In today’s hiring landscape, top talent is often in short supply. The culture of a workplace plays a pivotal role in the longevity of a company, as well as its ability to attract and retain top talent. HR managers must be able to create a healthy environment that inspires collaboration and learning, institutes a clear work-life balance, and centers around compliance training. This article outlines a few key ways to craft such an environment.
Empower collaboration
Improved business outcomes are an underlying factor that contributes to employee engagement. High-performing teams often feel increased personal and professional satisfaction as a result of their work and subsequent recognition.
In order to keep hard-working employees happy, employers should consider using collaboration tools like Slack and Trello that integrate with a variety of project management and communication platforms. These tools bring cross-functional team members together in a collaborative environment that allows them to thrive. By tracking project tasks and actively measuring progress, managers institute a sense of accountability in their workers. Teams that succeed together feel a heightened sense of pride in the work accomplished.
Nurture a work-life balance
A healthy work-life balance plays a pivotal role in employee productivity and retention. Research collected by Inc. Magazine suggests that more than one in four employees at organizations who perceived no support for a work-life balance plan to leave their current employer within the next two years. Conversely, only 17 percent of employees that felt supported were making plans to jump ship.
An optimal work-life balance comprises a few elements, namely a blend of wellness initiatives and social stimuli. HR managers can achieve this by deploying:
- Flexible work arrangements
- Benefits
- Workplace competitions
- Volunteer programs
- Many HR managers deploy HCM software tools in order to launch and monitor their workplace wellness programs. Tools like these give HR managers real-time visibility into program participation and engagement. Employees can also benefit from the ability to monitor their own progress, share results with their coworkers, and take a proactive approach when developing healthier behaviors.
Develop a zero-tolerance policy for toxic behavior
Toxic behaviors in the workplace are one of the biggest culprits of an unhealthy work culture. Harassment, in particular, is one of the trickier and more ingrained learned behaviors. The first step in resolving these toxic behaviors lies in identifying harassment in the workplace. Harassment can take form in some of the following negative interactions:
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- Offensive jokes
- Racial slurs
- Intimidation
- Performance intervention
The key is to create a culture that doesn’t accept any of the behaviors outlined above. This begins with establishing workplace standards and behaviors through comprehensive compliance training and workshops. HR managers that encourage an inclusive, dynamic learning environment are more likely to see successful results over time. A good workplace provides a steady job, comprehensive benefits, and a sense of purpose. A great workplace establishes an environment where employees feel challenged by their daily work and supported in their values and career progression. The key is to develop and nourish a culture that makes employees love coming to work. Organizations that are able to inspire collaboration, improve their employees’ work-life balance, and take a proactive approach to compliance, can develop a healthier workplace.
