Toxic work cultures can never thrive in the long run. To build a successful business, it’s imperative to not only keep customers happy but also the employees. Employees are the driving force of the business world, and creating a healthy and positive work environment would only give them the impetus to perform better. Given how the last few years have pushed the workforce into crisis mode, many companies left no stones unturned to outweigh the stress by adopting employee-friendly policies and strategies.
Although burnouts and work-related stress existed before the pandemic, it witnessed a massive spike during the COVID-19 lockdowns. As per the survey, The Indeed India Hiring Tracker HY2 2021, 77% of employees spoke about no flexibility and the need for work-life balance. As for remote working, 57% of employees said they worked longer than pre-COVID times. And now, with the new normal, the leaders and the human resources must work towards redefining the work environment that benefits employees and the company in the long run. There’s a great saying by one of the most celebrated CEOs in the USA, Jack Welch: “Before you are a leader, success is about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is about growing others.”
As your employees grow, so will the business, which is why having a positive and employee-driven work environment is indispensable today. From redefining the work culture, initiating more employee benefit and wellness programs, incorporating mental and healthcare workshops to hybrid working, several Indian companies such as Tata Consultancy Services, Godrej Products, Google India, and more have renewed the work environment to make it more employee-friendly.
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Here we have collated 7 successful strategies that leaders must focus on to boost a healthy and positive work environment:
1. Promote work-life balance
Working in silos can affect a team’s synergy. And not in a good way. Since communication is key in holding the team together, team-building activities such as open discussions, virtual breaks, workshops, fun Fridays, and more, should be included in the work environment and culture to promote work-life balance.
2. Offer healthcare programs
Several companies introduced healthcare workshops to aid employees in coping with work-related stress. Also, offering employee benefits such as health insurance, COVID-related insurances, mediclaims, and pension security for families are the best investments to secure employees’ trust.
3. Introduce mentorship
Mentorship programs are constructive in shaping and sharpening minds in the corporate world. With mentors to turn to, employees can learn and adapt faster due to similar interests and familiarity, thus improving the reliability of the company.
4. Bring in flexibility
More and more businesses are gravitating towards a flexible work environment to keep their employees content. From introducing an inclusive culture, and flexible work timings to even ditching formal attire, leaders are loosening strings to give employees a free hand to manage their work at their convenience.
5. Recognize and reward
Morale boosting matters. Appreciate efforts, and reward hard work. Good leadership is when employees look forward to feedback and criticism from their leaders to improve performance. Appreciate before you give criticism, organize more open discussions, and introduce rewards that encourage them to set personal goals for the business.
6. Support good health and wellness
Promote healthy eating habits at work. Have an in-house cafeteria with a nutritious menu to ensure your employees are eating well. Introduce wellness programs such as yoga or meditation where they can take time off from their routines and recharge.
7. Encourage open communication
A team that communicates freely promotes a healthy work culture. Organize open debates and brainstorming sessions. Also, healthy competition stems from discussions and confrontations. Yes, work confrontations do not necessarily have to be negative. Sometimes it can encourage your employees to bring their best to the table.
In a nutshell, minds cannot thrive in a place that doesn’t fuel ideas and success. These are some strategies that leaders must adopt to boost a healthy work environment and redefine the time-honored four-walled cubicles. Once frowned upon, remote and hybrid working is successfully becoming a part of the corporate culture, and it’s about time to embrace an employee-driven work environment too.
References:
- 8 Steps to Create a Positive and Healthy Work Environment | Glassdoor | August 16, 2021
- 71% of employees rethinking their careers | The Economic Times | January 18, 2022
- How to Create a Healthy Work Environment During Unusual Times | Total Wellness |Seraine Page | September 16, 2020
- Six tips for creating a healthy workplace environment | Penguins | Gemma Chadwick | February 21, 2019
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