Employee productivity is vital for companies to make a profit. According to a University of California study, employees in the office are interrupted every 3 minutes. They can need up to 23 minutes to be able to focus again on their tasks after an interruption. As a result, many businesses have noticed a huge difference when they switched to remote work during the pandemic. Employees became more productive as they were less likely to be distracted. Additionally, it’s worth knowing that almost 9 in 10 employees prefer to work alone. While it doesn’t mean they can’t be valuable team players, they are more likely to be more productive and effective in solo projects. For team managers, this can require adjusting work assignments accordingly, so even collaborative projects can be divided into relevant solo tasks.
Ultimately, it becomes essential for businesses to develop productivity strategies for their teams. The remote working trend is slowing down, as many companies choose to bring employees back to the office. Understandably, it will take a long time for the business world to embrace remote working as the go-to option. Traditional office requirements and location pressure make it difficult to move to a virtual office solution permanently. As a result, businesses have to be creative to maximize productivity in a physical office.
#1. A new office decor
Your office decor is more than an aesthetic decision. It can dramatically affect the performance of your team. The mind constantly recovers and reacts to its surroundings. You’ve probably noticed that being in a bright room boosts your mood, while a dark room can have the opposite effect. Similarly, your office decor will also influence the overall mood, and therefore the team productivity.
Some color combinations can be mentally and emotionally stimulating. Blue, for instance, has a soothing and calming effect. It is a popular color for B2B environments. On the other hand, Green encourages freshness, making it a great choice for offices where staff frequently work long hours. Yellow provides a sense of cheerful creativity, the ideal color for creative design and marketing workplaces.
Additionally, it is also worth considering office structure, lighting, plants, and furnishing. Adequate lighting and structure solutions can bring warmth, brightness, and sound management without distracting your team.
#2. A canteen on site
The typical office worker’s meal in the United States is a slice of pepperoni pizza with a can of soda. Some employees also choose to buy lunch on the go when they’ve got time to head to the local shops during their lunch breaks. Unfortunately, store-bought lunches can be unhealthy and high in calories. They often include a pack of chips, a sweet treat (donut or cookie), and soda. However, an alarmingly high number of employees continue to spend the lunch break at their desks, eating snacks that are readily available from a vending machine or those they brought to work.
Office lunch habits are not just unhealthy. They can also affect productivity. Indeed, the typical meal is linked to a spike in blood sugar, which creates a brief energy rush. However, when the blood sugar drops back to normal, the employee’s energy level falls. It’s the typical afternoon slump. Additionally, staff can’t recharge as they stay to eat alone at their desks. In the long, this can lead to fatigue and collaborative issues. The introduction of a canteen in the workplace can help tackle these problems, ensuring staff gets:
- Together at lunch
- Time away from the desk
- Nutritious and healthy meals
#3. Employee engagement
Boosting employee engagements can transform everyday life in the business. Engaged employees are less likely to walk away and leave the company, which reduces recruitment costs. However, there are many more valuable benefits of employee engagement. Indeed, when it comes to productivity, maximizing engagement strategies can help increase productivity by 17%, as employees are more likely to work hard when they can identify with the business. Engagement means the team feels profoundly affected by the success and progress of the company, taking an active part in building growth and profits. It is fair to say that engagement can be a motivation when it comes to meeting goals and completing projects. While it doesn’t mean that engagement is the sole factor for employee retention and loyalty, it is crucial to sustainable growth.
#4. Mental health support
The COVID pandemic has affected mental health in the workplace. Nearly half of American workers have experienced mental health issues since the pandemic hit the world. From high stress levels to depression or anxiety, U.S. workers are dealing with more mental health problems than ever before. Unfortunately, many do not know who to ask for help. As a result, their condition can affect their day-to-day lives, and it also shows when it comes to productivity.
It becomes crucial for companies to consider mental health support as part of their workplace perks. Introducing a weekly therapy consultant who can keep an open door during the day for employees to visit and discuss issues, for instance, can be a fantastic way to provide people with the support they need. Some companies sign up for online mental health programs, which can provide anonymous, easy, and convenient digital support to your employees through chats, phone calls, and even video calls.
#5. Addressing toxic environment issues
What does a toxic workplace environment look like? Business owners are often the last to notice unhealthy environment issues. Indeed, toxic behaviors and communication in the workplace tend to affect individuals who are not at a managerial level — however, there are exceptions. Therefore, it can be easy to miss the signs that your business culture has taken a turn for the worse.
However, there are some crucial elements you want to look out for:
- High absenteeism
- High turnover rate
- Increase in sick days
Toxic business culture can drive recruitment costs and decrease productivity. If you t problems, you can introduce an anonymous communication line for employees to describe their situations. You could discover that some members of the team experience bullying or discrimination frequently. For business owners, it’s crucial to take a stand against toxic culture to protect your team.
#6. Making the workplace safe for all
Workplace injuries can be frequent in some industry sectors. Understandably, some professions are more likely to face day-to-day risks than others. The construction industry, for example, records some of the highest accident rates. The business’s responsibility is to actively target risks and create a safe workplace. Safety training and risk assessment audits are instrumental in eliminating accidents. Yet, risks exist in every workplace. Even the typical office environment can lead to work injuries through inadequate training and risky behaviors:
- Slippery floor
- Loose wires and cables
- Lack of lighting
- Uneven floors or ground
- Lack of maintenance
It makes no doubt that work injuries can significantly reduce productivity, as employees are momentarily or permanently incapacitated.
#7. Supporting families
Parents have a tough time juggling family and work duties. Many parents are forced to consider putting their careers on hold when they have a baby. Indeed, with limited affordable childcare services available, parents often choose to leave their jobs while the child is young. For companies, this could mean losing valuable talent and expertise.
Therefore, it can be beneficial for businesses to introduce family-friendly policies that can support working parents. Some brands have an on-site childcare service, so parents can bring their kids to work. Alternatively, the pandemic has also helped many businesses to normalize family life. Children are becoming a common sight on video calls, and nobody complains about it. Remote working arrangements can help parents with young children when the company can’t provide childcare support.
#8. Introducing break rooms
Everybody needs a break during the day. It isn’t possible for an individual to remain 100% productive for 8 to 12 hours every day, and the mind needs frequent breaks to stay focused. Yet, too many companies fail to promote regular breaks in the workplace.
That’s precisely why companies such as Google or Airbnb have helped revolutionize workplace design. They have introduced essential break rooms, encouraging their employees to read, relax, play, or even have a nap during their working hours. Whether you opt for cozy nap pods or a foosball table, your break room is instrumental to business productivity. Rested and relaxed employees are your best assets.
#9. Adopt an office pet
Pets can be a source of emotional support. According to a study by Virginia Commonwealth University, adopting an office animal is becoming common practice to relieve stress and increase productivity. Indeed, an office dog or cat can act as an icebreaker between employees, bringing people together as they engage with the pet. This can bring stress down, improve communication, and boost the business culture.
#10. Collaborative tools
Your team needs to be able to work seamlessly together, sharing data and delivering their tasks to a common project. Therefore, investing in the best collaborative tools for the team can be a game-changer. Chat platforms, video conferencing solutions, task managers, and cooperative workflows are essential to bringing your talent together.
Are you ready to transform your office productivity for the better? Building a productive environment encompasses workplace safety, employees’ wellbeing, office design, business culture, and essential health considerations.