When it comes to ensuring your employees are happy and safe at work, some things to put in place are more obvious than others. We all know that a work-life balance and listening to your employees are good options, but what about ordering pizza on a Friday afternoon…or investing in high-quality, industrial cleaning equipment? But 41% of those surveyed said they believed a tidy workspace makes people more productive. So it makes sense to invest in equipment that makes keeping an area clean and tidy as straightforward as possible.
Why Is an Enjoyable Work Environment So Important?
Most of us spend a lot of time at work, so why should it not be an environment we enjoy being in? We should all be able to wake up and look forward to coming to work – time to get rid of that Sunday night feeling of dread.
Also, happy workers are more productive employees! An extensive study at Oxford found that workers are 13% more effective when they are happy. When people enjoy their work, it becomes more than just a job to pay the bills. Employees are more likely to care about the business genuinely and want to help it grow!
Why Is a Safe Work Environment So Important?
HSE reported in 2019/20 that 32.5 million working days were lost due to work-related ill health! Every business should prioritise their employee’s safety. Not only can inadequate safety measures ruin a company’s reputation, but they can result in employees taking more time off sick. Who would want to go work for a company that doesn’t care about employee safety? Work safety should always be taken seriously, whether it’s an office building, a shop, or a factory.
Legal Requirements of Workplace Health & Safety
A health and safety policy is a vital part of any workplace. Businesses should create a policy that suits the need of their workplace, but there are specific legislations that need to be met by this policy. Check out the whole Health and Safety Regulations 1999 here, but here are some of the criteria that you must meet:
- A written health and safety policy (if you employ five or more people)
- Provide employees with information about the risks in your workplace and how they are protected
- Instruction and training for employees in how to deal with the risks
- Ensuring there is always adequate and appropriate supervision in place
4 Ways to Ensure Your Employees are Happy
Make the Workspace Attractive & Keep It Clean
There are many things you can do to make your workspace an enjoyable place to be. One significant factor is good lighting, making use of natural lighting wherever possible.
Keep the workplace clean and tidy; this ensures employees have a pleasant working environment. Also, your workplace looks professional and attractive to clients/customers. A great way to do this is with industrial vacuum cleaners. They can clean up wet and dry debris and are built to last daily use.
Recognise & Praise Hard Work
Employees who put a lot of effort in at work deserve to have their hard work acknowledged. A simple thank you does go a long way, but if you want to take this thanks to the next level, consider presenting a gift. Showing staff you are grateful encourages them to carry on the great work.
Prioritise a Work-Life Balance
Wherever possible, offer flexible working hours for your staff. Trust is a significant factor of positive working relationships; allowing employees to manage their own time helps build this. A strong work-life balance also allows employees to spend more time with family and plan work around significant life events and appointments.
Host Relaxed Meetings – and Listen to Your Staff!
Meetings are an excellent opportunity for all staff to brainstorm. Don’t just talk to your team; encourage them to speak to you too! Ask for opinions on how to improve the workplace. Also, make sure you actually act on this feedback. Your staff deserve to work somewhere they enjoy.
4 Ways to Ensure your Employees are Safe
Purchase Equipment to Help With Physical Labour
Fatigue is a massive risk in the workplace, especially in places where staff work long shifts and operate heavy machinery. Tired staff using equipment can lead to accidents in the workplace. Luckily, there is equipment available to help take away some of the workloads from the team. Tow tugs help transport heavy goods around workplaces such as warehouses.
Eliminate Potential Hazards
Any hazards should continually be assessed and removed most effectively. Statistics show slipping and tripping to be the single most common cause of significant injury in UK workplaces. So, making sure any spillages are vacuumed away and any tripping hazards are moved is vital.
Make Sure All Workers Are Properly Trained
All workers must receive relevant training. New workers must be trained, but don’t just leave it there. Refresher training should always be provided throughout an employee working life. If your company is short on time and money for training, consider the equipment that doesn’t require licenses or qualifications, such as electric dollies & power movers.
Have a Fire Evacuation Plan, and Practice It!
Part of your workplace health and safety policy should be a fire evacuation plan. Simply having one in place is not enough; you must make sure your staff know the procedure and what to do in an emergency. You should complete a weekly fire drill, have clear exits, and sign up around the building to remind everybody of the plan.
Here at Industar, we stock equipment to help ease the workload of your staff. Our tow tugs are also environmentally friendly! Contact us for further information.