From the statistics mentioned above, it can be inferred that happy employees are more productive than unsatisfied ones.
Every employee is battling a lot of stress in this highly competitive scenario; additionally, they also need to manage several other challenges at a personal level. Therefore, to be able to focus on the work and contribute to the fullest, HR Managers need to provide them with a happy workplace.
In 2016, the Happiness Research Institute (which emphasizes on mental wellbeing, happiness, and quality of life) in partnership with Krifa (one of the biggest trade unions in Denmark) and global survey firm TNS Gallup conducted a study. The main objective of this study was to comprehend the fundamental elements of a happy workplace. Based on the study, here mentioned are some of the ways by which HR can maintain a happy workplace:-
Nearly 47 % of workers believe that work affects their ability to spend time with family (Working Families and Bright Horizons’ Modern Families Index 2018 Report)
Within the organizations, the concept of Work-Life Balance should be emphasized. Employees should be made to feel that they are a valuable part of the organization and it can only be possible if their life outside the office is given due importance.
HR professional can make employee’s job easier and exciting, by allowing Work-From-Home opportunities, providing flexible work arrangements, onsite childcare facility; promoting health initiatives, sponsoring office events (e.g. Linked in’s Bring Your Parents Day) and fostering creativity (Google offers a 20% program, which allows developers to spend 20% of their time on creative projects).
Employees start scrolling for newer job opportunities in an unsatisfactory job scenario. This can be averted by investing in their personal and professional growth through conducting different forms of training such as Soft Skills Development Training, Technical Skills Training, Products and Services Training, Theatre Based Training (helps the trainees to identify, challenge and ultimately change a certain set of needless behaviors in the workplace),etc.
Few companies also prefer an Individual Development Plan where employees come up with different objectives to be achieved by the year-end. Thereafter, the Manager and Employee break down each goal into parts, setting up quarterly and monthly benchmarks. A fixed date is set, so that the employees have a realistic pathway to attain the desired goals.
Thus, by providing adequate training, HR professionals can equip them to face work challenges and stay motivated.
According to a survey by Deloitte, 82 % of employees agreed that a positive company culture is a potential competitive advantage.
Having a supportive and cordial company culture is crucial for sustaining the best talents. Also, an ideal workplace environment can lead to healthier relationships between coworkers, facilitating greater collaboration for higher work efficiency.
An example of optimistic company culture comes from Sweetgreen. It is a fast-casual health food restaurant which believes that the most important ingredient to success is positive company culture.