It’s never a bad time to be thinking of ways HR can help managers maintain employee productivity. However, as remote work is becoming more commonplace and global stressors are at an all-time high, supporting employees has become a major priority for many.
Stressed employees don’t perform well. They make more mistakes. They’re also more likely to get sick and need time off to recover. All of this can cost the company time, energy, and money. But it’s also not always easy to know what supports are effective because company and employee needs are so varied.
In today’s blog post, we’re suggesting five possible supports HR can offer that will always be helpful. Let’s get into it.
Find Practical Solutions
When it comes to supporting employees, the instinct is often to think of stress reduction techniques like meditation, or other solutions that tend to cure the symptoms more than the actual disease. Sometimes, the solutions are much more tangible. Are employees being paid a living wage? Do they have the equipment needed to perform their tasks easily? If they’re working from home, is their home office comfortable? Simple things like updating and upgrading the tools of the trade or offering home office stipends to employees can be a massive weight off people’s shoulders. It’s much easier to work effectively when you have the proper tools and workspace.
Keep Communication Lines Open
It’s easy to feel like you’re floundering when seeking employee support solutions, but, often, the easiest way to know what employees need is simply to ask them. Things like quarterly employee satisfaction surveys give workers the chance to voice their honest opinions about what’s working at the company and what isn’t. It also gives people a chance to speak up about their needs. Bonus tip: Offer the option to submit surveys anonymously. Employees won’t always speak out if they fear repercussions. Anonymity can give people confidence who might not have it otherwise.
Make Virtual Work Less Lonely
More and more people are working from home and missing out on workplace culture as a result. It’s hard to have chats around the water cooler when the water cooler doesn’t exist. Set up virtual systems to give employees a chance to intermingle and socialize outside of the work setting. Virtual work can be lonely, especially when employees live alone or are otherwise isolated from others. Workers who feel like they’re part of the group will feel more confident, think more creatively, and perform more efficiently.
Keep Workflows Clear and Organized
Especially now that so much of work is virtual, it’s easier than ever for things to get lost in translation. Making sure workflow processes are crystal clear and easy to use is critical for efficient work. Keeping the lines of communication open is also important; employees need to know that, if they have questions, they will be able to get answers. Audit your current workflow processes and see what can be streamlined or what barriers can be reduced. Ask your employees for suggestions, too; they use those workflows daily and will know better than anybody what needs to be changed.
Let Employees Rest
Giving employees downtime feels controversial. How does working less make people more productive? The truth is, rest is a vital component of increased productivity. People are not machines but even machines need downtime for maintenance, to recharge, etc. When a worker is “on” constantly, working 50+ hours a week, they burn out faster and take longer to complete projects. Giving employees time off with shorter work weeks, fewer hours, or more vacations gives people the chance to shut their brain off and recharge their creative batteries. When they come back, they’ll be refreshed and ready to work.
What do you do to help your employees stay productive?
