In the UK, working 40 hours per week is a common practice and with so much of our time being spent at work, it's important that we're happy while we're there.
For employers, this means doing everything they can to keep morale among their employees as high as possible, as having happy workers leads to more creativity and productivity in the workplace. With every worker having different wants and needs, however, this is easier said than done.
Fortunately, September 19th-25th is International Happiness at Work Week 2022, a week-long event designed to spread happiness among employees the world over. So what are some of the most effective ways to improve morale among employees? We take a look.
Prioritise work-life balance
Employees’ work-life balance plays a big role in their happiness at work. By allowing people greater balance and flexibility between their work commitments and their family and personal lives, they will be less stressed and much happier.
To improve the work-life balance of their employees, employers can:
Offer flexible working options and allow workers to work remotely where appropriate.
Encourage them to take breaks and disconnect.
Conduct regular reviews of employees’ workloads to ensure they're not trying to do too much at once.
Increase support options for parents.
Build a positive work environment
Positive work environments constantly come up as one of the most desirable factors for workers so building a positive work environment that excites employees will make them happy to come to work and less likely to quit.
The keys to building a positive work environment are transparency and open dialogue as these ensure employees can discuss anything, preventing issues from being bottled up and negative feelings from thriving. They also stop employees from feeling the need to compete with each other and instead increase the likelihood of them encouraging and uplifting each other.
Setting aside time for workplace safety training, helps employees understand how the company functions and makes sure nobody is made to feel marginalised.
Another easy way to make the workplace a positive environment is to smile more! Smiling is a sign of positivity and one of the easiest ways to convey happiness and positive energy. And, of course, happiness is contagious, so smiling will make others happier too.
Reward hard work and celebrate successes
Employees feel happy when they receive praise for their hard work and their efforts are recognised, so make time to reward noteworthy achievements by:
Taking employees out for a meal or to take part in activities like bowling, either after work or during working hours.
Encouraging managers to hand out positive feedback.
Bringing treats into the office.
However, acknowledging an employee's hard work or achievement doesn't have to be a grand gesture. One of the simplest and most gratefully-received rewards is a simple 'thank you'. Saying 'thank you' can go a long way - something employers often forget.
Ultimately, recognising employees for their efforts plays a significant role in how employees perceive their workplace and how they feel about their work.
Get them some coffee!
As well as being scientifically proven to increase wellbeing, brighten your mood and make you feel happier, coffee also helps build work relationships by giving employees the perfect opportunity to interact with each other over a coffee break, creating a happier work environment in the process.
Coffee is also high in antioxidants which are good for your body and help reduce the risk of a host of ailments including cancer, strokes and diabetes.
Why not have great coffee delivered to your work?
Whatever you do during International Happiness at Work Week 2022, ensuring there is plenty of coffee to go around your employees and colleagues is an excellent way to kick things off. At Cafe2U, our mobile cafes are available to bring our top quality coffees to offices all over the UK and you can find your nearest one here.