Ways to Boost Workforce Productivity
We all want to improve the productivity of our workers, but it can be difficult to know how to inspire higher quality work in less time.
Nearly every workplace can improve its productivity, and every workplace tries, but many fail because they are not trying to improve in the right areas.
This article will give you a few tips that will help your workplace improve productivity.
Strategies for Improving Productivity.
Offer employees more time off.
It might seem counterintuitive, but one of the best ways to boost workforce productivity is to offer your employees more time off. When people have more vacation time, they can get some fresh air, or spend some time with their family. When they return, they will be happier and ready to get back to work.
Offer employees more flexibility in how they take their time off. If you only allow employees one day off per week, that might not be enoughespecially if you have a remote team or work in an environment where people are expected to work through lunch breaks.
Allow workers to come in early or stay late if needed. This will reduce stress and increase productivity by ensuring that no one is feeling rushed at any point during the day.
Give employees time to exercise.
Exercise is good for you, especially when that exercise comes during work time. Lets take a look at how it can benefit your employees:
- Exercise is good for your brain. It helps with memory and focus, improves decision-making skills, reduces anxiety and depression symptoms, and boosts stamina and energy levels.
- Employees who exercise regularly are less likely to get sick or injured in the workplace (meaning fewer costly absences). A study by researchers at Harvard University found that employees who worked out vigorously four times per week were less likely to call in sick than those who didnt work out at all or did so only occasionally.
- Employees who exercise regularly are happier in their jobsand have lower rates of absenteeism due to illness or injury. A survey conducted by Fit Small Business found that 80% of respondents said they were more productive when they exercised daily; 70% said they were better able to handle stress at work when regular exercise was part of their routine.
Put money toward education.
One of the best ways to boost workforce productivity is by investing in education. This means investing in your employees' college degrees and even their corporate training can help make them more effective at doing their job.
In addition to this, educating yourself on how to better manage your employees time and energy can be an important factor when it comes down to being a good boss. A lack of proper management skills can cause many issues among staff members including increased stress levels and decreased job satisfaction.
Don't micromanage.
When it comes to boosting workforce productivity, it is important not to micromanage your employees. This can be avoided by being a good leader and following these tips:
- Be there for your employees when they need you
- Give them the space they need so that they can grow as individuals and professionals
- Don't give them too many tasks at once, this will only make them overwhelmed and less productive
Put an end to the distractions.
Distractions are bad for productivity. An average of 44% of the time is lost to distractions at work. These can include incoming emails, text messages, phone calls, social media, and internet browsing.
To reduce the amount of time spent on distractions:
Encourage employees to turn off notifications on their phones or computer so that theyre not constantly receiving alerts that pull them out of the task at hand.
Block social media on work on computers or give employees a work phone without social media.
A little flexibility, a lot of trusts, and some healthy options create happy workers who are more productive.
The first step to creating a culture where your employees are happy and productive is to give them some freedom.
Allowing people to make their own decisions (within reason) will increase their productivity greatly. They don't have to have everything mapped out for them, because they can figure things out themselves.
When employees feel trusted and valued by you, they'll feel more motivated to work hard on behalf of the company rather than just trying to get ahead for themselves.
People want to be part of something bigger than themselves, so if you give them that opportunity by trusting them with more responsibility, they'll be more invested in your business's success than ever before. Also providing healthy options at work helps keep everyone feeling good and ready for action!
If your workplace could use a benefits upgrade, then it may be time to join your local chamber of commerce with SOCA. At SOCA we offer small and medium businesses better benefits than they can get on their own. From MEWAs to 401(k) plans, SOCA can help deliver the best benefits to your business.
Check out SOCA today to see what we can do for your business.