The movie Office Space should be required viewing for any business owner. It’s a cautionary tale of disgruntle employees that have become jaded after years of feeling like little more than a body in a cubicle. And that film was made 17 years ago.
Today the way we work has dramatically changed as well as our perceptions of how and when to work. Recent studies show that happy employees are more productive employees. Happy employees are also less likely to quit, another factor that can save companies a lot of money.
And it’s not a money issue. Randstad U.S. conducted a survey of 2,279 employed individuals, 36% of which said that they would give up $5,000 a year to be happier at work.
The cubicle concept is giving way to working from anywhere. The idea of 9-to-5 schedules is being replaced by project completion that isn’t confined to specific hours.
If you want to boost employee happiness and performance, here are five company policies worth considering.
Offer a Flexible Schedule Opportunity
Work-life balance is one of the biggest concerns for employees. They feel like they are constantly connected to work even when they aren’t being paid for it. Some employees also stress about having to put family needs behind those of work.
A flexible schedule allows employees to create a work schedule that works for their life. Some employees have children or parents that they have to care for and being able to work from home a few days a week would alleviate a lot of stress. Others may work better at night rather than during the day. Many employees simply want to make a slight adjustment so they can avoid nerve-wracking traffic before work every morning.
The Internet has made it possible for the majority of employees to work effectively from anywhere. Online management systems make the flexible schedule transition even easier. A cloud-based platform like Asure Software enables companies to keep everyone connected no matter where they are and gauge productivity in and out of the office.
No matter what the situation is a flexible schedule provides a better sense of control, which makes employees happier.
Stock Snacks Around the Office
Food makes people happy in most situations, and work is no exception. One surprising finding from a survey by the company Peapod is that 67% of people working at companies with free food say they are very or extremely happy. By comparison, 56% of employees at companies without free food said the same.
Free food is one of those extra perks that show employees the company is investing in their happiness. There’s also a biological basis for this happiness increase. When you’ve been working for hours on end your brain is going to get fatigued. Part of the problem is it’s being depleted of glucose. By having a snack you can boost glucose levels and cognitive performance. Instead of being hungry, employees will be happy.
Recognize Excellence
If all your hard work went unnoticed would you be happy? Probably not, and employees aren’t happy about it either. When an individual, team, department or the company as a whole does a great job make a point to recognize it. Being given recognition shows employees that you appreciate their hard work and motivates them to keep it up.
Encourage Employee Interaction
People who have friends at work are much more likely to be happy employees. Studies have shown that people who work with friends are 50% more satisfied and seven times more engaged in their work.
Instead of eyeballing employees that congregate and converse in common areas, encourage employees to take breaks throughout the day to interact. You can also foster friendships by hosting office lunches, happy hours and parties that are aimed a creating camaraderie.
Ask for Input From Employees
Employees that feel like they’re a valuable part of the company are going to be happier. One of the easiest ways to do this is to simply ask for their input. When employees feel that their voice is being heard and they are playing an active role in guiding the company’s course, they’ll be more invested.
Another option is to put an employee in charge of a small project. Even if it’s something simple or short-term, having ownership and being a decision maker will boost their happiness and satisfaction.
It doesn’t take huge procedural changes to make employees happy. Often it’s the little things that show appreciation and concern about their wellbeing that make the biggest difference.