Time Management
Allowing employees to take breaks and manage their time effectively can help to reduce stress and improve focus, leading to increased productivity. Encourage employees to take breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge, and encourage the use of time management tools such as calendars and to-do lists to help employees prioritize tasks and stay organized.
13. Promote Stress Reduction Environment
A high-stress environment can have a negative impact on employee productivity and well-being. Encourage employees to take care of their mental health by promoting stress reduction strategies such as meditation, exercise, or taking breaks. Consider offering stress reduction resources or programs to support employees in managing their stress levels.
14. Offer a Comprehensive Appraisal Program
A comprehensive appraisal program can help to identify areas for improvement and provide employees with feedback and guidance on how to improve their performance. This can take the form of regular performance evaluations, goal-setting, or ongoing feedback and coaching. By providing employees with the support they need to improve and grow, you can increase productivity and engagement.
15. Offer Secure Future
Providing employees with a sense of security and stability can help to increase productivity and engagement. This may include offering competitive salaries, benefits, and opportunities for advancement, as well as providing a safe and supportive work environment. By showing employees that you value their contributions and are invested in their future, you can create a more positive and productive work culture.
Conclusion
Keeping your employees happy is essential if you want them to be productive. Creating a comfortable and pleasant environment can make your business more attractive to potential employees. This will increase your chances of getting more productivity out of your current staff. Having a clear understanding of what you need employees to accomplish is one way to ensure they’re focused on something else when they should be working. Please keep track of your progress toward achieving your goals, and make it a point to evaluate information on how effective you are at meeting those goals regularly.
Jeena Alfredo is a passionate digital marketer at The Business Goals. She is working with other companies to help them manage the relationship with The Business Goals for the publications.
