Happy Employees: The Underrated Business Key

A positive work environment filled with happy employees makes going to work every day a much more pleasant experience. But what some business owners may not know is that happy, more fulfilled workers are also more productive.

The proof is in the numbers: revenue for Fortune’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work For” increased by an average of 22.2 percent last year. So, how can companies create happy workers? Here are a few of the best ways:

Help with work-life balance

Providing employees with a work-life balance helps ease employee stress, particularly in a highly pressurized environment like the contact center. Communicators like to feel cared for by their employer, and when they do, businesses tend to see improved contact center ROI. Companies can help foster that feeling amongst their employees with benefits like:

• Wellness programs
• On-site childcare
• On-site fitness centers

Reward excellence

Acknowledgement of a job well done is often an extremely meaningful experience for an employee. Offering rewards and recognition for employees who achieve at a high level not only makes that individual feel appreciated, but it also inspires other workers to step up their game.

Always keep the office door open

Employees find comfort knowing they can talk to their superiors about issues in the office or non-work-related issues. Open dialogue is critical to creating an atmosphere where workers feel comfortable speaking their minds. Honest, accurate feedback is always the best way to improve operations, but if employees don’t feel safe expressing opinions, making those improvements becomes much more difficult.

Of course, these are just a few of the ways businesses can help create a culture of happiness. As every company is different, the most important thing is not the specific approach a company takes but rather that it truly values employees. With a win-win for employers and employees, everyone is happy.