Create a Better Working Environment for Your Employees

As a small business owner, you are the one that sets the environment for your employees.

Are they happy coming to work? Are they happy to be there? What can you do, as their boss, to make the environment welcoming and comfortable for them, while providing the optimum atmosphere for getting the most work done?

Work places are moving from traditional environments and allowing them to be more flexible to suit employees and what is best for individuals.

Consider some of these ideas:

Flexible work hours

Does your employees’ performance depend on them being at the office during set hours?

If not, consider flexible work hours. Maybe they can come in once they've gotten the kids off to school or work a four day week with longer hours and have one day off. Can some work be completed at home? Can you be flexible if they need to come and go for appointments as long as they get their jobs done and don't take advantage of a flexible schedule? What if a child is sick, can they work from home?

The more you can help with stress reduction, the more focus your employees can put into work.

Comfort in the office

• Maybe you can't cater lunch every day for your employees, but can you provide a pleasant place to eat? A relaxing area to eat a healthy lunch in can revive your employees for a productive afternoon.

• Even good lighting and certain paint colors can make a difference to work productivity and personal well-being. The more comfortable your employees are, the happier they will be.

• Manage dress policies to suit the environment. If you don't see customers on a regular basis, let your employees wear what they want (within reason). If you have someone important coming in, ask that they dress up for those days.

Some fun extras if you can

• Surprise employees with a Starbucks run or a fruit break. You don't have to do this on a regular basis, but showing appreciation can go a long way, and people love happy surprises.

• If your office space and policies allow it, let your employees bring in their well-behaved dogs. A dog around can bring a sense of calm and comfort.

• Award jobs well done. Whether it's lunch out with you or an afternoon off, keep the rewards coming for goals met and successful projects completed. You can do what fits your budget and time, but showing respect and value to an employee can go a long way.

You want your employees coming to work for you because they are happy in your work place.

Sure, everyone works for a paycheck, but there's more to it than that.

Many of these things are easily done and don't take much time, money or effort, but may reflect quite positively in your employee's productivity and well-being.