When it comes to creating a great working environment, taking care of your team of employees is one of the most important things that you can do. The fact is that as a business owner, it is your job to build a strong relationship with your team members if you want to ensure that they stick around for the long term and have a working environment that they enjoy working in.
The principle of taking care of people should be at the heart of every business, big and small. The fact is that appreciating your team members, and making it clear to them that you do, can have a big impact on whether your team members actually want to work for you and how motivated and productive they are when at work.
This is the reason why we are seeing more employers choosing to invest in their team members’ well-being, regardless of their industry. The problem is that when team members don’t feel like employers care, it impacts how they work and how much effort they put into what they do. This lack of productivity ultimately costs the business industry billions each year.
Gone are the days when companies saw well-being programs as something that was debatable – AKA whether or not they are necessary and didn’t put employee health and happiness first. Today, this is one of the things that should always be put ahead of goals and targets. Well-being is vital to a happy and content workforce, which is what makes it so important for businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Research has shown that the healthier a workforce’s well-being, the more productive and motivated that workforce will be. In the past, employers have expected their team members to sacrifice their personal priorities in order to be more available for them. However, with well-being at the forefront of the business industry in 2017, this is a much less common occurrence.
Bearing all of the above in mind, the question to consider is, how can any business ensure that its team members are receiving the right care and having their well-being put first? Read on for everything that you need to know.
Go above and beyond
Assisting your team members with work issues is one thing, but the fact is that in this day and age, it isn’t enough. As a business owner, you need to go above and beyond if you want to ensure that your team members feel like you honestly care about them. All of the best leaders not only focus on work issues, but they also keep their eyes open for any non-work based problems and offer their team members a supportive shoulder.
Whether a team member has an issue with their health and requires extra support or cannot find a suitable place to live, be the kind of employer who is always willing to help them in any way that you can. Don’t sit back on the sidelines and watch a team member struggle, go above and beyond to help them.
Relate to them
A major issue that has been reported in the past by employees is their employer acting like they are above them. You might have more money than them and more life experience, but does that really mean that it is necessary to act like you are above them? As an employer, you won’t be relatable if your team members don’t feel like you see them as equals.
Feeling like your boss does not care about you is not a nice feeling can make you feel worthless. That is why it is so important to ensure that as an employer, you show your team that you care. The best way to do that is by being relatable. Going on a business trip with a team in tow? Don’t fly in business class and leave them in economy. Sit with them and be a down-to-earth employer.
Care about their personal lives
While it is not appropriate to chime in your thoughts about your employee’s new partner or go on all-night drinking events with them, it is appropriate to care about their personal lives and show them that you care. Obviously, you don’t want to get too involved in your employee’s personal lives, as that level of attention can come across slightly creepy. However, that being said, it’s perfectly fine to show them that you care about their personal lives and are willing to do whatever it takes to help them with any issue that they may have.
Back them up
Implement a policy regarding how your clients treat your team members. Regardless of how much of a good opportunity a client is, it is important not to put them ahead of your team members. If a member of your team comes to you and tells you that a client has been rude or acted in an inappropriate nature, it is important that you stand behind your team member. Don’t make the mistake of choosing a client over a team member. Be a good boss and back them up no matter what. If your employees know that you have their back, they will be willing to work harder and be more productive for you because they feel valued and appreciated.
Provide the ideal working environment
As an employer, it is your job to ensure that your team members have the ideal working environment. Without an ideal environment to work in, not only will your team members’ motivation and productivity falter, but you may also find that they begin to feel undervalued. Whatever industry your business is in, it is important to provide the ideal working environment. Take the construction industry, for instance, this is an area where comfort is not always made a priority, as it’s seen as being a somewhat ‘rough and ready’ sector. However, if you run a construction business, it is vital that you ensure that your on-site team members have everything that they need by investing in things like portable offices, break rooms, and toilet block hire. The key factor here is to ensure that whatever sector your team members work in, they have everything that they need to work effectively and comfortably to get the job done.
Take steps that set you apart
Being creative when it comes to employee perks can go a long way. Employee perks don’t have to break the bank or be overly costly, but they do need to be unique. As an employer, you want to provide your team members with a working environment and ethic that is different from those offered by your competitors. This will help set you and your business apart from the rest.
Along with offering basic perks like health and dental care, think outside of the box to come up with some unique perks based around employee well-being. Simple things like having a pet-friendly office, an on-site daycare facility and offering complimentary breakfasts to your team members is all it takes to set you apart from your competitors.
Little things matter
Bear in mind that when it comes to taking employee wellness seriously, often it is the little things that matter most. Sending a quick email to motivate your team during a tense and busy time can make a world of difference to boost morale. Sending out Christmas cards thanking team members for their hard work can have a big impact on how valued team members feel.
Simply by sending a few sentences about why you value them can help to make your team members feel truly valued by you and your corporation, which then helps to boost motivation and productivity at work. Giving gift cards to team members after a project completion, hosting a champagne evening toasting their success, or offering them other treats to thank them for their hard work is all it takes to make an impact.
It isn’t always easy knowing how to take care of your team members when there are so many other things that you have to manage. However, as an employer, it is important to make sure that employee care is taken seriously and that your team members feel valued and appreciated.
As an employer, the last thing that you want is your team members to feel undervalued. As a business owner, it is important that you show your team members that you care about them as people and don’t think of them purely as workers. By showing your team that you see them as friends, and care about them, you can create a happier and more content working environment that your team members truly appreciate.
