Every September, International Week of Happiness at Work reminds us all to pay attention to how we feel at work and encourages employers to check in with their colleagues.
Did you know that 27% of employees have one or more bad workdays per week? Although there’s been a positive shift in work-life balance and mental health awareness post pandemic, many of us still aren’t our happiest selves at work. Considering we spend so much of our time at work, finding a balance is key for our physical and mental wellbeing.
Why should you care?
Your employees are a reflection of your organisation. Happy employees are more engaged, more productive and more likely to remain loyal to your organisation. Awareness weeks like these are a great reminder for employers to check in with their colleagues, but happiness and job satisfaction should be a year-round consideration.
Everyone wants to feel valued and appreciated. Remember that happy employees are a sign of a positive work culture and that’s something every organisation should be striving to create.
How can you have a positive impact?
There are plenty of ways employers can prioritise employee happiness and wellbeing, and there’s no better time to check in and start making real change. Here are some ways you can show up for your colleagues this week – and beyond.
Show empathy: It’s easy for empathy to fall short in a busy and demanding work environment, but this can leave your colleagues feeling underappreciated, anxious and demotivated. Encourage leadership to find time to listen to colleagues’ concerns and perspectives and build trust. This could be as simple as saying, “I understand that this situation is frustrating for you.”
Encourage laughter: It’s a well-known saying that laughter is the best medicine! It makes us all feel good. Find time for your team to unwind with team-building activities, team lunches and fun socials. Why not try a summer sports day or musical themed party? For your remote and hybrid workers, these events will be even more important to keep them engaged and feeling part of the team.
Respect personal boundaries: We all have personal boundaries, even at work. Be sensitive to colleagues’ boundaries and be mindful of how you communicate on sensitive subjects. And if someone is having a bad day – let them know you’re there if they need you.
Recognise and reward: Regularly acknowledge and celebrate your colleagues’ achievements, both big and small. This can be done through verbal praise, bonuses, awards, and other forms of recognition. The key thing is to show your appreciation for their efforts.
Remind them of their impact: Connect their roles to the larger mission and goals of your organisation. It’ll help them to see what positive impact they are making and enhance their sense of purpose and fulfilment.
Be flexible: Happy employees have a flexible schedule. Flexible working has given us the freedom to achieve a better work-life balance, and it’s one of the main requirements employees have. When appropriate, show flexibility in policies or procedures to accommodate individual needs and circumstances.
What makes Eximia happy?
Find out what keeps our team smiling. Don’t forget to give us a follow on LinkedIn to stay up to date with our latest thought-leadership, newsletters, event roundups and more.
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