Managing a workplace can be a uniquely challenging task. Juggling the needs of disparate personalities across multiple sectors of an office or job site requires a certain level of knowledge about everyone’s specific role within the company, not to mention a considerable amount of emotional energy and patience.
It can be confusing and disheartening when you’re faced with a situation in which your workplace doesn’t seem to be running as efficiently as possible. Fortunately, there are several ways to improve workplace efficiency without asking too much from your employees or disrupting the culture of your office.
If you’re looking for ways to improve your employees’ performances and the overall efficiency of your workplace, check out the four strategies detailed below.
1. Provide Access to Training Resources
While all employees undergo some training as part of the onboarding process, it can be difficult to retain all relevant procedures without having some sort of guide to refer back to as needed. Besides, safety standards and best practices are changing in many industries, creating a need for new and long-term employees alike to have ways to brush up on their training every now and then.
According to this training blog, ensuring your employees have access to concise and well-written training materials will help them stay up to date on their safety training, lowering the risk of injury and increasing the likelihood that correct procedures will be followed
2. Encourage Compliance with Mandatory Breaks
Some employees become frustrated at having to disrupt their workflow to take a mandatory break during the day. However, research has shown that skipping breaks can lead to higher levels of stress and a greater risk of employee burnout, says Msu.edu.
Requiring your employees to take their breaks will lead to a more productive, energized work environment. Make sure your office or job site has a dedicated break room or sitting area where employees can relax. You can also encourage employees to go out for walks or some fresh air.
3. Provide Paid Sick Leave
Offices, schools, and other workplaces that involve many people sitting in a room together are notorious hotbeds of disease. Unfortunately, without a paid sick leave program, many people who contract a cold are likely to come into work when they should stay at home and rest. A cold or flu going around the office can decimate your team’s productivity as well as risking their health.
According to the National Partnership for Women and Families, paid sick days help to reduce the loss of productivity that results when employees try to do their jobs while ill (source). Your employees will feel safer and more valued knowing that they won’t lose out on a paycheck while they recover, and your workplace will run more efficiently as a result.
4. Prioritize Maintaining High Workplace Morale
It goes without saying that happy employees work more efficiently and productively than employees who don’t feel like their company cares about their well-being. Disgruntled employees have been shown to perform at a lower level than contented employees.
If you’ve noticed a dip in productivity on your team or in your place of work, one of the first things you should consider is whether employee morale seems low as well. If so, try resolving the problem by coming up with ways to improve your employees’ working conditions. Start by asking your employees what suggestions they have for ways to improve their work environment, whether in a meeting, in an email or with an anonymous suggestion box.
The Bottom Line
Inefficiency in the workplace can be a frustrating problem, especially if the cause isn’t immediately clear. Fortunately, there have been many studies on workplace culture and productivity, leading to specific solutions for tackling productivity problems at work.
If you’re faced with signs of inefficiency on your team or at your place of employment, try implementing these four strategies for improving employee productivity.
Last Updated: August 18, 2022
