Happiness is not only a positive emotion but also the ultimate goal of most people. However, as they spend a big part of their time working, it becomes clear that happiness might be impossible to attain without a positive working environment. Moreover, well-being is also connected to a person’s quality of life, longevity, and productivity. This, in turn, makes cultivating a happier workplace environment even more important.
Research shows that a happier workplace not only has vital psychological benefits but can also promote better physical health among a company’s employees.
According to the study in question, high-pressure companies face larger healthcare costs than normal organizations. A stressful workplace environment seems to be associated with higher utilization of healthcare services, as well as increased absenteeism and a lack of productivity.
In contrast, a positive workplace comes with numerous benefits for the company and its employees. Promoting a happier workplace can help companies reduce healthcare costs and absenteeism, increase overall productivity, and make recruiting easier and more effective. After all, most people hope to work in a space that allows them to grow and thrive.
A happier workplace environment has unquestionable benefits, but how can HR managers make sure they are creating one? There are a few simple ways:
Developing a positive recruitment process
There is no question that first impressions are paramount. Moreover, they tend to last a long time, making the possibility of changing that impression harder as more time passes. This is the primary reason why a positive recruitment process is essential.
By creating a well-written job description, optimizing the application process, and creating a positive interview experience, HR managers can ensure their organization is making a good first impression among new hires.
Asking the right questions
According to The Wall Street Journal, American workers are now facing more stress and anxiety than they did during the COVID-19 pandemic. As numerous companies have adapted to the post-pandemic period, many have also started to put an emphasis on productivity, cost cuts and return to traditional work schedules.
However, in doing so they might have lost sight of one important aspect – employee satisfaction can suddenly drop if their needs are not met. This is precisely why HR managers should take their time to ask the right questions and provide workers with the ideal solutions for their needs.
Encouraging collaboration on multiple levels
Different individuals have different wants and needs, but most people have an inherent desire to be part of a group. Employees should feel they belong within their organization and their own team, but this is by no means an easy task for HR managers.
One of the reasons why collaboration seems to be now more difficult to attain than in the past is the fact that almost a third of the employees within big corporations don’t actually work in the same metro area as their managers. Encouraging collaboration is vital under these conditions.
Creating a diverse and inclusive environment
HR strategies should include diversity and inclusion best practices as a means to build a strong and happy workforce. By embracing differences in race, gender, age, sexual orientation, and skills, HR managers can make sure they build a diverse environment at work.
Moreover, they can also ensure that workers feel valued by reviewing their current policies and adapting them to exclude discrimination and include benefits like flexible work hours and parental leave policies.
Promoting flexibility
One of the most important lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic might be the fact that a flexible work schedule can actually increase productivity. According to the Harvard Business Review, “we need to reimagine flexibility in every sector and in every role type; it can’t be exclusive to certain roles.”
While research shows that flexibility is important for most workers, and even more so for women, the article above suggests it may also be the key to building a happier workplace environment. This, in turn, can lead to an increase in efficiency, as productivity and happiness at work are intrinsically connected.
Leading by example
Leadership can have a big impact on influencing the way workers feel, according to the Harvard Business Review. Employees can manifest negative emotions and avoidance when remembering moments when their managers have been unkind or unempathic.
Furthermore, the same workers can exhibit positive feelings and attitudes when they remember an empathic manager. Leading by example and showing empathy towards team members might prove vital for managers and HR leaders in the near future, especially if they hope to promote a happier workplace environment.
Providing mental health benefits
Companies around the world offer different benefits in order to boost the recruitment process and improve retention rates. While not all options are alike, healthcare benefits seem to be the most important and the most well-known.
However, organizations can now take a step further by offering mental health benefits as well. Different programs, services, and resources that support the psychological well-being of workers during stressful times are now available, and numerous companies have already introduced them. These programs can help organizations improve mental health among workers, reduce stigma, and create a positive workplace environment.
In conclusion
Promoting a happier workplace environment might seem like a sizable task for HR managers, but the results are undoubtedly substantial. By developing a positive recruitment process and asking the right questions, managers can make sure they paint a positive image for their company. Encouraging collaboration, creating a diverse and inclusive environment, and promoting flexibility means that employees will always feel safe and happy at work. Moreover, empathic managers can help people talk about the problems they might experience, while mental health programs can help them navigate these issues easier. All these are effective ways of creating and promoting a happier workplace environment.
