We all aim to keep our work lives and personal lives as separate as possible. However, there will be times when the two collide. An employee’s health, self worth and morale can heavily impact productivity and the overall state of your company. Therefore, if you are a business owner, it is in your best interest to look after your employees’ mental health. Of course, we also hope that you will also simply show compassion from one person to another. The following tips can help you foster a comfortable environment at work, one in which your employees are happy to serve and know that they are truly valued.
- Provide adequate healthcare. Employees with work-weeks of 20 hours or more are eligible for healthcare under the Affordable Care Act. As an employer, we understand that running a business is expensive, but we hope that you will consider employee needs when you provide healthcare benefits. See that the plans you offer do not come with an exorbitant deductible that an entry-level worker cannot afford. Also, see to it that your insurance is accepted by a wide network of health professionals. There are many instances where employees receive health plans that look great on paper, but are not accepted anywhere. If you also provide vision and dental insurance through your place of business, the same rules should apply. If you have a business in Cary NC that provides dental care, you should provide insurance that a number of Cary NC family dentists will accept. Your employees should have access to the, and not simply the one dentist who will accept their obscure insurance.
- Be open and available. While we may agree blending our personal and professional lives can be inappropriate, there will come a time and place where an employee’s personal concerns may affect one’s job performance. This may stem from illness, trouble at home, a difficult legal situation, etc. We do not encourage you to pry into your employees’ lives. However, you should establish protocol for approaching such difficulties. Include these protocols in your company manual and ensure that, starting from the hire date, your employee feels comfortable speaking to you about concerns that affect his or her presence and/or performance at work. Let your employees know that you can offer moral support and will help however you can.
- Stay on top of workers compensation. Even in the safest work environments, where employers follow OSHA guidelines to the “T,” accidents can happen. In all 50 states, employers are expected to provide workers compensation insurance. Car accident lawyers in Los Angeles, and many other work accident attorneys can attest that many workers compensation cases are improperly handled every year. Many workers compensations claims go awry for the injured workers, with forms not being filed correctly or in a timely manner, or employers discouraging them from filing a claim at all. If an employee suffers a work-related injury or illness, that employee is entitled to benefits, and as the employer, you should help the injured worker obtain them. Assisting your employee from the beginning is not only the right thing to do, it will keep your business from becoming embroiled in legal battles with the toughest Elizabeth NJ workers compensation lawyers or Car accident lawyers in Los Angeles. Knowing that they will be taken care of if harmed will keep your employees happy and productive at work.
- Keep them well fed and productive- This tactic is by no means a “must.” However, well nourished employees simply function better. Providing natural healthy vending in Maryland or wherever your place of business is, can help keep your employees on site and working comfortably through lunch. Monumental Vending in Washington DC, for example provides open-door markets with many healthy options for meals and snacks, as well as caffeinated beverages. Fueling your employees the right way is an excellent method for boosting productivity and morale.
The above list of tactics is by no means exhaustive, but it can certainly help you begin to empathize with your employees and meet their needs. None of this service and concern should be without reciprocity, however. Treat your employees well, but let them know that you expect them to work hard. With the right positive attitude and work conditions, there is no telling how far your business can go.