Here we take a brief look at the eight most important things you need to get right if your employees are going to be happy and your business is going to have the best chance of booming.
1. Comfy chairs. If your staff are spending most of their day sitting down, their comfort needs to be your priority. A great chair with the right ergonomics improves posture, reduces the risk of physical problems like back pain, and simultaneously increases comfort and productivity.
2. Practical desks. Desks need to be able to deal with everything you throw at them. They need to have space for all your stuff and be compatible with all of your tech. They also need to be good for you physically. For this reason, sit-stand desks have become much more popular in recent years.
3. Refreshments. In surveys looking at workplace contentment, 85% of employees said that having easy access to tea, coffee and cold drinks throughout the day was hugely important to them. So, take the time to make sure your refreshments area is well-stocked and welcoming – it’s an easy way to show your staff you value them, and one that will come back at you tenfold.
4. The right temperature. An office that’s always either too hot or too cold is one of the most common annoyances for UK workers. Unfortunately, it’s one of the hardest things for employees to get right as people have different preferences. The best solution is to have hot-desk possibilities where staff can move to different areas of the building if they need to.
5. Equipment that works. Three out of every four employees in the UK admits to feelings of frustration and anger when equipment they need to do their job doesn’t work. There is also a direct relationship between faulty equipment and poor productivity.
6. Bathroom comfort. If you’re having new loos fitted, please consider having real walls between toilet cubicles rather than flimsy pieces of wood with gaps at the bottom. According to statistics, around half of UK staff don’t feel comfortable going to the loo unless they have a comfortable soundproof space. It might not sound like a big deal but, if it means your staff might be in a rush to get home, it is.
7. Natural light. The World Green Building Council claims that employees that work near sunlight are 15% more productive than those that don’t. Although you can’t guarantee sunlight, you can make efforts to ensure your workspace has as much natural light as possible. Natural light has been proven beyond doubt to be hugely important for wellbeing and health.
8. Amenities. Local food and drink options is another important factor for employee happiness. If you happen to be in a location that’s not well-served by a variety of cafes and grocery shops, it’s probably a good idea to strike a deal with restaurants that are happy to deliver.
The more of the above you get right, the happier your workforce will be. The happier your workforce are, the harder they work. If changes need to be made, it’s definitely worth your while to make them, as investing in your staff is the best investment there is.