3 Things Every Office Needs To Be A Productive And Safe Place

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Office Safety|3 Things Every Office Needs To Be A Productive And Safe PlaceAs the UK’s third lockdown continues, the efforts to vaccinate the population against COVID-19 are ramping up. This means that it is crucial for employers to start looking to the spring where, hopefully, many offices that have been closed for weeks or months will be able to start opening up again.

While the vaccine will do a big part in reducing the threat of COVID-19, there is the need to ensure that social distancing and safety practices continue. In order to be productive employees will need the assurance that their safety is their boss’s top priority.

A Clear Social Distancing Policy

Many people will be heading back to the office following the latest lockdown. It is vital that your employees feel safe in your office to be productive. This means that any office, no matter what type of work is done there will need to ensure they have a clear social distancing policy.

This should include a requirement to wear face coverings when moving about the office, staggered working times to limit the number of people in the office at one time and clear barriers between desks if your office space is open plan.
If your staff do not feel safe and protected at work, it will affect morale and undoubtedly lower productivity and staff retention. It has never been more vital that you prioritise the safety of your staff members.

Professional Cleaning Services

The need for professional cleaning services has never been greater. While every staff member can do their part to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 by regular hand washing and cleaning their own workspace, it is vital that you engage the services of a professional cleaning company for deep cleaning.

An expert commercial cleaning company will have the tools and equipment needed to do a deep clean of all areas of your office space. Ideally, you should choose a professional service that is accredited by major UK bodies like SMC Premier. This company is registered with a number of UK institutions such as the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICsc), and their company priority and ethos puts safety first.

An Open Dialogue

These are uncertain times, and your employees will be feeling the strain of the ongoing pandemic. It is essential that you check in regularly with your employees, so they feel heard and kept in the loop on business developments.

You should discuss with your team the steps you are taking to keep them safe and let them know what is expected of them while they’re in the office. It would be best if you also kept them update on business operations to provide reassurance that their jobs are secure.

Your staff may also be struggling with their mental health during these challenging times, so as their employer, you should try to do all you can to help promote mental wellbeing. Engage with open discussions about mental health to remove the stigma and provide signposting to mental health resources they can use if they feel they are struggling.

5 Ways to Boost Collaboration within Your Remote Team

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Collaboration with Remote Team|5 Ways to Boost Collaboration within Your Remote TeamWhether you’re working out of a shared office space or remotely, effective collaboration among your team is vital to your success. It’s important to facilitate communication between coworkers and ensure you’re approachable as a manager. If your employees are currently working from home, you need to maintain a certain level of collaboration remotely. There are several advanced tools you can use such as task or project management software, or video conferencing. You could also consider renting a coworking office space, to work together in person. Here are five ways to boost collaboration within your team.

Invest in the right tools

If your team is working remotely, they will need access to the best online communication tools. Ensure each employee is comfortably set up at home with an ergonomic workspace and strong internet connection. You also may need to consider supplying them with updated equipment. Train your team and make sure they’re confident using video conferencing and cloud-based software.

Consider a coworking space

You could also consider renting a coworking space on a short-term basis. You can choose whether to hot desk or rent a semi-private or private office. This way you can work together in person but you won’t have to worry about renting or buying an office permanently. You and your team will have access to all the necessary amenities without any extra expense. It’s an ideal solution for startups and small businesses.

Daily catchups

There are many benefits of daily standups and you can recreate these remotely. Have a set time in the morning to check in with the entire team. Ensure everyone is aware of their daily goals and give them the opportunity to ask any relevant questions. Daily catchups are also a nice way to start the day, maintain a friendly environment, and boost morale. If you prefer, you could include a quick quiz or a game as an ice breaker.

Task management software

If you invest in the latest task management software, you’ll be able to track your remote team’s schedule and daily activities. This is a useful way to judge whether each member of your team is spending the right amount of time on tasks, or if they need more time. You can also use this data to learn ways you can be more productive and look for areas of improvement. Your staff will also be able to communicate through this cloud-based application and update their progress as and when in real-time.

