Happiness and productivity go hand in hand in the workplace. After all, many of us spend a great deal of time in the office working so we might as well be in an environment that we enjoy. As a marketing firm that has the unique approach of really getting to know each and every client in order to fully internalize their business and culture, we have come across some really great ways to make sure employees are happy and productive. Some of these are inspired by our own culture, our client’s cultures or just some really great ideas we have come across over the years.
Give Them a Break
Let’s face it, the majority of your day is spent at work during the week and even after you leave you are probably still thinking about it. Why not give your employees a place to escape the stress of a busy day? The Huffington Post has nap rooms with couches and space beds for power naps, healthy snacks and meditation classes. Thrillist Media Group allows employees to have cocktails at their desks and bring their dogs to work.
One of our clients, CoreDial, has a decked out break room with a foosball table for employees to relax a little and we just got done shooting a lip dub music video in the CoreDial office, just for fun...keep an eye out for the finished product.
We also recently hired Gold and Arrow Style, an interior design company started by Kelly Margera and Jessica Conjar, to transform one of our empty offices into an exercise and mediation room for those times when you just need a break.
This was the room before Gold and Arrow got a hold of it-- okay, this is actually a similar empty office right next door because we didn’t take before shots of the mediation room but rest assured, it looked almost identical.
And here are some images of the room after it was completely revamped by Kelly and Jessica (check out their Instagram for more of their amazing work):
Show Them You Appreciate Their Work
This can be done in a number of ways. Salary, benefits and bonuses are of course typical ways to show your employees that their hard work is appreciated and is vital to company success. These tactics are proven effective. For example, Diamond Pet Foods in Meta, Missouri gives employees a benefit package that includes no cost health insurance, a registered dietician at their disposal, bonuses, profit sharing and time off for family emergencies no questions asked. In an industry with an almost 11% turnover rate, Diamond Pet Foods has just 3% voluntary turnover.
While traditional means are certainly effective, there are also some other more creative ways to show employees that they matter. Allowing employees to work from home when needed or having flexible hours can also be excellent ways to show appreciation. Stratus takes a unique approach to showing appreciation by taking a week in the summer to go on a beach retreat. The whole team drives out to the Jersey shore for a week of relaxing, team building, and of course some work too! CoreDial plans a holiday bash every December to give their employees a night off. The party is filled with amazing gifts, great food and drinks and entertainment for employees and their spouses. The CEO makes sure that the night is all about them and thanking them for all of the hard work they did that year.
Stratus at the Beach, 2013
Keep it Interesting
A study by Cangrade found that being intellectually stimulated is actually the most important aspect of an employee’s overall job satisfaction. In fact, respondents said that it accounts for 18.5% of job satisfaction while money accounted for just 5.4%. What does intellectual stimulation mean? Give them a variety of tasks. Take them outside their comfort zone. Give them autonomy and influence. Provide them with opportunities for recognition and success. Vary their work day. Keep them busy. Etc.
If All Else Fails, Buy Desk Plants
Numerous studies have shown that employees that look at nature versus infrastructure (parking garages, sidewalks, other buildings) are much more satisfied at work. Unfortunately, not everyone can be guaranteed a great view from their office window, but you can purchase plants and put them around the office. Just make sure you remember to water them!
Bringing some nature to the Stratus offices
In the end, it’s all about keeping employees happy. There is no secret formula telling you exactly how to structure your business in order to increase happiness and productivity. It’s up to you to determine what works best to inspire, motivate and relax your employees. Perhaps a great benefits package is the best route. Perhaps the more unique perks like bringing your dogs to work achieve your goal. Regardless of the tactics used, as long as your employees know they are appreciated, have a break know and then and get some intellectual stimulation, you should be successful.
