How to Create a Positive Work Environment

Introduction

The average person will spend over 90,000 hours of their life at work. If you’re part of the 13% of Canadians who dislike their jobs, this statistic likely fills you with dread. Aside from the responsibilities that come with a job, one of the most important factors that influences employee motivation and happiness (which in turn affects productivity and efficiency) is their working environment.

Think about it: if your work environment is a positive one, you feel you’re a good fit for the organization’s culture, you have good relationships with your coworkers and supervisors, and you feel comfortable at work, you’re much more likely to view work as a positive experience, and to feel satisfied with your professional position.

A positive work environment has become a necessity in order for businesses be able to attract the best talent, and to retain that talent, lower absenteeism, boost employee morale and increase productivity. But how can companies go about creating a positive environment for their employees?

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What does a positive work environment look like?

While the specifics of a positive environment can vary by industry, organization and individual employees, the majority of great workplaces share several traits. First, these organizations pay attention to personal and professional safety. Employees who feel unsafe are obviously going to have a negative view of their workplace, so be sure your organization is adhering to all labour laws, regulations and codes.

When asked to define a positive work environment Ashton College’s Human Resources Coordinator Tamara Reid focused on employees’ emotional well being. “Do employees enjoy their job? Are they doing something they’re passionate about? Are they motivated to excel in their field? Does the organization emphasize work-life balance? These are the questions I try to address as an HR professional.” While every employee has their own point of view on their workplace’s culture, Tamara noted that if you know what you’re looking for, negative workplace vibes can be fairly easy to spot.

“Is employee turnover unusually high? Is there a specific team that has difficulty retaining members? Are there specific employees who exhibit high levels of absenteeism? These are all red flags that your organization is a negative work environment.”

Why a Positive Work Environment is Important

Creating and maintaining a positive work environment is essential for success. It sets the tone for productivity levels, team morale, and employee engagement. A positive work atmosphere encourages creativity, fosters collaboration, and helps people feel empowered to do their best work. Not only does having a supportive workplace make employees happier – it also strengthens loyalty and commitment to the organization.

Did you know that Ashton College offers a robust Diploma in Human Resources Management that can help you understand and implement these concepts.

How Can You Create a Positive Work Environment?

Emphasize Open Communication

Employees need to be kept in the loop regarding the organization’s philosophy, mission and values, as well as the company’s plans for the future. Two-way helps to promotes trust in day-to-day interactions between co-workers, and helps employees feel more connected to the company.

Provide a Pleasing Physical Environment

Ergonomic chairs and keyboards, standing desks, adequate lighting, even office plants; these are all great ways to ensure your employees are physically comfortable at work.

Alternatively, if you have remote staff, ensure that their work-from-home setup allows them to fulfil their role efficiently. Offering a signing bonus to improve a new staff's home office is a sure-fire way to boost engagement.

Promote Work-Life Balance

While work is an important part of our lives, it's not the only thing in them. Great workplaces emphasize work-life balance and encourage employees to disconnect when they're away from the office.

Recognition

Everyone wants to feel like their contributions are valued. Great supervisors take the time to thank employees for their work, whether it be through verbal praise, performance bonuses, regular reviews, or promotions.

Provide Training and Development Opportunities

Training and development can promote job satisfaction among employees. Employees can be cross-trained in multiple areas, which promotes team spirit, retention, and flexibility. Training and development opportunities are also essential opportunities for knowledge transfer, and can be used to develop the leadership and coaching skills of more senior employees. Investing in your employees is essential to ensuring organizational success and provides a great return on investment.

Promote Creativity

Encouraging creative thinking in the workplace is a great way to boost productivity and employee engagement. By fostering creativity, an HR professional can help their team come up with fresh new ideas and strategies for improving processes, finding innovative solutions to problems, and sparking collaboration between departments. This type of thinking not only adds value to the organization as a whole, but also makes employees feel valued and appreciated. The proof is in the pudding: when creativity is encouraged, everyone wins.

Having a Strong Code of Ethics

The strength of any organization lies in its commitment to doing the right thing, even when it's not easy or convenient. As such, it is important to ensure that employees are aware of the ethical standards being set and that they can trust their employer to act in an ethical manner. This can be achieved through training, communication, and risk management initiatives that support the code of ethics.

Develop a Robust On-Boarding Strategy

This could include leveraging technology such as online onboarding portals or mobile applications that provide real-time access to resources for onboarding and employee engagement. Additionally, creating a clear path of progress for the new hire with tailored onboarding plans and specific goals to reach in their first 90 days will help them feel confident and secure in their new role.

Encourage Active Listening in 1-on-1's

This could range from creating a safe space for employees to voice their opinions, to scheduling regular 1-on-1s with team members. It’s important that managers be proactive in this process and make sure employees feel like their feedback is being heard, valued, and taken into consideration. Additionally, providing resources such as online training courses or coaching sessions to help managers develop listening skills can further strengthen the active listening process within an organization.

Offer Continuing Education and Professional Development

Continuing education and professional development within an organization promotes growth, engagement and success. As HR professionals, it is our job to ensure that employees are equipped with the knowledge and skills to help them reach their highest potential.

Promote Time Off

Providing reasonable compensation is only part of the equation when it comes to employee satisfaction and retention. Encouraging employees to take time off can be even more valuable to the organization. Giving employees space and time to disconnect, relax, and recharge can help them come back to work with renewed energy and enthusiasm. This in turn boosts productivity and job satisfaction, ultimately leading to higher retention rates.

What is a Toxic Work Environment

It's like you're walking on eggshells, never sure when the next outburst or morale-crushing comment is coming. You know it's not healthy, but still feel compelled to stick it out in hopes of getting ahead. Don't let yourself succumb to this kind of negative atmosphere.

Recognizing a toxic work environment is no easy task. It's important to pay attention to the atmosphere of the workplace, as well as any red flags that may come up during conversations with staff and management. A toxic work environment can be characterized by low morale among employees, high levels of stress or burnout, lack of trust between employees and management, and a lack of respect or appreciation for staff.

Conclusion

A positive work environment is not only important for your employees' physical, mental and emotional health, but is also important for the product or service your company produces. The better employees feel at work, the more likely it is that they will take pride in their work functions and be loyal toward their place of employment. A positive work environment can lead to lower employee turnover, reduced training costs, and a better bottom line for your business.