how can a positive workplace drive business growth?

The global talent landscape is constantly changing and the needs of your current and future workforce are evolving. Shifting economies accelerated business operations and expanded the talent recruitment and retention needs. The market upheaval is here to stay. You need a cost-effective and long-term solution to address your business needs. All that differentiates you is your workforce. A workforce that represents efficiency, productivity, and positivity. The consensus from all research is unanimous: it hinges on the positive workplace you nurture!

How can you hire and retain top talent and achieve a competitive edge? According to the 2024 Randstad Employer Brand Research, employees seek a positive workplace that cultivates trust, enables work-life balance, and ensures equity.

Every organization is unique in its values, vision, and culture. So are your employees. No two employees want the same from their workplace. Understanding diverse employee needs is vital to create a unified organizational culture. A culture that resonates with the goals and values of all your employees. How can you design a cost-effective, transparent, and positive workplace culture while promoting diversity and innovation? Consider these essential attributes for an engaging and positive workplace.

comfort

Worker comfort has come a long way since the First Industrial Revolution. However, to support the physical and mental health of your employees, you need to prioritize the physical aspects of their working environments. This principle is especially true for businesses operating in labor-intensive industries, such as manufacturing and logistics. Consider improving the following aspects for a comfortable and positive workplace.

body posture

Whether sitting or standing, employees should have ergonomic furniture that encourages appropriate body posture. Flexible workstations like sit-to-stand desks, risers and adjustable office furniture make it easier for employees to find comfortable positions during the workday.

lighting

At its most basic, lighting should meet worker requirements without excess glare. But taken to the next level, innovative lighting solutions can help improve employee morale and, consequently, productivity. For example, adding more natural light, using aesthetic fixtures and providing individual task lighting creates a more pleasant atmosphere. In addition, switching to LED and other energy-efficient light sources can help offset your organization’s carbon footprint.

temperature

While you can’t please everyone when it comes to workplace temperature, you should find a level suitable for most employees — extremes, whether freezing or sweltering, can negatively affect work health and interfere with productivity. Countries vary regarding minimum and maximum temperatures, so do some research if you have multiple locations. For example, the Health and Safety Executive Services of the United Kingdom suggest a minimum of 16°C, or 13°C if the work is strenuous. Currently, there is no maximum in the U.K., although recent heat waves may encourage new legislation.

sound management

While the open-floor concept provides opportunities for creative sharing, it can result in a noisy atmosphere. Help your employees find peace with headphones or a dedicated space for quiet work. Acoustic panels, flooring, soft materials and plants can also help with sound absorption. If you’ve had employees complain about sound distractions, consider performing a noise assessment to identify decibel levels in various areas of the building.

color therapy

Decorative elements and the creative use of color can significantly affect the workplace atmosphere. Soft blues and greens traditionally promote a calming atmosphere, while bright yellows and reds instill positive energy. However, balance is key; you don’t want employees falling asleep or becoming overstimulated. In addition, specific departments may strive for a different vibe than others.

flexibility

An agile work environment is one in which you can change layouts to focus on work processes. For example, rooms that can be divided or combined at the touch of a button, rolling furniture and multiple electrical connections make it easy to reshuffle spaces. Regardless of workplace design, you want the area to foster communication, creativity and collaboration.

Creating flexibility in the workplace doesn’t just include adapting the physical space. Workers want to be able to choose where and when they work. According to the 2024 Randstad Employer Brand Research, work-life balance emerged as the second most significant motivator for employees when choosing their ideal work environment.

Companies with more white-collar employees may find adopting remote work environments and schedule changes easier. However, blue-collar workers equally value these changes, with over 60 percent stating job flexibility would let them spend more time with family. If your organization wants to provide these types of perks while making them practical in terms of productivity, you must fully understand what drives employees.

collaboration

Business success hinges on effective collaboration across diverse teams, from production workers to sales staff and every position in between. An ambience with open communication and collaboration stimulates creativity and innovation across teams. How can you lead your employees towards open communication and build a transparent, connected workplace culture? Check out these effective tips.

• establish an open-door policy to show employees that feedback is welcome
• schedule regular brainstorming sessions
• teach team leaders/managers how to be more effective at their jobs, delegating rather than micromanaging
• offer employees chances to connect with and learn from seasoned veterans in their field through mentorship and coaching
• promote enjoyable company or team events where coworkers can mingle - strong interpersonal connections boost teamwork and overall workplace synergy

It’s imperative that employees feel comfortable sharing ideas and working together. Needless to say, the ideal work environment must preclude bullying or harassment, and it's the HR department's responsibility to help combat these behaviors. Ensure you have appropriate HR policies and procedures in place to encourage employees to report these issues.

connection

Employees long for a sense of belonging. Sharing your organization’s goals and values can instill purpose across your teams. Communication is central to fostering human connection. Do all your employees know where their job fits within your company’s mission? Articulating your business objectives is imperative to nurture an employee-first culture. You can set up strong internal communications systems such as town halls meetings, internal newsletters, etc. You can also train your managers, directors, and department heads to impart this information in their meetings and face-to-face discussions with their subordinates.

Gallup’s 2024 State of the Global Workplace report estimates that low employee engagement costs the global economy a whopping 9 percent of the global GDP. The report also highlights that employee engagement is a significant factor shaping the overall life experiences. This data reiterates the importance of aiding stimulating work environments to boost employee morale and drive a positive impact in the personal and professional lives of your employees.

growth

Growth is challenging and hence, exciting. Employees feel driven by how well they can make progress in their careers and how their contribution matters to the overall success of their organization. The 2024 Randstad Employer Branding Research points out that good training and guidance for career development is the third top motivator. To nurture a culture of learning and development, consider incorporating new org-wide initiatives, such as the ones below.

• training classes in new technologies, leadership and personal growth
• mentorship opportunities
• career coaching services
• remote classrooms

what the top companies are doing differently

The 2024 Randstad Employer Brand Research highlights diverse employee priorities that shape how companies finetune their strengths through an excellent organizational strategy. According to the report, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Alphabet Inc. (Google), Marsh & McLennan, General Dynamics Corporation, and ABM Industries Incorporated were ranked as the top five employers, respectively.

What sets the top employers apart? Attractive compensation, competitive benefits, a stellar reputation, long-term job security, and a standout employer brand persona. Nourishing a dynamic work environment is a journey. If you aspire to build an engaging and positive work environment, and hire and retain brilliant employees, you must be ready to learn and improve every step of the way.

While compensation and career development stand at the forefront of a productive and positive workplace, gender equity and inclusiveness still influence employees’ decision to consider working with you. Your ability to guide diverse talents and mindsets toward a unified objective unlocks organizational networks at a human level and empowers your professional ecosystem.

At times, thinking outside the box to help employees contribute to the community and society at large, can also elevate their relationship with your brand. Some of such activities include designing ‘giving campaigns’ and encouraging employee participation and leadership.