How to Make Every Day Feel Like a Friday for Your Employees
A critical step in driving employee productivity in the workplace is making sure that your employees are physically and mentally present, which may sometimes seem easier said than done. Nearly one third of all sick days taken each year occur on a Monday, and a majority of absenteeism can be directly attributed to employee wellness and job satisfaction. The good news is that you can take simple steps to help employees look forward to coming to work and keep them engaged once they’re there. Below are five tips on creating an environment that encourages a positive work-life balance and rewarding healthy behaviors to make every day feel like a Friday - even on a Monday!
1. Perk Up
Come Monday morning, chances are your employees are still recovering from their overindulgences, and running short on sleep and proper nutrition. Create a change in culture that has them looking forward to Monday despite their lack of energy, and you will likely see a decline in the number of people calling in sick or arriving late. Consider offering fresh fruit, bagels and coffee to help get them up and running, and you may give the stragglers new motivation to show up early if they are vying for the coveted cinnamon raisin bagel. There are other options in helping employees look forward to Mondays. You could form a co-ed sports team with evening practices, cater a boxed lunch and movie in your conference room, or sponsor wellness seminars to educate employees on healthy living.
2. Get Some Fresh Air
Fresh air and sunlight can have a positive effect on your mood and self esteem. Even five minutes outdoors is enough to put a smile on your face, so encourage employees to get up from their desks to stretch their legs at least twice a day before and after lunch. Sitting for long periods of time can wreak havoc on your posture, causing muscle imbalances, shallow breathing and a general feeling of lethargy - none of which are good for morale or productivity! Even on the busiest days, motivate your employees to spend some time outdoors to take a brisk walk, possibly with another coworker, to refresh and invigorate their energy levels.
3. Moderate Social Networking
Online shopping, Facebook, and YouTube are a huge time-sucker during the work day, especially on Monday when your employees may be less motivated to work diligently. Consider installing software that limits internet access to social sites to lunch time, or before and after designated working hours. If your employees are feeling less motivated to work, their time would be better spent away from their desk taking a quick activity break, rather than falling into a lull at their desk reading Facebook updates. Make it company policy that cell phone and internet usage should be limited, and consider investing in a ping pong table for your break room to keep employees engaged and present in their working environment.
4. Reward the Diligent
Do you have at least one employee who is punctual, always in a good mood, and capable of leading the team through dark Mondays? Reward them! Offer free lunches or gift certificates to those who have a consistent track record of success in the office, and you may incentivize and motivate other employees who might otherwise take a sick day or arrive late. A little competition in the office can be healthy, and can benefit both managers and employees. At your next team meeting, pick a healthy challenge and divide your office into teams. The top performing team could be rewarded with gift certificates, paid time off, or a special allowance to leave early on a Friday afternoon of their choosing.
5. Applied Knowledge Is Power
If you’re unsure of how to motivate your employees to be happier, healthier and more productive - hire someone who can help! Offer seminars to your employees that teach them how to implement healthy habits into their life that encourage good nutrition, physical activity, and better self care. Knowledge can be power, but only when it’s applied in the real world. Ask questions and pay close attention to whether your employees are getting any real benefit from the wellness tactics you employ. There is nothing worse than a program that doesn’t work, so solicit feedback on all fronts to target what your organization could be doing better to keep your employees performing at their peak.
