6 Ways to Boost Team Happiness and Create a Positive Work/Life Balance

Navigating the ups and downs of team morale can be a challenge. But there are strategies and meaningful actions you, as an employer, can take to elevate and maintain your team's spirits.

Is a happy team just a nice-to-have or a must-have? In today's corporate world, where values matter and the focus is on individual experiences, employee happiness is more than just a bonus – it's a necessity. The era of "employee experience" has dawned, and businesses need to look inward to foster it.

Here's why prioritising employee happiness is crucial for every business, and not just an optional extra. The connection between happiness and productivity isn't a novel concept, but its significance in the workplace is often underestimated. Now let's explore six ways you can boost your team's happiness.

1. Encourage Flexible Working Hours

Happy employees are more productive and engaged, so it's important for business directors to prioritise employee happiness. One of the best ways to do this is by encouraging flexible working hours.

By allowing employees to adjust their workday based on personal preference or need, directors can demonstrate they value their employees' time and energy. This practice will help create a positive work/life balance for staff, and ultimately boost morale in the workplace. Additionally, it can be an attractive benefit for potential hires when recruiting new staff members, as flexible hours can be highly desirable.

Offering flexible working hours is an easy way to show your team that you care about their wellbeing and have their best interests at heart.

2. Offer Employee Benefits and Perks

Employee benefits and perks, such as cycle to work schemes or the ability to buy, sell, and bank annual leave, can be a great way to boost team morale. Not only do they make employees feel valued, but there are also psychological benefits that come with having access to benefits and perks. For instance, providing health insurance not only helps alleviate stress but also boosts overall wellbeing. But with Health Shield Cash Plans, we take it a step further. It's not just about financial assistance with healthcare expenses.

We also give employees access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that's ready to support their mental wellbeing around the clock. Because at Health Shield, we believe in caring for both the physical and mental health of our members.

Studies have shown that when employees have easy access to healthcare, they're more likely to take care of themselves, reducing the risk of workplace-related illnesses and improving productivity in the long run. Additionally, offering employee discounts on products and services can give them a greater sense of financial security, leading to improved job satisfaction. These tangible benefits can also lead to an increased sense of loyalty among staff members and further create a positive work environment.

3. Provide Opportunities for Professional Development

Investing in your team's professional development can have a lasting, positive effect on your organisation's morale. By providing classes, seminars, webinars and workshops, you can help employees to acquire new skills and knowledge that will help them grow in their roles. This not only has the potential to increase job satisfaction amongst employees but also allows them to feel more engaged and connected with their work. Offering professional development opportunities sends a clear message to staff that you value their growth and development as individuals.

• Offer learning opportunities such as webinars, seminars, conferences and workshops for employees to attend.
• Offering to pay for courses or certifications that are relevant to their job role or career goals helps employees gain the necessary skills they need to succeed in their chosen field.
• Provide mentoring programs which allow senior staff members to guide junior members through challenges or tasks by offering guidance and advice on how best to approach them.
• Give team members access to online resources such as podcasts, articles, e-books etc., that can help expand their knowledge about different topics related to their work environment and industry as a whole.

4. Promote Open Communication and Collaboration Between Team Members

Business owners can encourage team members to work together by talking and sharing ideas. They can make sure everyone has the chance to be heard and respected. They can also create meetings for employees to share their thoughts and ideas with each other. This will help everyone get involved in solving problems or coming up with new ways of doing things.

One of the most important tools for team collaboration is a project management system. Project management systems allow teams to keep track of tasks, deadlines, and progress on individual projects. They also offer the ability to establish communication channels between team members, such as forums and chat channels. Additionally, project management systems often feature tools that enable teams to track their performance against objectives and measure progress over time.

Another tool that can help facilitate team collaboration is online whiteboard software. This type of software allows teams to brainstorm ideas in real-time by sharing digital documents or boards with other users who can comment, suggest edits, or make changes. It’s an excellent way for remote teams to stay connected and ensures everyone has access to the same information at all times.

5. Create a Positive Work Environment with Fun Activities and Events

Creating a positive work environment with fun activities and events can be challenging for larger teams, especially when staff members are working remotely. Without face-to-face contact, it can be hard to bring everyone together for group events or team-building activities. Additionally, many of the traditional in-person activities that help to boost morale may not be as effective in a virtual setting.

While larger teams may find it more difficult to create positive work environments through fun activities and events due to lack of physical presence - don't let that stop you from trying! With a bit of creativity and investment into fun activity ideas - maybe based on a poll opened up to employees - companies can easily foster meaningful connection between their remote staff members by getting everybody together, which would ultimately lead to improved team morale.

6. Make Time for Self-Care Practices to Help Manage Stress Levels

As a business owner, you can help your employees take care of themselves by encouraging activities that make them feel good. Examples include taking breaks throughout the day to relax, providing health insurance or other benefits to reduce stress, and offering discounts on products and services that help them save money. You can also promote self-care practices such as yoga classes, meditation sessions, or exercise programs to help manage stress levels. 

Activities such as yoga can significantly enhance the wellbeing and reduce stress among your team members. Yoga not only helps individuals relax but also boosts their energy levels, strength, cognition, and collaborative skills. However, we understand that not everyone can fit a yoga session into their busy schedules. That's where a self-management digital app like Thrive Mental Wellbeing can help. Thrive is available with Health Shield Cash Plans and provides digital mindfulness tools that are easily accessible and can be used anytime, anywhere. Just like yoga, Thrive aims to help your employees feel better, think clearer, and work more effectively with others, all at their own pace and convenience.

So, keeping your team happy is essential for any business to succeed. Additionally, with competition in the recruitment market being fierce right now, retaining top talent is essential. It’s also important to be aware of mental health issues within your workplace so that you can support employee wellbeing and keep morale high.  But by investing in tangible benefits that will make employees feel valued and appreciated, there are ways you can boost team happiness in your own organisation.

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