I was reading an article recently that said that the average British worker spends 81,000 hours – that’s a full 9 years of their life – at work. Now I know that this is only an average, and it varies considerably from person to person, but it certainly gives you something to think about.
If you’re going to spend so much of your time at work then you need to be happy there. So, what are the main things that make you feel good at work? Employers have been looking into this so that they can decide how best to motivate staff – and I’ve been thinking about it from my own point of view, too. There are things that are personal, that the employer can’t do much about. But there are also lots of things that employers can do to make their staff happier, more productive and keep them from leaving. Here’s my list:
Top of my list is a personal one – I enjoy working with people I like and get on with, and I’m lucky that I already do this.
Now on to the others:
Flexible working hours is something that many people like. Being able to come in and go home early or late to miss the rush-hour or pick up kids from school; or perhaps being able to work from home a couple of days a week. I certainly value the flexibility that my job offers.
Linked with this is an early finish on Friday. My husband has always worked in jobs (the aerospace industry) where it is a tradition to finish just after lunch on Friday. He loves this and it’s something he would always look for in a new job. If you want to go away for the weekend it gives you a head start.
Many people have the travel bug, so more annual leave is a big incentive for them. Perhaps you’d prefer a few extra days a year holiday rather than a pay increase?
What about private health care? I love this, because it means if something goes wrong you can get it checked out and dealt with quickly and efficiently. And many employers are prepared to offer it as a perk because it means they get their staff back healthy and productive in a shorter time.
Some companies offer free snacks or membership to a gym. This isn’t something that would motivate me as I’d probably eat the snacks and then feel obliged to go to the gym to work off the extra calories. Not a lot of pleasure in that! I’d rather skip the snacks and get my own exercise walking or swimming. But these two perks do appeal to many people.
Finally, the chance to improve yourself – studying so that your CV looks better if you want promotion or a new job. Continuing Professional Development is something that all workers should be looking for from their company and a good place to start is Business Training. We have a wide range of distance learning courses that could help you move forward in your career.
So, if your employer is looking for suggestions to improve productivity, and worker engagement, then why not think about this list and start a discussion?
Author: Diana Nadin
