28 January 2020

How to create a good working environment

woman smiles as she holds a mobile phone in an office shared with people working on laptops and documents.

One of the most important factors that can influence the productivity of a company is the working environment of its employees. In the case of an adequate working environment, the employees will be much more productive and talent will be retained in the company.. Conversely, inadequate working environments hinder the development of employees, resulting in low productivity, high absenteeism, as well as high job turnover. 

Table of contents

Work environment

The work environment is the context in which a worker carries out his or her work. This context can be made up of both physical elements (the space where the work is carried out), such as by non-physical elements (for example, the working environment with colleagues or the hierarchical relationships that are established). All these factors contribute, for better or for worse, to the employee output, It is therefore important to take them into account when fostering a workspace and working environment where people can work and learn. workers feel safe and at ease, as this will allow them to fully develop as workers and, consequently, be more productive. 

How to create a good working environment

There are many elements that help to create a good working environment, and in fact, depending on the type of company where this goal is to be achieved, it may be more important to focus on some aspects rather than others. However, in most cases, the following tips are usually very helpful.

  • Respecting timetablesThis is an item that, at first glance, might seem basic, but it isn't always the case. There may be situations that require employees to work overtime, but it should be taken into account that this will always be an exceptional situation. If the workload is such that it is necessary for workers to dedicate more hours of work than they should theoretically perform, it is very likely that the time has come to expand the workforce. 
  • Facilitating work-life balanceAnother of the elements that most helps to create a good working environment is helping workers to balance their work and family life, as this frees them from external pressures and allows them to concentrate on their tasks during working hours. In this regard, some solutions such as, for example Nursery Ticket provide considerable help in improving employee productivity by improving their work-life balance. 
  • The importance of breaksBreaks are part of any activity, including work. Breaks allow workers to clear their heads and return to their tasks with renewed energy and a fresher mind. Therefore, respecting breaks and adapting them to the type of task being carried out is an element that greatly contributes to creating a good working environment. 
  • Correctly defining jobs and each of the tasks assigned to themA key problem that can damage a good working environment is the lack of definition of tasks, as well as job roles within the organisation. Correctly defining each of these elements will help employees carry out their tasks more efficiently and will also prevent misunderstandings, duplication, or unassigned tasks. 
  • Develop a career plan for each employeeOne of the elements that most help to create a good working environment is that the employees themselves employees have a perspective from their respective long-term jobs. If workers see themselves in the same company many years from now (taking into account corresponding promotion in each case), this will motivate them to make a greater commitment to the company. 
  • Good internal communicationThis is one of the fundamental factors when it comes to fostering a correct and pleasant working environment for everyone. Communication between employees themselves is fundamental when it comes to creating a space where employees feel safe and comfortable, therefore it is advisable to work on it with specific and adequate training.

Comfortable and pleasant physical spacesLikewise, another of the fundamental elements when it comes to creating a pleasant working environment is the physical elements that employees themselves interact with. Elements such as work furniture, lighting and climate control, the separation of physical space between workers, or cafeteria services, among many others, are aspects that facilitate the creation of a work environment that helps develop the greatest employee productivity, so it is important to give them the attention they deserve.

Edenred Spain