4Cs Blog: Happy Employees = Happy Customers

A productive modern workplace takes advantage of smart technologies to make workers’ jobs easier and more satisfying. A smart office also utilizes technology to automate daily routines and everyday tasks, so work flows smoothly and employees have more time for creative, constructive thinking. Whether you are setting up your workspace in a new office or have an existing business that’s looking to update to more modern times, consider the following ways to create the perfect smart office.

Choose Ergonomic Furniture

Today’s health-conscious workers are fully aware of the dangers of sitting at a desk all day, so consider bringing in convertible desks that go back and forth between standing and sitting, as well as chairs that accommodate different postures and tasks. Studies have shown that standing desks can improve mood and energy levels, reduce back pain, boost productivity and reduce absenteeism, and may even lower workers’ risk of weight gain. And without the distractions of discomfort and pain, employees can connect more fully with their co-workers and the tasks at hand, creating greater engagement and satisfaction on the job.

Recruiters are at a uniquely privileged time when it comes to finding the right person for the job, and the reason is the relatively new form of interviewing candidates, which is based solely on competencies and skills. In the past, job interview questions sought to elicit a general picture of the person’s strengths and weaknesses, typically delving into past responsibilities. These days, skills-based interviews allow us to go beyond the basics, honing in on precise skills already demonstrated by candidates in past jobs or in their academic life. Skills-based job interviews work because they are objective and predictive. They essentially bring a candidate to a specific time in the past in which they demonstrated core competencies such as teamwork, conflict resolution, goal achievement, and so on.

Virtual Reality is the simulated experience of exploring virtual worlds in 360 degrees, and the technology has recently taken the gaming industry by storm. Augmented Reality technology is the combination of the real world and the virtual in one perspective, and is also featuring prominently in new games. Both technologies now form under the umbrella term Extended Reality (XR), and are actually being used by many companies across a multitude of industries. XR can be very useful to businesses, particularly within human resources, as the technologies can help improve staff happiness. Here’s how:

Onboarding
Extended Reality is already being used by many businesses to facilitate the process of onboarding employees when they first start. At present, 63% use, or plan to use, XR for training and simulation, as companies have learnt that the technology is able to prepare new recruitments far more effectively than traditional methods. The gamification of virtual and mixed realities provides a multi-sensory experience which is sure to increase the attention span and memory retention of first-time users. New employees can find great confidence in training with XR, especially when it comes to high-pressure or dangerous jobs that require a meticulous approach. In turn, this immersive training allows staff to be more comfortable when implementing their training to their everyday role.

When your employees are happy, it results in your customers also feeling happy when they interact with your business. Employee satisfaction translates to better customer service, productivity, quality work and ultimately higher sales. You may be tempted to "think big" to maximize employee satisfaction, but the truth is, it's the little things that go a long way. These are the things that are often neglected. Here are four things you can do for your employees to boost their morale: 

1. Facilitate a Sense of Autonomy 

According to a Gallup poll, what employees care most about is having freedom from micromanagement. Although many employers think employee morale is solely tied to salary, the truth is, fostering a sense of autonomy in employees may achieve better results at less of a cost. Allowing employees to manage their own time and complete tasks with minimal oversight makes them feel more motivated to achieve. 

2. Alleviate Commuting Stress

What does employee engagement look like at your organization? And more importantly, what is the primary reason to invest in it?

Research shows that it is worth investing in because employee engagement levels are interwoven with business outcomes. Simply put, the most important reason is because it relates directly to your employee’s willingness and ability to help you succeed.

As for what it looks like at your organization, that is a big question and difficult to answer because you can’t ask an employee if they are engaged. What does that question even mean exactly- are you engaged? Being engaged is a combination of several different attributes, that sweet spot where employees love where they work, what they do and are proud to work for you and feel they are getting something back from you that makes it all worthwhile. Engaged employees are your best employees, productive and willing to go above and beyond. If you have lots of them, you are lucky because that is what most of us are shooting for but have difficulty obtaining. We know it is important, yet the truth is most of us really have no idea what employees think or want. So, if turnover or morale is a problem for you, it might be time to get to the bottom about what is going on.

 More business owners are swapping rigid 9-5 schedules and traditional office environments in favour of flexible space and remote working as an option for saving costs, retaining employees and encouraging a healthy work-life balance. With this in mind, Instant Offices investigates what industries are leading the way for remote working and how to overcome the typical challenges of managing a remote team.

A 2016 study conducted by Vodafone involving 8,000 global employees and employers found that three-quarters of companies worldwide have already switched to flexible working options. 61% believe that it had increased the company’s profits and 83% reported a boost in productivity. Additionally, numerous studies suggest that workers would choose flexible working over a pay rise, indicating that more people are interested in a better work-life balance and a schedule that fits their agenda.

Millennials currently represent the largest and most distinctive generation in our workforce, with expectations and values that are significantly different from past generations. By 2025, these innovative and tech-savvy workers are expected to comprise more than 75% of the entire workforce. These rising numbers, coupled with the knowledge that nearly 60% of millennials remain perpetually open to new job opportunities, signal an immediate need for organizations to deliver a millennial-friendly workplace culture.

A recent Deloitte Millennial Survey revealed that millennials are now more open to the idea of staying with an employer more than five years, if given the right opportunities. With annual churn rates reaching nearly $30.5 billion in the U.S., organizations have a fiscal responsibility to engage their workforce. So, what strategies can you implement to ensure retention and a millennial-friendly workplace? 

Lots of managers contact their staff members outside business hours and 28.57 % expect to get responses with three hours, according to a survey conducted by Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Bothering employees outside business hours may feel necessary. However, doing so will be detrimental to employee engagement. In the digital age, it’s all too easy to text or email staff members when they are trying to enjoy some downtime at home. When you avoid contacting your employees off the clock, they’ll be less prone to burnout, will be at lower risk of developing mental health issues and illnesses and will feel more respected.

Recent studies have shown that workers are more likely to be engaged and productive when working for an eco-friendly company. In fact, 51% of Americans would not work for a company that doesn’t have strong commitments to environmental or social causes. Perhaps one of the reasons for this is that people are starting to become aware of how serious climate change is, especially when you consider the fact that America alone produces over 5 billion tons of carbon emissions every day. Employees these days don’t just work for the paycheck, but they also want to feel part of a cause. Here’s how you can increase employee engagement by going green:

Developing a culture for your company is one of the best things you can do to help your business be successful. Company culture is an important part of your brand identity. Plan your culture well and you set the stage for making advocates out of your employees. It also helps you attract and retain talent overall. Your company culture is part of what makes your company special. 

Technology companies like Google are famous for offering really unique perks to their employees, like an in-house arcade, free food, cooking classes, on-site gym, massage therapists and shuttles to work – but they are not alone. Many startups are starting to follow suit with their own selection of perks, like unlimited vacation time. These identifiers help illustrate what the company values and in turn, its culture.

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