If you’ve ever wondered what’s the secret of having happy and content employees in a company (and keeping them that way) then you’re reading the right article. What many company leaders and managers across the globe don’t realize is that throwing money at their workers actually won’t do much in this regard. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone since we all already know that money can’t buy you happiness (or love, for that matter).

So, instead of just offering your staff, personnel, and other employees raise every time you sense they aren’t satisfied enough, maybe you should make sure that you’ve provided them with these 10 things which help create better office environment (this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give them a bigger paycheck, as well).

1. Let There Be Light

One of the first things you want to do to make sure you get better office vibes all-around your company is to make the entire place more illuminated. Some recent studies have shown that people who work in the environment with more white/natural light actually sleep better during the night. Now, you might not be particularly concerned about the sleep of your employees, but you should be aware that more sleep leads to better productivity overall during working hours.

2. Reduce Noise Levels in the Office

The lack of white/natural light reflects poorly on the performance of your workers, but so does excessive noise. One way to treat this problem is to provide quiet rooms where people can concentrate and work on mentally demanding projects.

3. A Cleaner and More Comfortable Space Will Do Wonders for Office Environment

After you’ve made sure that the office has enough natural light and is racket and clamor-free, you should also ensure that space isn’t clogged up and won’t induce claustrophobia in your employees. Declutter the office by removing any broken equipment or unnecessary materials. Make small investments in new ergonomic furniture, bring in plants, and add good quality coffee and healthy snacks. In case you have any troubles and concerns in this regard, we encourage you to bring in some professional help, like the one that Surry Hills office fit-out experts provide. That way you’ll be sure that your office interior design meets all the latest requirements and office trends.

4. Make Sure You Listen to Your Employees’ Needs

A good company leader or manager knows that she or he shouldn’t treat her or his employees like subordinates. Instead of acting like a boss all the time, you should focus on listening to your employees’ needs and desires. Not only will you create a better office environment, but people will be willing to go the extra mile to get the job done the right way.

5. Pay Attention to the Break Room Culture

There are hardly any good office vibes without the right break room culture. If you think that break rooms shouldn’t be used frequently by your employees, think again. Companies that allow their workers to take as many breaks as they like during their working hours usually get better results annually. This happens mainly due to the fact that they feel more relaxed and thus work better when they know they’re not pressurized.

6. Let Your Workers Know They’re Being Valued

It’s paramount that you show some love to your employees from time to time. Tell them just how valuable they are for the company, and let them know that they can count on you in every situation. Treat them with respect, and they’ll certainly know how to repay you. 

7. Encourage Them to Personalize Their Workstations

Your employees simply need to have a sense of freedom in their workaday jobs. A nice way to provide them this sense of freedom is to make them feel at home as much as possible. Encourage them to personalize their workstations by bringing favorite objects, pictures of their pets and family members, and so on.

8. Introduce Office Ethics

It’s not only important to show your employees love, but respect as well. Introduce strong office ethics and make everyone follow certain rules of conduct. Make sure everyone’s on the same page and pulling in the same direction. Any form of intolerance should be penalized.

9. Offer Them Fun Activities

Remember how we told you that you shouldn’t limit your employees’ break time? Well, it’s strongly advisable to even go one step further than this: try to provide them with some fun activities that they can enjoy during their working hours. Get a ping-pong table or some board games, and you’ll definitely see a huge difference when it comes to creating better office vibes.

10. Allow Your Employees to Choose Their Working Hours

It’s crucial to realize that you’re not pampering your employees by providing them all these things. What you need to know is that your employees simply have to feel stress-free in order to perform well in their jobs. Another way to accomplish this is by allowing them to choose their own working hours. That way they can organize their lives any way they like, while simultaneously being even more productive than they used to be.

The Bottom Line

So, there you have it – 10 things that are in your power to change in order to create not just better, but arguably awesome working conditions for your employees. Just remember that they’re not your subordinates and that they’re not robots. That’s why you have to pay special attention to their needs and make sure that they have a comfortable working space.