Office Improvement Ideas: Boost Productivity & Attract Talent
In a corporate office environment there are many ways in which to boost productivity and keep employees happy. With many large companies now offering perks such as in-office gyms, incredible cafeterias, and other attractive options, every company big or small needs to continue to improve to attract the best talent. Whether it is the way an office is set up, or how the company is run, there are many ways in which to set up an ideal office atmosphere. We'll cover some exciting office improvement ideas in this article.
Investing in New Technology
New technology is a great way to attract new talent. Not only will it be attractive to potential employees, but it will give your company a competitive edge, allow you to have better interaction with customers, and better technology can really increase productivity.
Imagine trying to participate in your industry with computers from 2009, while your biggest competitor has brand new 2019 computers. This is true for software as well. New software that is put out will be the fastest available, so if you want to remain on the cutting edge, invest in the best tech so your workers can thrive. Staying in tune with new technological developments is a huge draw for attracting talent as well as increasing productivity for current employees. Offer Perks Like Standing Desks
Throughout history a corporate environment has been known as somewhere where you go to sit in a cubicle or office all day, participating in a sedentary lifestyle. Recently, a new type of desk in the form of a standing desk has been introduced.
According to cancer.com, “long hours of sitting are linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, some types of cancer, and shorter life.” There have also been reports of many health benefits associated with standing desks, such as reduced body pain, better mental health and weight loss. Introducing standing desks can help to reduce pain and make your office all around healthier, and your employees will love that you're investing in their physical work space. We're a desk website, so this is one of our favorite office improvement ideas. Welcome Feedback & Suggestions From the Team
The worst situation for employees is to work in an establishment that does not care about their wants and needs. Consider creating a suggestion box (or digital suggestion box) for anonymous feedback where employees can voice their opinions in a constructive way.
Alternatively, offer a monthly, and anonymous, feedback session. If employees do not have to come forward on their own, they will not feel on the spot or as though someone will know who their comment belongs to. By utilizing this method, employees will feel that their opinions are welcomed and important, and you'll be able to regularly take the pulse of your team and make sure morale stays high (which can boost productivity and retention). Design an Appealing Office Space
When attracting new talent, they will most likely come into the office for an interview, an office tour might be part of the interview process. The worst possible situation for this potential employee to walk into would be a messy, unorganized, or just plain ugly office space.
Your office should balance fun and professionalism, and you should strive to create a place where employees are excited to come each day, and one that inspires them to feel a sense of pride. One important thing to remember as well is to try and reduce clutter in the work space. Clean lines, and sleek organized desks with large storage spaces create an appealing office. Generally an appealing office is a simple, clean space, free from distractions. Allow (Encourage?) Employees to Work Remotely
Working remotely is a new trend that has major productivity benefits, and it's one that you don't have to be fearful of.
Embracing remote work at your company does not mean every employee will start telecommuting 100% of the time, it just means that you're flexible and will allow employees to work from home (for example, on Fridays or when the meeting workload is not high). Not everyone lives right next to their office and many employees waste a lot of time commuting to work. Working from home eliminates these tiresome commuting hours and allows employees to give their all to the actual work that they do, enjoying a greater work/life balance which can rejuvenate them and improve their productivity when they are at their desks working for you. Working remotely can also improve the family relationships of employees. One Penn State study found “telecommuting reduces the conflicts that typically occur between work and family life. Employees call out of work less, and work continues to be accomplished at home at the same rate.” One concern tied to working at home would be that coworkers may not communicate as effectively as they would when working alongside one another in a physical office space. According to salary.com, as long as management supports working remotely, and communication practices are in place, working remotely has absolutely no effect on work relationships. Spend Time Establishing & Communicating Company Values
It is incredibly important to make sure your entire team is on the same page with the same goals. Establishing a mission statement and specific values that you company stands for, will keep everyone dedicated to the same goals.
Make sure your staff is focusing less on the “what” and more on the “why.” Your company's mission statement should be brought up often and refined / built upon consistently. A clear, inspiring mission statement that effectively communicates your values and goals can rally employees and help you attract new talent and clients. Offer Discounts at Gyms and Local Attractions
Something that many gyms offer is a discounted membership through a company policy. By paying part of your employees gym fees, or making an agreement with the gym itself, you can work towards creating a healthier office both mentally and physically.
The same can be true if you sponsor local theater companies or minor league sport teams. In addition to the local advertising benefits of creating these partnerships, you may get a certain number of free tickets as a perk which you can offer to employees and clients. Offering employees perks and discounts is one of our favorite office improvement ideas that can really create a loyal team that is engaged. Promote From Within Whenever Possible
For employees who have been working in your company for a while it can be discouraging to consistently see new hires coming in as senior employees.
By offering the opportunity of promotion for current employees, you motivate your team and ensure that key contributors feel valued and rewarded for their hard work. Opportunity for promotion provides great incentive for hard work and professional growth so you'll reap the benefits of this hiring practice long before you offer the promotions. Even when hiring new employees, it is a huge incentive to work for a company that tends to promote from within. And allowing employees to change roles within your company can allow people to explore areas of your company that they might thrive in. Allowing this type of flexibility creates a workplace that will never become stagnant, and a workforce with multi-disciplinary skills and a keen understanding of how different departments work (and how they might work better together). Create a Mentorship Program
Building relationships between employees, within the company, can be an incredible way to improve productivity and company culture.
For each new employee, assign a mentor to help onboard them, and connect with them. This person can be their ally in whatever help they need or difficulties they run into. A mentorship program is a team building exercise, and will create a feeling of togetherness and positive morale throughout your company. It can be daunting starting at a new company, but by supporting new hires, everyone will feel a bit more at home, and you'll improve retention of new hires by making them feel supported and a part of your team right away. The Power of Setting Goals and Providing Incentives for Reaching Them
Every company has goals and goals reached should be rewarded.
For small personal goals that have been submitted to HR, tickets to a game or a gift card to a nice dinner can be an incentive. For larger goals such as reaching 100% success rate in sales, or scoring a huge deal, the incentives could be as large as a cash bonus or an all-expense-paid trip. Set lofty goals, involve your employees in setting fair benchmarks that feel both challenging and realistic, and embrace the sense of healthy competition that can light a fire under your workforce. When your team knows what they're working for (and it's something they actually want) you'll be amazed what they can accomplish. Take Care of Your Commuters
Something that is not always possible is giving free parking to employees, and in some cities parking lots may not even exist at an affordable rate. To combat this, in large cities employees will often take public transportation to work.
Including a transportation stipend or a discount on public transport can be an incentive for new talent to apply, and can make current employees love where they work. What might be a small cost for your company, (as well as a tax benefit) will make a world of difference for your employees, and if you can do it you should. Take These Office Improvement Ideas to Heart
A good rule of thumb is that happy employees are valuable employees, so focusing on and investing in office improvement ideas which will make your company a great place to work will pay off over time.
When you begin the onboarding process with support, empower your employees with the latest technology, set clear goals, reward hard work, and ensure that your office is a space where everyone feels listened to, the productivity level of your company will greatly increase.
Everyone wants to feel supported, valued, heard, and rewarded. Run a company in which you, yourself, would want to work. The rest will come naturally.
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