Communicate your mission

In order to successfully grow your business, you need to communicate your mission and vision to your employees and get them on board. The best mission statements are inspiring, not only to potential customers but also to the people that work for you. Articulate your company’s values and your plans for the future. Employees prefer to feel part of something important, that also aligns with their own principles. Make them proud to work for your company. This will help to create more engaged and motivate staff and boost collaboration.

6 Strategies for Improving Employee Productivity

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The more productive your employees, the better for your business. But it can be hard to get employees to actually be productive. There are always a few gems who will go above and beyond, who complete their work early and wonderfully… but those are rare. Most employees won’t do more than what’s expected of them, because what’s the point? However, unproductive employees could do severe damage to your business’s reputation, since you may be behind on certain orders or have unsatisfied clients. While you are the boss and it’s your job to delegate, you need to know that your employees will do their work even if they aren’t being supervised 24/7. Keep reading to find out what you can do to improve employee productivity.

Training

Training will equip your employees with a lot of skills that can help them be more productive. You can even send them for training on how to maintain motivation, since productivity can’t exist without motivation. They may even feel grateful for the opportunity to have received the training and decide to show their appreciation by being extra productive. Either way, training will definitely improve productivity in the workplace. Training during Covid-19 is still possible in most places, as long as it complies with regulations and you take the necessary safety precautions.

Give them proper technology

While a lack of productivity often comes directly from the employees themselves, it can also be possible that working with old or outdated technology is slowing down their work. It can be incredibly frustrating to work with equipment and have it be a constant struggle, and if the technology they’re given is slow, their productivity will be negatively affected, no matter how motivated they are. You can’t expect modern results and productivity without giving them modern equipment. You might not be able to afford new technology right now, but see if there are any updates that you can run. If not, you need to accept the fact that your employees will never reach their full potential for productivity.

Incentives

If all else fails, bribe them. Okay, to be fair, incentives aren’t exactly bribery; more like rewards for good behavior. If you’re struggling to get your employees motivated and productive, your best bet is going to be to offer them incentives. Very few employees will go out of their way to be productive if there’s nothing in it for them. That being said, they’re more than likely to do it for money. Incentives are simple: the better their work, the more money they’ll get. There are various ways of designing employee incentive programs, so you should easily find a program that works for you as well as your employees.

Monitor

While you may not be able to watch your employees every second of their working day, there are ways of lighting a fire under them. If you pop into their office every now and then at random, they’ll never know when to expect you, and therefore always be on their best behavior. There are also ways of managing remote workers. There are apps that can tell you what time they logged on and off their computer, so that you can monitor how much time they’re putting in and ensure that they are working as many hours as they should.

Communicate

Miscommunications or misunderstandings can lead to work being done in the incorrect way. Of course, this means that that work will need to be redone and all the time spent on it was wasted. It’s your responsibility to communicate any instructions and deadlines very clearly to your employees, and it’s their responsibility to ask you for clarification if thy don’t understand you clearly. Being able to communicate effectively will help make your entire business run smoother. Employees are more likely to be productive if they know exactly what they need to do.

Remote work

If you have nay employees who you know are responsible enough to work from home, you should consider letting them. This will allow you to spend more time focusing on less-productive employees and you may even be able to pinpoint what is causing them to be unproductive, and work form there to fix it. Some employees may even be more productive while working from home, without the distractions of their coworkers. As mentioned, there are still ways to monitor remote workers, so that doesn’t need to be a worry. If there are less people in the office, the distractions will be less and your employees may be able to concentrate on their work. You may even like it so much that you decide to run your entire business with remote workers.

Employee Turnover- When Good Employees Won’t Stay

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Employee Turnover|Employee Turnover- When Good Employees Won't StayIf it’s become a trend where you get good employees, train and give them responsibilities, but after a short while they jump ship, you need to evaluate. The trend can be demotivating, disturbing, and affect productivity. The remaining employees have to contend with increased workloads and reduced morale. Before you lose all your good employees, check what’s wrong. Why are your employees not happy to work at your company? What causes high employee turnover?

