Improve employee satisfaction with a healthier work environment

No one likes to work in a toxic office environment, and that's certainly never the goal for any business. Nonetheless, despite everyone's good intentions, sometimes offices can indeed get toxic. The question, then, is how to combat the problem and nip any potential issues in the bud before they spiral out of control.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways business owners or executives can make sure they're providing a healthy work environment for everyone from the reception desk to the boardroom, and setting their employees – and companies as a whole – up for success as a result. Here are several of the best:

• Improve communication

When everyone in the office knows what's expected of them and has a general idea of how things are going across departments, they're more likely to feel good about what they do, according to Business News Daily. Surveys show that many workers want more feedback from their bosses and coworkers, rather than playing a guessing game as to whether they're doing what's needed, so prioritizing improved communication is always a good idea.

• Focus on comfort

As much as an office is a working environment, employees should also feel they have a place to relax or unwind when needed, Business News Daily added. Something as simple as putting a couch in the break room, giving employees a number of different office chairs to choose from for their desks or replacing florescent lights with incandescent bulbs can go a long way toward achieving that goal.

There are plenty of ways to build a stronger office culture.

• Don't make it all about work

When people feel they're working their fingers to the bone for their companies every single day, they're probably not going to be as enthusiastic about coming into the office, according to Monster. Easing off the gas a little, as a whole company, and finding ways to allow a little more flexibility in schedules can help reduce workplace stress significantly.

• Build a community

Along similar lines, giving employees more opportunities to interact, learn about each other and find common interests can be a great move to improve morale, Monster added. Whether it's team-building exercises, after-work gatherings, office holiday parties and the like, provide everyone a chance to get to know their coworkers will help make them more invested in building a strong office culture.

• Provide more positive reinforcement

At many companies, when employees get a project done on time and under budget, the inclination may be to consider it "just doing their jobs," but this can lead people to feel under-appreciated, according to Good.co. Something as simple as having supervisors prioritize a congratulatory email for a job well done can be a great way to help people feel like their work is noticed, but going above and beyond with awards or corporate gifts can be a great way to get everyone onboard.

• Make time to celebrate

When your company has a good quarter, meets a big sales goal, or otherwise finishes a project that took a lot of time and man hours to accomplish, it's important to take an afternoon to ensure everyone gets to enjoy the fruits of that labor, Good.co advised. A team lunch, for example, can bring everyone together, make them feel appreciated, and reinforce the idea that you're all in it together.

• Keep it clean

This may seem like a small thing, but a tidy office is one that subconsciously underlines that everyone there cares about each other, according to Inc. magazine. Think of it this way: If no one cares that there are dirty dishes in the break room sink or debris strewn around work areas, that tells employees it's not really "worth it" to put in the time and energy to clean up.

• Remind workers of the big picture

Today, too many offices harry employees with urgent short-term work, and don't always give them time to work on bigger-picture projects that are also important, Inc. cautioned. This can lead to a lot of workplace stress that doesn't have to exist. Instead, building time into everyone's schedule so that they can better divide their attentions between pressing issues and long-term goals will help them feel less like they're rushing and won't have to "cram" to get their most important work done in the last few days before it needs to be completed.

Simply put, the more you can do to make sure your employees are happy to come to work most of the time, the more productive your office will be, the less turnover you'll see, and the more prosperous all involved will be going forward.

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