by Lina Martinez

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Your staff are important people - very important people in fact. They are the most vital resource of your organization past funding. Of course, seeing them as purely as a resource is the fastest way to lose them to other, more suitable firms. The only way to truly enjoy a motivated workforce of intelligent people is to treat them well, and we mean from day one. If you have the ability to do this, then you’ll develop a great working atmosphere, and may even be commended for your business employability.

Word travels fast, both good and bad, regarding the working conditions of a certain firm. Job CV libraries, Facebook, Yelp and Google Reviews all contribute to detailing the working atmosphere of the place you run, and you can be sure every new potential applicant will be checking these as a first stop before they send their resume in.

If attracting the brightest and best minds around the industry is worth the effort to you, this list should hopefully help you achieve that. It will also make you a friendly, dynamic and aware boss in the meantime. This isn’t a crusade you must undertake out of the good of your heart however (although that really does help.)

A motivated and happy workforce is a workforce able to do overtime when required, to achieve goals and surpass them, and generally care about the tasks being put in front of them. A satisfied employee is worth their weight in gold, because they will do anything necessary to hold onto the job they currently enjoy so much, and are incentivized to become more responsible and able to potentially rise the career ladder.

Environment

The working environment your employees conduct all of their daily affairs in will determine their happiness levels more than you know. You’d needn’t stock your office with breakfast, and dessert bars, bean bags and ball pits as Google and Valve seem to be fond of. You simply need a clean, spacious, well-ventilated office with bright colors and good lighting. If possible, paint a mural dedicated to the history, identity and goals of your firm, to help everyone feel on the same team.

Find a working space for your team which promotes singular task management, but also collaboration. Office cubicles can help to give people privacy, especially if they must make many phone calls a day. This can also stifle creative discussion. This example is why it’s so important to understand your firm, understand the daily responsibilities of your staff, and to facilitate their working environment around that.

Make sure you have a separate R&R area where staff can take some time away from their desks, and conference offices for sensitive discussion. These rooms are useful even for small and humble office operations. Good parking and cloakroom areas give your staff an easy entrance to work, and can help them start their day correctly.

Treats

You needn’t order gifts or other costly items to keep your staff happy, because often that only seems as though you’re trying to buy their affection. Still, you should still be happy to treat your staff, for no other reason than they are a part of your firm. Purchasing a few pizza’s from your local pizzeria once a fortnight, or paying for team building activities might be a good example. This latter experience will serve a secondary purpose of helping the team socialize, but also allows for a fun day from work in the name of office fun.

Certain refreshments should always be available and given in good faith. It’s customary to provide coffee, tea and sugar, and the kitchen utensils to heat or prepare food to a limited degree. These should not be considered treats but basic resources such as chairs or IT equipment. With this in mind:

Static Labor

Staff are often sedentary workers. More and more business is conducted through digital and online systems, meaning considering the whole physicality of your employee can help them work well. Purchasing ergonomic lumbar support chairs and standing desks can help keep your employees in good shape, keeping them in top physical form for longer. Offer breaks and run awareness campaigns about good physical and mental health support. Allow your HR department's training in these fields, even if that means referring them to a healthcare professional. Taking care of your staff from this perspective shows them you care, and gives you a more wholesome environment.

After all, the people in your firm are people you likely respect and enjoy having there. Treat them well, and put your money behind it. When you look back on the story of your business, you’ll be happy you had such a positive impact.