by Sharon Jones
Being your own boss can be a huge source of satisfaction, which is why happiness is the reason many entrepreneurs become entrepreneurs. That being said, it’s important that, when you start to hire employees, you don’t become the boss you hated to see each day. Unhappy employees are less creative, less energetic, and less productive, and this will start to affect your small business in no time. With that in mind, here are five ways to keep your employees happy.
Get To Know Every Employee
From the moment a new employee steps through your door, you need to make it your mission to get to know who they actually are, rather than just what they can do for you. Speak to them about their personal life, their family, their passions and interests, and let them know that your door is open whenever they need to talk. This shows that you genuinely care about your employees, which will help them to feel comfortable and much more engaged and productive at work.
Adequately Light Up Your Office
Lack of light affects more than just your employees’ ability to see; It affects their mood too. When you don’t have adequate lighting, you’re left feeling drained and miserable, so it’s important that you install light fittings and lamps that brighten up the entire room. You can take a look at sunpan.com for some ideas. You should also enhance the natural light in your office as much as possible by keeping blinds open during the day.
Prioritize A Work-Life Balance
As an employer, it's your job to make sure that your employees maintain a good work-life balance. Of course, you’re going to want your employees to focus on their work, but they can’t be working non-stop the entire week. This will only result in stress and exhaustion, which will inevitably lead to unhappiness and lack of productivity. If you want your employees to be on the ball, then you need to allow them time to unwind and get away from the office.
Encourage Exercise And Proper Sleep
Exercise and proper sleep are vital for the health of your employees. Unfortunately, you can’t make your staff get to bed at a reasonable hour or work out every day, but there are a few things you can do to encourage this. For example, you could organize walks or runs for the entire team or even create a gym somewhere in the office. You could also make sure that none of your employees works too late, so they have time to get home and unwind before they go to sleep.
Recognize And Reward Hard Work
It’s difficult to feel happy in your job when you don’t feel appreciated for the work you do. For this reason, it’s vital that you recognize hard work and reward employees when they meet goals, hit targets, or pass milestones. Instead of focusing solely on money, have a good think about your employees as individuals and consider rewards and benefits they would actually like. This way, your employees leave much happier, and you’re left with a bit more cash in your pocket.
Happy employees are productive employees, so make sure you do what you can to put a smile on the face of every member of your team.
