BARE Shares – Employee Fulfillment And The Shifting Landscape Of Company Culture
BARE International shares an article from Forbes – Employee Fulfillment And The Shifting Landscape Of Company Culture.
‘A more productive and thriving workplace is no longer an elusive concept—but is it a reality within your company? The secret to cracking the code lies in what companies like Google have known all along—employee happiness matters. Now, we have studies that prove with concrete evidence that happier employees really are more productive.
Leave The Industrial Age Behind
Half a century ago, workers were just that—workers. A business was successful if it had an army of laborers working tirelessly day in and day out. Companies did not appreciate employees for their unique assets or individual skill sets. Employers reigned supreme and employee happiness wasn’t even a consideration. Today, the workplace landscape couldn’t be more different. Talent matters, and business agility is attainable only with employees who possess a positive attitudes and character traits.
Indeed, employee happiness drives brand vitality. Retaining high-quality talent is critical to staying agile and competitive in any industry, and the key to retention is keeping the talent happy. A University of Warwick study found that happiness invigorates humans, while negative emotions do just the opposite. This is just one study of many that have come to the same conclusion: Employee happiness really does make a measurable difference in business.
The shift in company culture from who can do the work to who can do the work best is transforming the way companies do business. Today, business owners must make a job enticing enough to attract the type of talent that will help their company thrive. Now more than ever, hiring managers must think on their toes when it comes to offering what employees really want. Providing a competitive salary and benefits is no longer impressive—it’s expected. Go above and beyond to achieve employee happiness, and by extension, your business will succeed.
Think Like An Employee
The brands that succeed the most with employee happiness create work environments that foster pleasurable workplace experiences. The best companies know what matters most to employees and offer impressive perks. Here are some ideas culled from today’s top companies:
• Give unlimited paid time off. I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but giving your employees the freedom to choose how much time to take off lets them know you trust them and respect them as people, not just as pawns in the company chess game. One of my favorite perks a company can offer is a paid day off for birthdays.
• Offer a gym membership. Encouraging your employees to live an active lifestyle makes for happier, healthier employees. Offer a gym membership or consider an on-site gym if possible. Give special perks like an extra day off to employees who prioritize their health.
• Don’t blackout-date the holidays. A company that forces its employees to work around and on the holidays is one that will not retain talent. There’s no avoiding the holidays, so instead of forcing your team to work, make a budget allowance for days off around the holiday season. Your employees will appreciate it and reward you with better work in the new year.
• Provide free drinks and snacks. Hungry employees are unhappy employees. Show employees you care about their basic human needs by providing free employee snacks and a fridge stocked with cold drinks. This is an easy way to boost morale and make employees happy. You may even see a reduction in the amount of time employees take for breaks and lunch.
It’s important to realize that company culture goes beyond offering special perks. To achieve a real change in company culture, hire people who already align with the culture you’re striving to create. For example, if you want to cultivate a workplace that is adaptable and comfortable with change, hire employees with flexible personalities. The best companies don’t have to explain what their culture is to new hires—they simply hire people who already fit the mold.
Grasp the bigger picture.
While it’s impressive that happier employees are on average 12% more productive than unhappy ones, what this really means is that you need happy employees to facilitate a digital transformation. In an age where people—not technology—are the most important upgrades your company can make, understand the importance of hiring the right kind of people to grow your business. Agility is only possible with employees who embrace new things.
The foundation of digital transformation is company culture. In the face of significantly changing workplace environments and what it means to have happy employees, be the company that is synonymous with employee satisfaction. Foster a brand that appreciates its employees and rewards each individual for his or her unique traits and contributions. In turn, they will thank you with increased productivity and a business with the capacity to thrive.‘
BARE International’s Employee Commitment Toolkit is designed to determine employee satisfaction and level of motivation towards your company. Through focus groups, workshops and more, we can help to improve training methods and reward high-performing staff. Click here to find out more.