Lack of Motivation

When an employee’s efforts are not appreciated or acknowledged, this kills morale. A company should have a reward system that recognizes every employee’s input and rewards exemplary behavior or action. Good feedback is also essential. It helps employees improve and make progress in difficult situations. It’s also crucial to have a workable employee benefits management such as from Cowell, James, Forge Insurance Group.

Lack of Engagement

When employees are not engaged, they do the bare minimum and jump into any other opportunity that presents itself. To gauge how engaged your workforce is, check how enthusiastic they are when performing tasks. Do they seem happy, spend time connecting with colleagues, and participate in team-building activities? When employees show to work late, skip work or company activities, it indicates a disconnection. It’s critical to address the issue before it spreads to the entire workforce.

Poor Management

A manager with poor leadership or people skills can lead to high employee turnover. Employees need to be handled with respect and understanding. If the manager doesn’t take time to know his team well, he may mishandle or disrespect some. For instance, when you have a culturally diversified workforce, you shouldn’t assume or support one religion or culture. It’s important to respect each person’s culture, beliefs, and religion and show support.

The executive should ensure all employees are handled with respect, their views and concerns addressed and supported.

No Room for Growth

Stagnation is a killer of morale. Many employees want to work in organizations where they can grow and improve their skills. Keeping an employee in one position for too long demotivates and kills their dreams. If a promising opportunity presents itself, they will not hesitate to move. Also, it’s essential to create challenges that break the monotony and build excitement. For instance, the launch of a new product is not only an exciting experience but puts everyone on their toes to ensure everything goes right.

There is No Work-Life Balance

Sometimes employees are torn between a demanding job that they love and their families. When employees have to choose between the two, in most cases, the company loses. Employees need enough time with their families without the pressure to outperform or spend more time at work. An employer should show they value families by creating a family-friendly environment such as supporting nursing mothers or parents with small children. It’s also crucial to respect off days or leave requests.

A good salary is not the only consideration when an employee decides to work or stay in a company. Peace of mind, satisfaction, and projected growth are also important considerations.

Health and safety essentials every office needs

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Health and Safety|Health and safety essentials every office needsAs workers slowly begin to return to offices across the country, now is the opportune moment to ensure your office has all the health and safety essentials it needs to not only comply with the law, but also to help create a positive workspace for employees.

Fire safety equipment

It doesn’t matter what sector or industry your business is in; you need a fire extinguisher. In an office setting, a 2kg Co2 fire extinguisher and a 6-liter water fire extinguisher will cover multiple fire risks. They should be positioned close to the main fire hazards and readily available and visible.

Similarly, fire alarms and smoke detectors can quite literally save lives by providing an early warning of a potential fire. By installing a fire alarm or smoke detector, you are allowing more time for an orderly evacuation and the opportunity to tackle the fire before it gets bigger and more dangerous.

First Aid equipment

First Aid kits are vital for any office, allowing for quick treatment of minor injuries by a trained First Aider. It’s important employees know where to find the First Aid kit, and that stock is regularly maintained. From having enough bandages and band-aids, to essential protective equipment like disposable gloves and antiseptic wipes, regular stock takes of the First Aid kit can provide peace of mind to all employees – and reduce the risk of litigation should the worse happen.

Ergonomic equipment

There are more and more studies that demonstrate increased and chronic back pain in office workers as a result of hours spent sitting at poorly positioned desks and screens. If you consider the length of time your employees spend working and sitting at their desks, then it’s obviously essential that where and how they work doesn’t cause them any discomfort or pain.

Investing in ergonomic equipment like chairs and movable desks will not only improve employee morale, but you’ll see an increase in productivity too.

General maintenance

Slips, trips, and falls account for the majority of workplace incidents and can easily be avoided. Slips occur when there is a lack of friction between a person’s feet and the floor they are standing and walking on. They are typically caused by spillages, wet floors, and unsecured floor mats. Reduce the risk of slips by using signage, non-slip floors, and ensuring any mats or carpets are secure.

Similarly, trips and falls occur because of trailing wires, objects left lying around, and misplaced footing. Ensuring items are tidied away and walkways are clear will reduce the possibility of trips, while well lit areas and marked stairs will limit falls.