Work environment: how can you improve your teams' quality of life at work?
Do you know what a working environment is? In reality, the issue of employee well-being is a subjective and very broad notion. It encompasses both the management of the working environment (offices, workspaces, services offered to employees) and the corporate culture (management, corporate life, for example).
We're here to explain why organisations need to look after the working environment: it's a way of improving the quality of life at work (QWL), but also of boosting the productivity and performance of your employees. How can you do it? The answers are in the article! 💪
Working environment: definition
What is meant by "work environment"?
The working environment refers to all the material and human conditions that make up the working environment. It also includes health and safety conditions. We'll look at these factors in more detail later in this article.
These factors have a direct influence on the well-being of employees , and are referred to as quality of working life (Q WL ). For example, a toxic or, at the very least, inadequate working environment prevents staff from fulfilling their potential. Conversely, a stimulating and positive work environment encourages employees to get involved and gives them a better framework for improving their results. ✅
Human resources and the environment are two aspects of the working environment that are covered by the integrated management system (IMS) known as QHSE: Quality, Health, Safety and Environment.
The components of the work environment
The work environment has an impact on the way people experience their working lives. The same job will not be practised or experienced in the same way in different contexts (in an SME, in an association, in a large group, in a start-up or even in a public body). But then, what makes up the working environment? 🤔
- The working environment: space, brightness, temperature, accessibility and mobility, material conditions, etc.
- The job and working conditions : employee fulfilment, salary package, work/life balance, flexible working hours, etc.
- Company culture: employees aligned with values, general atmosphere, shared habits (lunches, breaks, outings, sports sessions, etc.), etc.
- Management: vertical or collaborative, reception conditions, skills management, internal communication, etc.
How can you create a pleasant working environment for your employees?
9 levers for improving the working environment
How can you create a pleasant working environment that is conducive to productivity and makes your employees want to get involved? That was the question posed by the Engagement Observatory in 2017. The opinions of the 3,494 French employees surveyed were used to produce the infographic below:
➡️ What's in it for me?
- Improve interpersonal relations: Encourage team-building activities and social events to strengthen links between colleagues. For example, cooking workshops, cultural outings or themed evenings can create a more friendly and supportive environment.
- Optimise workplace facilities: Make sure that offices are well equipped and adapted to employees' needs. Invest in ergonomic furniture, relaxation areas and modern technologies to make day-to-day work easier.
- Use collaborative tools and applications: Collaborative platforms can improve coordination and communication within the team. These tools can be used to monitor projects, share documents and communicate in real time.
- Encourage dialogue and communication: Introduce regular meetings and constructive feedback. Employees need to feel listened to and valued. An anonymous suggestion system can also be set up to collect employees' opinions and ideas.
- Promote moments of relaxation: Set up rest and relaxation areas where employees can unwind during breaks. Activities such as yoga, meditation or board games can also be offered to reduce stress and increase well-being.
What tools should you use to find your ideal workplace?
Appvizer wouldn't be Appvizer if we didn't offer you tools to address some of your issues. We've selected a number of online solutions to help you improve your working environment.
| Objective | Examples of software | Benefits |
| Automate repetitive HR processes to save time |
|
|
| Strengthen cohesion and improve collaboration |
|
|
| Simplify collaborative working and reduce project completion times |
|
|
| Simplify teleworking and flex office management |
|
|
| Optimise the management of shared spaces (offices, cafeteria, car park) |
|
|
| Disseminate information internally, reduce email exchanges |
|
|
| Save time on administrative management (leave, expense reports, etc.) |
|
|
| Implementing a flexible and eco-responsible mobility solution |
|
|
| Increasing employee commitment |
|
|
| Better manage employee training |
|
|
| Manage employee skills and careers over the long term |
|
|
| Ensure smooth payroll management |
|
|
The impact of a good working environment
The challenges
The company is responsible for providing a safe and healthy working environment for all its employees, and must constantly strive to improve it. This involves a number of key issues: 👇
- Employee health: think about setting up wellbeing programmes, including ergonomic assessments, stress management workshops and health promotion initiatives (such as gym memberships or on-site vaccination sessions).
- Work-life balance: flexible leave policies, the possibility of working remotely, and flexible working hours are measures that can help employees better balance their professional and personal responsibilities.
- Compliance with current regulations: keep abreast of legislative developments in terms of health and safety at work, and regularly train employees in good practice and emergency procedures.
Working environment and performance
The working environment has a direct influence on employee productivity and results. Companies can no longer turn a blind eye to this issue, both for the well-being of their employees and the performance of their business.
👉 We can see that a good working environment has an impact on different types of factors directly linked to performance:
- Less stress: a well-designed work environment can reduce sources of stress, such as excessive noise, visual clutter, and constant interruptions. A study published by Welcomr (study How our work environment affects productivity, welcomr, 2020) examines how a well-designed work environment can reduce stress and increase employee productivity.
- Better health: Ergonomic working conditions and a clean, safe environment help to reduce occupational illnesses and accidents. 👉 For example, ergonomic seating and height-adjustable desks can prevent musculoskeletal pain.
- More motivation: A pleasant and stimulating working environment, which values employees' contributions and offers them opportunities for professional development, increases motivation and commitment.
- A sense of belonging: A positive corporate culture, where values are shared and employees feel respected and included, strengthens the sense of belonging and reduces staff turnover.
- Improved well-being: Relaxation areas, social activities and well-being initiatives (such as regular breaks or on-site massages) contribute to a working environment where employees feel good and perform well.
👉 Moreover, certain factors emanating from the working environment can adversely affect performance, such as:
- Noise pollution (24%)
- Uninterrupted flow of emails (23%)
- Time spent in meetings (23%)
- Web browsing and social networking (35%)
Source: study The work environment and productivity, Wimi, 2017
💡The ultimate goal is to provide a working environment that comes as close as possible to employees' expectations to encourage their collaboration and productivity, as well as optimising costs.
Emerging trends to improve the working environment
To take this a step further, it is worth considering the emerging trends that are shaping the modern working environment. These trends can inspire new and innovative initiatives to improve the working environment. 🎯
Teleworking and flexibility
With the rise of teleworking, encouraged by the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies are adopting more flexible remote working policies.
This trend allows employees to better manage their work/life balance and work in environments where they feel more comfortable.
According to a study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), flexibility has become a priority for 9 out of 10 employees in France.
Well-being and mental health
Mental health has become a major priority for many organisations.
Wellness programmes including therapy sessions, meditation classes and initiatives to promote a healthy lifestyle (such as gym memberships or nutrition workshops) can significantly improve employees' general wellbeing.
Technology and innovation
Technological innovation plays a crucial role in creating effective and attractive working environments.
Virtual and augmented reality tools, for example, can be used for employee training, while artificial intelligence can automate repetitive tasks, freeing up time for higher value-added activities.
An ideal working environment to encourage employee commitment
Does the ideal working environment exist? There is room for doubt. If it does, it won't be the same for all companies, or even for all employees within the same organisation.
There are so many things to take into account when striving for a 'perfect' working environment that it is difficult for companies to achieve it. This is all the more true given that these notions are highly subjective.
That said, this difficulty should not prevent companies from making an effort to put in place a process to improve the working environment for their employees. But how can this be done? Where to start? The first step could be very simple: survey your teams to gather their opinions and expectations!
What do you think is the most important element for a fulfilling working environment? Tell us in the comments!
Article translated from French