Work environment: how can you improve the quality of professional life for your teams?
Do you know what a working environment is? In reality, the issue of employee well-being is a subjective and very broad notion. It encompasses both the management of the working environment (offices, workspaces, services offered to employees) and the corporate culture (management, corporate life, for example).
We're here to explain why organizations need to take care of their work environment: it's a way of improving quality of life at work (QWL), but also of boosting your employees' productivity and performance. How can you do it? The answers are in the article! 💪
Work environment: definition
What do we mean by "work environment"?
The work environment refers to all the material and human conditions that make up the working environment. It also includes health and safety conditions. We'll look at these factors in more detail later in this article.
These factors have a direct impact on employee well-being , and are referred to as Quality of Working Life (QWL). For example, a toxic or, at the very least, inadequate work environment prevents staff from developing their full potential. Conversely, a stimulating and positive work environment encourages employees to get involved and gives them a better framework for improving their results. ✅
Human resources and the environment are two aspects of the working environment that are covered by the integrated management system (SMI) known as QHSE: Quality, Health, Safety, Environment.
The components of the work environment
The work environment has an impact on the way people experience their working lives. The same job will not be practiced or experienced in the same way in different contexts (in an SME, in an association, in a large group, in a start-up or even in a public organization). But then, what makes up the work environment? 🤔
- The working environment: space, brightness, temperature, accessibility and mobility, material conditions, etc.
- The job and working conditions : employee fulfillment, salary package, work/life balance, flexible working hours, etc.
- Corporate culture: employees aligned with values, general atmosphere, shared habits (lunches, breaks, outings, sports sessions, etc.), etc.
- Management: vertical or collaborative, reception conditions, skills management, internal communication, etc.
How can you create a pleasant working environment for your employees?
9 levers for improving the working environment
How can you create a pleasant working environment that is conducive to productivity and makes your employees want to get involved? That's the question the Engagement Observatory asked itself in 2017. The opinions of the 3,494 French employees surveyed were used to produce the infographic below:
➡️ What's in it for me?
- Improve interpersonal relations: Encourage team-building activities and social events to strengthen bonds between colleagues. For example, cooking workshops, cultural outings or themed evenings can create a more friendly and supportive environment.
- Optimize workplace facilities: Make sure that offices are well-equipped and adapted to employees' needs. Invest in ergonomic furniture, relaxation areas and modern technologies to make day-to-day work easier.
- Use collaborative tools and applications: Collaborative platforms can improve team coordination and communication. These tools can be used to track projects, share documents and communicate in real time.
- Encourage dialogue and communication: Establish regular meetings and constructive feedback. Employees need to feel listened to and valued. An anonymous suggestion system can also be set up to gather employees' opinions and ideas.
- Promote moments of relaxation: Set up rest and relaxation areas where employees can unwind during breaks. Activities such as yoga, meditation or board games can also be proposed to reduce stress and increase well-being.
What tools can you use to find your ideal workplace?
Appvizer wouldn't be Appvizer if we didn't offer tools to help you solve some of your problems. We've selected a number of online solutions to help you improve your working environment.
| Objective | Software examples | Benefits |
| Automate repetitive HR processes to save time |
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| Strengthen cohesion and improve collaboration |
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| Simplify collaborative work and reduce project completion times |
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| Simplify telecommuting and flex office management |
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| Optimize management of shared spaces (offices, cafeteria, parking) |
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| Disseminate information internally, reduce email exchanges |
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| Save time in administrative management (leave, expense reports, etc.) |
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| Implementing a flexible, eco-responsible mobility solution |
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| Increasing employee commitment |
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| Better manage employee training |
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| Manage employee skills and careers over the long term |
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| Ensure smooth payroll management |
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The impact of a good working environment
The stakes
As the guarantor of a healthy and safe working environment for all employees, the company must constantly strive to improve it. This involves a number of key issues: 👇
- Employee health: think about setting up wellness programs, including ergonomic assessments, stress management workshops and health promotion initiatives (such as gym memberships or on-site vaccination sessions).
- Work-life balance: flexible leave policies, the possibility of working remotely, and flexible working hours are measures that can help employees better reconcile their professional and personal responsibilities.
- Compliance with current regulations: keep abreast of legislative developments in occupational health and safety, and regularly train employees in best practices and emergency procedures.
Work environment and performance
The work environment has a direct influence on employee productivity and results. Companies can no longer turn a blind eye to this issue, both for the well-being of their employees and the performance of their business.
👉 A good working environment can be seen to have an impact on a number of factors directly linked to performance:
- Less stress: a well-designed work environment can reduce sources of stress, such as excessive noise, visual clutter, and constant interruptions. A study published by Welcomr (study How our work environment affects productivity, welcomr, 2020) examines how a well-designed work environment can reduce stress and increase employee productivity.
- Better health: Ergonomic working conditions and a clean, safe environment help reduce occupational illness and accidents. 👉 For example, ergonomic seating and height-adjustable desks can prevent musculoskeletal pain.
- More motivation: A pleasant, stimulating work environment that values employees' contributions and offers them opportunities for professional development increases motivation and commitment.
- A sense of belonging: A positive corporate culture, where values are shared and employees feel respected and included, strengthens the sense of belonging and reduces turnover.
- Improved well-being: Relaxation areas, social activities and wellness initiatives (such as regular breaks or on-site massages) contribute to a working environment where employees feel good and perform well.
👉 Moreover, certain factors emanating from the work environment can impair performance, such as:
- Noise pollution (24%)
- Uninterrupted flow of e-mails (23%)
- Time spent in meetings (23%)
- Web browsing and social networking (35%)
Source: study The work environment and productivity, Wimi, 2017
💡The ultimate goal is to provide a working environment that comes as close as possible to employees' expectations to foster collaboration and productivity, as well as cost optimization.
Emerging trends to improve the working environment
To take this a step further, it's worth considering the emerging trends that are shaping the modern working environment. These trends can inspire new and innovative initiatives to improve the working environment. 🎯
Telecommuting and flexibility
With the rise of telecommuting, encouraged by the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies are adopting more flexible remote working policies.
This trend enables employees to better manage their work/life balance and work in environments where they feel more comfortable.
According to a study by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), flexibility has become a priority for 9 out of 10 employees in France.
Wellness and mental health
Mental health has become a major priority for many organizations.
Wellness programs including therapy sessions, meditation classes and initiatives to promote a healthy lifestyle (such as gym memberships or nutrition workshops) can significantly improve employees' general well-being.
Technology and innovation
Technological innovation plays a crucial role in creating effective and attractive work environments.
Virtual and augmented reality tools, for example, can be used for employee training, while artificial intelligence can automate repetitive tasks, freeing up time for higher value-added activities.
An ideal work environment to foster employee commitment
Does the ideal work environment exist? It's doubtful. If it does, it won't be the same for all companies, or even for all employees within the same organization.
There are so many things to take into account when striving for the "perfect" work environment that it's hard for companies to achieve. This is all the more true as these notions are highly subjective.
That said, this difficulty should not prevent companies from making an effort to put in place a process to improve the working environment for their employees. But how do you go about it? Where to start? The first step could be quite simple: survey your teams to gather their opinions and expectations!
What do you think is the most important element for a fulfilling work environment? Tell us in the comments section!
Article translated from French