The common denominator among top performing companies is their ability to create a happy and rewarding workplace. A happy workforce leads to higher productivity and better quality of work keeping your customers happy.

Your team is your most valuable asset. Why risk losing them by having a mean boss, no career growth opportunities, or an unstable salary? Employees working for you who are dissatisfied with their jobs, can only provide mediocre service. They simply won't put forth the extra effort required to make your company successful.

How can I make my workplace happy and safe in the time of COVID 19 pandemic?

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about employee’s wellbeing to the top of the business agenda. Employers have a huge responsibility to protect employees from the risk of infection by implementing health measures like social distancing. Organizations must ensure that they put in place vital safety measures for office-based workers such as health and social care staff and allow employees to work from home where possible.

The impact of the pandemic on everyone’s mental health and wellbeing are significant. Studies show that more than 80% of companies were concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on employees’ mental health.

Employers must ensure that they implement a support framework for people’s mental and physical health and create sources of help such as employee assistance programs and counselling services where possible. Organizations have the vital role of supporting line managers and teaching them how to be prepared to have sensitive conversations with their teams. All employees should be encouraged to have a good self-care routine including a healthy approach to diet, relaxation, and sleep.

What could you do to make sure everyone on your team is satisfied and feels supported? 

Here are 7 tips that will help you boost happiness at your workplace.

1. Let Employees Take Ownership of Their Projects

If employees feel like they're just a number, how much motivation will they have to succeed?  In order for them to be engaged in their work, it's important that you let them take ownership of the projects they're assigned.

Make sure your team feels part of something bigger and understands how it ties into the rest of the company. 

2. Recognize Individual Accomplishments

Although everyone's individual role at work may seem small or unimportant, recognizing everyone's contribution is crucial for happiness. Make sure every member on your team feels appreciated, not just the stars who are perceived to be making your company the most money. An amazing job without recognition it is likely to bring others down too. 

Therefore, it’s important to applaud employees for a job well done.

3. Improve Employee Benefits

Employee benefits are extremely important, especially when it comes to attracting and retaining top talent. This doesn’t just come down to salary. 

Employees have options when looking for jobs so how do you keep them engaged in their roles with nothing extra being offered? The answer is simple: You provide excellent benefits which will make your team much happier and more loyal to your company. Examples may include free lunch on a certain day.

4. Be Transparent with the Team

It's important how you communicate with employees - be straight forward and honest. Let them know how their work affects others, how it fits into the big picture at your company and how they can improve. This will make everyone feel like they're part of something bigger other than just an entry-level job that pays the bills. Transparency is another great benefit that could lead to happier employees.

5. Create Room for Advancement

Making room for advancement is crucial because if people are happy with their current position yet see others being rewarded ahead of them, they’re likely to disengage. 

6. Ban Toxic Employees from Your Team

It’s not possible to find a place where every single person shares the same mindset as you. But toxic members of the team stop collaboration. Make sure everyone is an active player in making your company goals come true by removing any negative elements that could affect how people think or act at work.  

7. Document Your Great Workplace Culture

Creating a great workplace culture is how you attract new employees and how current employees stay engaged. If your team enjoys spending time together, how can you go wrong? Team outings, happy hour after work on Fridays or just an easy-going environment are ways to boost how people feel about their jobs.  

Why is a happy workplace important?

Understanding that employees are the main resource of an organization and implementing ways to make your team feel valued and rewarded, this is the key for success and for increasing overall performance.

Being committed to create a happy workplace where employers give back to the employees and keep them motivated attracts good human resources and promotes a culture of productivity and accountability.