For Employers, A Few Simple Insights Can Promote A Happier Workplace

Online, November 1, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Economic cycles have an interesting effect on how bosses and employees view their occupational environment. When times are good, employees get pickier and more demanding, due to their perception that they have ample job opportunities elsewhere. In harder times-such as in our current lengthy recession-they tend to be more reflective. Witnessing levels of unemployment, pay cuts and staff reductions not seen since the Great Depression, many workers tend to consider themselves lucky to have a job at all. Bosses also realize that in an era of staff reduction they need to get the most out of their employees-and thus tend not to take those employees for granted.

In fact, a rough economic period is the ideal time for employers to work on increasing the goodwill quotient in their workplaces so that it will last. Brother and sister Tom and Dian Griesel, the co-founders of The Business School of Happiness (www.businessschoolofhappiness.com), have studied the various ways employers can improve their employees' job satisfaction. According to Tom and Dian, a few simple insights are worth considering in order to meet this goal.

"Your employees need to be enjoying themselves," says Tom. "If they aren't honestly glad to be working for you, their mood will suffer and nothing will help to improve it. It's a challenge that all bosses need to face: Either figure out how to make your workplace more attractive, or your employees will find something new to do that they will enjoy better."

Even a company as seemingly happy as Disney needs to keep these considerations in mind. In October, the online jobs site CareerBliss awarded Disney a low rank in a poll of the most "blissful places to work"-lower than all four branches of the US armed services. Currently, the entertainment conglomerate is all about "profit, profit, profit," according to one union boss quoted in a media report on the poll.

"Bosses and employees need to like each other, or at least respect each other," adds Dian. "The same goes for co-workers. Try to avoid confrontations with your employees, and take care that none arise among them. If there is an issue that you feel needs to be addressed, there is always a diplomatic forum in which to resolve it. If you don't think such a forum exists, work on creating one."

The Griesels offer a set of additional guidelines for employers:

• Communicate with your employees often and create an open environment in which they can express themselves.
• Encourage suggestions and ideas for improving the workplace.
• Offer praise, as well as constructive criticism, early and often. Avoid favoritism.
• Deal with all employee issues, problems and conflicts quickly and fairly.

"Supervisors should coach their employees on how to be more productive, clearly outlining priorities and encouraging completion of important tasks before moving on," notes Tom. "The coaching process is almost always favorably received and helps build healthy relationships." He adds that supervisors need to be aware of and eliminate all Internet surfing while on company time, along with excess chit-chat beyond what is necessary to be social and productive. These two factors, if left unchecked, can create major problems.

"Additionally, the boss needs to set a positive example," Dian suggests. "Leaders need to show why they are the leaders if they expect to have happy, productive employees. They should always work to their highest capacity regardless of what others are doing or what is going on around them, and encourage their workers to do likewise. This will work wonders for productivity, self-esteem and the 'mood' of the workplace."

Both Tom and Dian stress the importance of promoting health in the workplace, with studies showing that healthy workers are happier and more productive. For example, employees (and you) should be sure to get 8 to 9 hours of sleep every night. Moods will definitely suffer due to lack of sleep; to work at highest capacity, everyone needs to be adequately rested.

The Griesels also note that improving diet will increase the number of days employees work and the quality of time worked. Employees can always improve their food intake no matter how health they think they are eating now; this will improve moods for physiological and psychological reasons.

"There is absolutely no drug, pill or supplement that will improve health and mood more than an enhanced diet," says Tom. "Provide your employees with proper guidance. A faulty diet is the biggest factor behind poor physical health and numerous mental health issues. Encourage your employees to eliminate all sugar and refined products from their diets. Fruit is an excellent replacement, along with packing healthy lunches and snacks from home."

Paying attention to the rules above is a virtual guarantee that your employees' happiness level at work will rise. Even if perfect satisfaction is unattainable, it's possible to keep a smile on your workers' faces all day long-and that's a goal definitely worth working toward.

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