Looking after workplace culture is one of the best investments of time and money an employer can make. Fostering a great company culture can help to attract potential employees, increase job satisfaction, boost employee retention and skyrocket productivity.

All sounds pretty good, right?

So, how do we go about positively impacting workplace culture? There’s no one right answer; employee satisfaction, efficient systems and good communication are only a few of the important factors that play a role. Incremental improvements can make a huge difference to morale and help all manner of companies to create a great workplace culture, they can be facilitated in a number of ways…

1. Encourage Flexible Working Schedules

Research from the CIPD has shown that implementing flexible working practices can improve staff engagement and motivation. Not only that, but 38% of office workers say that an office laptop would significantly improve their working life. Almost a third of workers would prefer the option of flexible working over a 3% pay rise – suggesting that implementing a flexible working scheme would not only increase positivity among staff, but it could also save your company money by reducing overheads.

In an age where it’s commonplace for both parents to work, flexible working can enable parents to better manage childcare and work commitments without stress. Flexible working is also beneficial for employee’s mental health, allowing them to take reduced hours as and when they need to.

2. Provide Great Equipment

The impact of technology, according to recent research, is surprisingly influential when it comes to an office worker’s opinion of their workplace culture. 35% of office workers think the computers in their office don’t have sufficient processing power and memory. In fact, only 43% of office workers think that their computers are fit for purpose. Equipment that doesn’t enable employees to do their job is a shortcut to low productivity and increasingly frustrated staff.

Being a good listener is one of the easiest ways employers can start to build a positive culture. If employees are struggling with workplace culture due to their poor equipment, listening to their requests will quickly remedy the situation.

3. Support Employee’s Mental Wellness 

More than half a million workers in the UK were signed off with work-related stress or anxiety last year. That amounts to 12.5m working days. In more recent years, stress and general wellness have become hot topics, with companies making deliberate efforts to improve working conditions, extra-curricular activities and mental health provision.

 Studies have shown that 58% of high achieving employees say they need more quiet spaces in which to work. Noisy offices, a lack of break-out areas and highly pressurised environments lead to unhappy employees, low productivity and a poor workplace culture. To combat this, office buildings are now incorporating yoga classes, gyms and relaxation rooms to encourage staff to take a break from their desks.

4. Make Space For Collaboration

Contrary to what you might think, the young, digital workforce are keen to collaborate. Rather than hiding behind screens. People aged 18-44 find AV displays/TV monitors more important than those aged 45 and over – suggesting that group working spaces, presentations and collaborative working styles are highly prized.

In terms of productivity, collaboration isn’t anything new. Collaboration has been integral to workplace performance since the dawn of time, with the smartest companies recognizing that new tools and strategies for building more collaborative teams. By allowing teams and individuals to bounce ideas off each other, ideas are often cultivated and actioned faster. This creates a workplace culture of innovation and excitement, as well as comradery.

5. Create A Beautiful Work Environment

Finally, the physical environment in which we work has a massive impact on workplace culture. A recent Havard study found that design actually plays a big part in our professional life. In a green office, with plants and foliage, we get a 26% boost in cognition, and 30% fewer sickness related absences. Bright, open spaces with plenty of airflow and big windows will allow in plenty of sunlight and fresh oxygen, keeping employees feeling fresh, positive and proactive.

Creating a great workplace culture actually has less to do with spending and more to do with being flexible. Allowing employees to dictate their hours, the tech they need and the people they wish to work with gives them confidence and encourages company loyalty. The ultimate contributor to a good workplace culture is happiness – so ensuring that your employees are happy, fulfilled and motivated creates the best foundations for a thriving business.

Irma Hunkeler works for Re:signal, a digital marketing agency. Her experience includes working for clients in different industries such as travel, retail, recruitment, technology and charitable institutions. Extensive networking and meeting professionals across different industries, allow her to collaborate with industry experts for her writing.

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