Work can be quite stressful at times and there is not much that the bosses or the employees can do to escape work-related stress completely. Therefore, creating a stress-free work environment for your employees can be extremely challenging, if not impossible.
A more realistic approach to the situation involves taking active measures that can help employees manage stress better. Promote a culture of cooperation and support within the office, while also implementing specific steps to help employees find stress relief when they need it. As to what those steps are exactly, let's find out.
Keep the lines of communication open
The general idea a few decades back was that communication should mostly come from the top. Any communication from an employee should be strictly related to relevant work and that too should only be initiated if essential.
It was found later that this one-way communication channel often led to employee discontent, internal disputes, and a huge gap between the workers and the managers. A two-way communication line is a practice where an employee is treated more like a colleague, rather than a subordinate.
The workers can talk with their managers without fearing retribution for their actions. This eliminates unnecessary stress between managers and employees, helps to keep workers satisfied and loyal to the company. Promote two-way communication as a part of your business' corporate culture.
Invest in designing a de-stressing space
Certain physical aspects of an office's interior and exterior design can provide passive, yet constant stress relief to everyone working there. Some of the most important of these design aspects would be the availability of natural light, use of space, indoor plants, soft furnishings, and greenery outside the building.
Invest in a small garden for your employees where they can relax in during their breaks so they come back inside with renewed energy. Order folding garden chairs to ensure that there is always a place for a tired employee to sit in the garden for a quick, stress-relieving break, without the seat taking up any permanent space.
The outdoor garden does not have to be anything grand providing it is beautiful and well-maintained. How much you can do depends on how much space there is to work with. Nonetheless, you can always add a few extra garden tables to the area and use it as a relaxing space for hosting office parties, events, and picnics as well.
Keep options for entertainment and activity open
A break room with a TV might be the bare minimum, but most small businesses can do much better without spending a fortune. Encourage healthy, stress-relieving habits. Provide access to fresh water and fruit, add a bookshelf where staff can swap good books and consider offering discounted gym membership.
Did you know that something as simple as a table for ping-pong can help your employees de-stress and stay fit at the same time? You can always add more later if business is good but do make sure your employees have a way to de-stress in some way from day one.
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