In the business environment where the capital, expenses, and profits are closely monitored and managed, it is surprising to see one of the biggest resources not paid the attention it deserves, which is manpower. Many employers take it for granted that their workers will do the job they are paid to do. While that is reasonable, there is a big difference between delivering what is expected of them according to their salary versus going above and beyond their duty.
While the first option technically does not hurt the company, it does not help its cause either. On the other hand, having productive employees means that the organization is getting more value from investing in its people. Over the long term, better productivity means faster progress for the company.
What Is Employee Productivity?
One huge misconception about productivity is that it is about quantity, meaning that an employee who gets to finish more tasks in a day is the more productive in the team. However, this is not always the case. Regarding work output, quality and consistency are more important than volume or quantity.
In simple terms, productivity is about being able to focus on the priority tasks and completing them in a consistent, efficient, and effective manner. This means that your employees can deliver work output that is timely and of high quality.
Having productive employees will benefit the company in many ways. You will have satisfied customers because their needs are met on time. You will have fewer operating expenses because things are done accurately, reducing time for revisions and corrections and saving the company from having to spend on correcting errors that could impact the business.
Lastly, productive employees are also engaged employees. Because they like what they do, they are more focused and connected, which results in longer tenure. With this, you spend less on hiring and training new employees and can focus on developing the skills of your current workers instead.
How To Improve Employee Productivity
The happy employees are the ones who are most productive at work. Studies have proven that employees who are happy at their jobs show a 13% increase in productivity.
However, employee satisfaction is not always about money. Though compensation is always attractive, it is not the only thing that employees look at when they evaluate their jobs. Here are three ways you can improve employee productivity while protecting your profit:
- Maintain A Clean Working Environment
Clutter, dirt, and dust around your employees’ working space can greatly affect their concentration and health. A disorganized working environment is very distracting and may even inhibit their creativity. Aside from this, an unkempt space is prone to disease-causing bacteria and viruses, which may cause your employees to take more sick leaves than necessary.
Thus, it is important to maintain a clean and organized working environment for your business. Look for a capable agency to do janitorial services for the premises. Ensure that your workers are always welcomed with a spotless working area when they report for work every day.
- Create Comfortable Working Spaces
Next to consider is their physical comfort while working. If they need to strain their eyes, bend their backs, and stretch their arms while doing their daily tasks, they will likely be unable to focus on their work because half of their attention would be on their aching bodies. Aside from this, the noise, temperature, and air quality inside a room can also affect their concentration.
Before you ask your workers to give their best to the company, you first need to provide them with a conducive atmosphere. Allow enough space for air to circulate and eliminate any unpleasant odors so the staff can breathe properly. If possible, provide desk workers with comfortable tables and chairs to prevent back pains. Manage the room temperature to just the right level, neither too warm nor freezing, and adjust the lighting, so they don’t feel like their eyes are burning after working for a while.
- Encourage Time Away From Work
It is not good for employees to bury themselves in their work because too much of anything is bad for the body. Over time, they will feel stressed and burnt out, sometimes without even becoming aware of it, until they finally reach their limit and decide to quit.
When employees take time off to relax and recharge, their happiness with their jobs increases, and their productivity improves as well. During the time spent away from work, they get to take a breather and allow themselves to enjoy the results of their hard work. Aside from taking long vacations, having short quick breaks during the day is also important because these allow the brain to recover from the stress of the day before it reaches its limit. You will notice that after these short breaks, employees are more energized and can tackle their jobs with renewed vigor.
