Hard-working, motivated employees are essential to the success of a company. But because unhappy employees equal unmotivated employees, what can employers and coworkers do to improve overall office health?
Creating a positive environment in the office is crucial, said Bob Nelson, president of Nelson Motivational and author of "1001 Ways to Reward Employees."
"The manager sets the tone for his/her workgroup in terms of having fun, respect for everyone. It all comes down to how people are treated," Nelson said.
Comfort is the key
Because productivity is the goal, tying the level of comfort to performance can be a win-win situation.
"You can offer a special ergonomic chair for someone who demonstrates high performance," such as to someone who brings in a new account or gets five letters of praise from customers, said Nelson.
Better tools to get the job done are another big plus and pay dividends in increased productivity. For example, Nelson purchased software for an employee as a reward for performance.
Making employees more comfortable can be as simple as offering them foot rests, back supports, keyboard trays and pads, but there are more innovative ideas, such as simple perks like fresh, free gourmet coffee or tea, which increase morale and productivity, Nelson said.
Healthy is happy
Because employees spend a large part of the day in their office or cubicle, "ask what you can do to make them more comfortable," said Rieva Lesonsky, editor at large of AllBusiness.com and CEO of GrowBiz Media. "You don't have to spend a lot of money. One thing to do is encourage the break."
Let them get up and take a quick walk if they want, but don't force them to exercise.
Nelson said, "You can invite anyone who wants to join you for a morning walk or start a running club, or host or participate in a charity run as a department or organization."
Providing incentives for employees to exercise or stop smoking will also encourage good health.
Another idea: "Bring in an ice chest with healthy snacks like fruit bars. It's cheap, unexpected and healthy," Lesonsky said.
Fun for all
Good bosses realize the people they work with are more than just employees, Lesonsky said. Take time to do things and talk about more than just work. Celebrating holidays and birthdays, discussing TV shows or asking a question of the week increases the level of familiarity.
A ping-pong table in the lunchroom or a "Confetti Committee" to offer spontaneous celebrations can also make work more fun.
Set the mood
An attractive work environment is also conducive to productivity, so how can you lighten the mood?
"One thing that's often overlooked is the lighting," Lesonsky said. "Fluorescent lighting is killer! A simple desk lamp can be a big improvement."
Both experts agreed that allowing employees to decorate their space is preferable to harping on a "clean" desk.
Let them customize with plants and personal items and "provide peer-to-peer thank-you tokens along with a half-page certificate they can post in their office" for when they do good work, Nelson said.
Photo: GateHouse News Service image
